Publisher: MTV Games

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii

Played on: Xbox 360

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Rated: T (Teen)

The Deal:

It would only be right to preface this review by admitting my outright lack of Beatles knowledge. I'm not a music reviewer and I didn't grow up listening to The Beatles. So, how is it that I, a Beatles novice, absolutely had to play The Beatles: Rock Band the day it launched?

The answer is in the magic of the storytelling. The genius of this Rock Band is that Harmonix didn't just throw some Beatles songs in a track pack for players to work through. Instead, they created an engaging and visually stunning biography of the The Beatles' musical career, starting from the tiny underground Cavern Club in Liverpool, all the way to their final rooftop performance at Apple Corps Headquarters. In The Beatles: Rock Band, the story of Paul, John, George and Ringo is more than history. It's an adventure filled with as much emotion and inspiration as the music it celebrates.

That's the wonderful thing about The Beatles: Rock Band. No matter whether you grew up at the time of Beatlemania, or the only song you know is Yellow Submarine, there's something for all kinds of music lovers. The Beatles should be commended for realizing the opportunity to use video games to introduce and welcome a whole new generation of fans.

The Good:

-The game is a beautiful and moving tribute to one of the greatest bands the world has ever seen. Not once does the game ever feel cheesy or contrived. Even the opening cinematic of the game, which is a fun animated romp through The Beatles' life and times, has the power to make your breath catch in your throat.

-The game is chock full of extra, usually unlockable, archival content such as rare photos and in-studio conversations between the band at Abbey Road. The content seems lovingly handpicked through the archives at Apple Corp Headquarters and presented as a gift to those who want to go deeper into the band's history.

-You'll perform in three of the most famous venues associated with The Beatles: The Cavern Club, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shea Stadium and Budokan. After the boys enter the studio to make some of the most experimental music of their career, the game begins to place the band in beautiful, ethereal "dreamscape" settings based on each of the songs. For example, you're under the sea in "Octopus' Garden" and in a beautiful meadow in "Here Comes the Sun." The dreamscapes are the songs imagined in such a visual feast, that they really are a crowning glory to a already magical experience.

-Finally, the addition of the "Realistic" option in the game settings is so clever and insightful. This option raises the volume of the crowd noises in the tour venues to the point that you can barely hear the music and lyrics over the screams and squeals of the female fans. Apparently the volume coming from the crowd used to be so loud that the band would often play the wrong notes and sing slightly different (and cheeky) lyrics because the crowds couldn't hear them over their own cheering.

The Bad:

-Coming in at only 43 songs, it is understandable the The Beatles: Rock Band could seem as a letdown to real Beatles fans, especially when there are some major absences ("Hey Jude," anybody?)

-If you just can't get comfortable playing the Rock Band guitar (compared to the Guitar Hero guitar), you are probably going to hate playing on the replica Höfner Bass that comes bundled in The Beatles: Rock Band Special Edition. Its longer neck and flat frets made this reviewer's hands tire more quickly.

Final Word:

The game is a beautiful and magical tribute to one of the world's greatest bands that's as relevant for both new and seasoned Beatles fans alike.