Today, X-Play provided its viewers with an exclusive reveal of Harmonix’s newest title, Rock Band Blitz. Before you go dust off your old Rock Band drum sets and guitars, there’s something you should know about this game. It doesn’t use any of the plastic instruments that many have accumulated over the years from Rock Band and Guitar Hero.
The newest installment won’t even make it to store shelves. Instead, Rock Band Blitz will be available as a downloadable title on both XBLA and PSN this Summer. To play along with the 25 songs included — the 3,700+ songs currently available for Rock Band can be ported also — you’ll use your standard console controller. If you have played Rock Band Unplugged on the PSP, then you have a pretty good idea how this title will work. You can switch between any instrument at any time and play casually or go for the high score as you max out your multiplier.
Personally, I find this new arcade spin-off a step in the wrong direction. When Harmonix teased an upcoming reveal, I was ready to start rocking out in my living room with friends with Rock Band 4 (or whatever it would have been called). I tried hitting the on-screen notes with an Xbox 360 controller in Guitar Hero 3 and it felt wrong. Speaking of Guitar Hero, Activision is not continuing that franchise so this would have been the perfect time for Harmonix to move in and claim the top music video game spot.
On a brighter note, if you still own Rock Band 3, then all 25 songs from Blitz can be ported into that game if you feel like playing each song with your instrument of choice. So, at least it has that going for it. What do you think? Is this new downloadable music game one that you’ll be purchasing? Share your comments below.
