EA Rock Band 3

Rock Band 3 video game for Xbox 360

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Rock Band 3 takes the music game experience to the next level with the addition of the keyboard and the all-new lifelike instruments. Find out what it's like to rock out on full drum kit or shred your way to stardom on all six strings of the guitar. Of course, Rock Band 3 is backwards compatible with previous peripherals too. And of course the setlist will leave you satisfied.

Game only; console and instruments sold separately

Ready to go pro?

Maybe you're familiar with music games, maybe not, but either way, you've NEVER played like this. Rock Band 3 takes the rhythm genre to a whole new level in terms of realism with two massive additions. The first is the inclusion of keys. Look back on some of the greatest rock bands of all times, and you'll notice a lot of them just would not have been the band they were without the keyboard. The second huge update might just redefine music games forever. Before, to play guitar, you'd have five buttons and a strum bar. Drums included four pads and a pedal to cover the whole set. But that's not how real rockers jam out. So for Rock Band 3, you can choose to play in Pro mode. What does that mean? It means that to play guitar, you actually have a six-string to pick. To play drums, you've got four pads, three cymbals, and the bass pedal. And keyboard includes nothing less than a full keyboard. Plus, now on vocals you can use a USB hub to plug in up to 3 separate mics to hit those harmony parts, even if you've already got a drummer, bassist, and guitarist. Now you can play the way your favorite musicians really do! And if you decide you're not quite ready to drum with The Rev or strum with Hendrix, don't sweat it; Rock Band 3 is compatible with all your past peripherals, so you can return to your trusty axe and start out slower. There are plenty of fun challenging songs spanning five decades on the disc, plus you can purchase plenty more for download. It's safe to say that you won't be putting this one down any time soon.

Ratings note

Just like you probably wouldn't bring young kids to a real rock show, it's probably not a good idea to let them play Rock Band 3. This game received a "T" for Teen rating, meaning that it's recommended only for players age 13 and older. It was noted for having mild lyrics (swearing), mild suggestive themes (wardrobe choices that wouldn't meet school dress codes), and use of alcohol. As such, it's strongly recommended that parents check the game out personally before deciding it's OK for their kid to play, even if they are a teen.