What’s the best way to get a party started? There’s an easy answer to that question - break out the video games. A little Rock Band, or maybe some Guitar Hero will get you’re party rocking right. But those games are so last semester. Check out mtvU’s list of the best music games at this year’s E3 video game expo to find out what you’ll be jamming to when you get back to school.
The Beatles: Rock Band
When it comes down to it, the success of the Rock Band and Guitar Hero games has all really stemmed from one thing … their great soundtracks. If the songs aren’t good, then no one’s going to want to play them, and, throughout their history The Beatles created an amazing catalog of music. The fact that 45 of those songs are going to come on The Beatles: Rock Band disc (plus more via DLC) means that there’s a chance that this release could change the course of video game history, much like The Beatles changed the course of rock ‘n roll.
(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)
Guitar Hero 5
Neversoft went back to the drawing board for Guitar Hero 5 determined to make it the most rocking party game experience ever to hit a console. Not only did they make the game extremely easy for everyone to pick up and play, they also came up with five new competitive modes for you to go head-to-head with your buddies. They culminate in one awesome, all encompassing tournament called “Rockfest” that chews up all those new modes and vomits out more scrolling notes than Gene Simmons circa 1979…
only replace “scrolling notes” with blood.
(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii)
DJ Hero
Well, you’ve got your own virtual rock group, made up of one tone-deaf hot chick singer, two guys that can’t actually play a real guitar, and a drummer who almost pokes his eye out with his stick every time you play, of course the next natural step is now become a DJ. DJ Hero comes complete with its own plastic turntable that will have you scratching the record back and forth better than Fatboy Slim
… only not really, because you’re playing a video game.
(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii)
Def Jam Rapstar
Hip-hop has always gotten a bad rap when it comes to video games; from fighting (Def Jam Vendetta) to shooting (50 Cent’s Bulletproof) the whole genre’s never really gotten the royal treatment. Well, all that’s about to change with Def Jam Rapstar; it’s basically hip-hop karaoke for the Facebook generation. Spit fire in the game, record it using the Playstation Eye or 360’s Vision Camera, upload it to Rapstar’s website, and become the hottest MC on your block since Lil Weezy.
(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Bit.Trip Core
Who needs licensed music when you’ve got a good beat? Bit.Trip Core boils rhythm games down to the essentials - following the beat, and good timing. You won’t find Van Halen or Fall Out Boy in this game; it’s purely chiptunes that you need to time pressing the direction pad to. Think that sounds easy? You wouldn’t consider it a music game? Just try playing it with the sound off, and you’ll end up condemned to a virtual pit of black and white visuals, and the occasion tinny bloop out of the Wiimote’s speaker.
(Wii)
