Hands & Vocals-on: Rock Revolution (DS)
We don't know what to make of Konami's DS version of Rock Revolution. The PS3/360 version is pretty easily summed up: it's Rock Band + a ridiculous drum - a functional GUI. While Rock Revolution screams "me too" on the home consoles, it's a rather innovative concept for Nintendo DS. Shouldn't that be commended?
Perhaps, but the ambitious concept is marred by lackluster execution. Rock Revolution DS gives players different ways of playing for the drums, guitars and yes, vocals. For better or worse, Konami has opted not to include a Guitar Hero-esque peripheral with its game, relying exclusively on touch-screen controls for the guitar sections of the game. Unfortunately, this turns out to be a rather uninvolved process. Icons appear from the top left and right of the screen, with arrows pointing in the direction the player should swipe their stylus. That's it. Even in the more challenging difficulties, swiping the stylus up and down gets plain ol' tiresome after a while.
The drums in Rock Revolution DS also mimic the console game's six-pad setup ... right down to the relentless difficulty. In this mode, color coded icons appear on the top screen, and players must hit the appropriate drum on the bottom screen. Unfortunately, this mode has inherited the console game's lackluster GUI, with an amateurish virtual drum design and illegible icons that make gameplay more difficult than it should be. The incredible disparity between easy and medium difficulties must also be noted: while the easy difficulty is borderline catatonic, the medium difficult sends a flurry of almost indecipherable notes that led us to near instant failure. Where's the middle ground? How will players make the transition from these wildly differing modes?
Perhaps, but the ambitious concept is marred by lackluster execution. Rock Revolution DS gives players different ways of playing for the drums, guitars and yes, vocals. For better or worse, Konami has opted not to include a Guitar Hero-esque peripheral with its game, relying exclusively on touch-screen controls for the guitar sections of the game. Unfortunately, this turns out to be a rather uninvolved process. Icons appear from the top left and right of the screen, with arrows pointing in the direction the player should swipe their stylus. That's it. Even in the more challenging difficulties, swiping the stylus up and down gets plain ol' tiresome after a while.
The drums in Rock Revolution DS also mimic the console game's six-pad setup ... right down to the relentless difficulty. In this mode, color coded icons appear on the top screen, and players must hit the appropriate drum on the bottom screen. Unfortunately, this mode has inherited the console game's lackluster GUI, with an amateurish virtual drum design and illegible icons that make gameplay more difficult than it should be. The incredible disparity between easy and medium difficulties must also be noted: while the easy difficulty is borderline catatonic, the medium difficult sends a flurry of almost indecipherable notes that led us to near instant failure. Where's the middle ground? How will players make the transition from these wildly differing modes?
Gallery: Rock Revolution (DS)
Of course, that raises the all-important question: do gamers want to look like crazy-people singing into their DS systems on the go? It's certainly the most original and best executed part of the Rock Revolution package on the DS. We wish Konami would scrap the Rock Revolution game and simply make a good karaoke game on DS/PSP. (We may regret suggesting this, once we see dozens of moms on subway trains singing "Oops I Did It Again" aloud on their morning commute.)
We love the idea of Rock Revolution on the DS -- we really do. However, we can't ignore the game's inability to create an experience that feels right for the DS. Guitar Hero overcame these obstacles by using a peripheral. Games like Elite Beat Agents and Rhythm Heaven try to create unique experiences on the handheld. Too bad Rock Revolution isn't able to do the same.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fernando Rocker @ Sep 17th 2008 12:20PM
Rhythm games on the DS should use gameplay mechanics like Elite Beat Agents or Ouendan... easily the best portable rhythm games.
Shagittarius @ Sep 17th 2008 12:55PM
They should make a rhythm game that you keep the beat by buying a steady stream of Nintendo peripherals.
That would rock.
John Z @ Sep 17th 2008 1:12PM
Ah, so Konami is continuing to make sure that Bemani NEVER EVER EVER catches on in North America by not fixing the relentless, punishing, soul-crushing difficulty curves that plague every music game they've ever done that isn't DDR or Karaoke Revolution. Good to know.
Seriously, they freaking invented the concept of what we consider a music game. How could they be screwing this up this badly by accident?
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Sep 17th 2008 3:34PM
I've heard that Konami is horribly mismanaged. Which is why there's such a huge disconnect between Konami's Japanese games, and their English games (last time we saw Mystical Ninja Goemon was on N64... and he's had a PS2 and a DS game...).
All these years, they could've released all of their Bemani games in the States. Could've even helped the American arcades off of life-support. But, no. They waited. Waited until Guitar Hero and Rock Band showed how popular music games could be in America, and then try to cash in on THAT. And with what seems like a cheap knock-off of the other two. Which is kinda funny when you think about it.
And, it doesn't even seem like they're TRYING with Rock Revolution. The game (on all platforms) looks to be just one big ugly mess.
Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force) @ Sep 17th 2008 3:46PM
OMG the drummer is wearing a cowboy hat! How hip!
This reiterates my stance; Konami hates money.