Lord Moon: Geek @t Large: Band Hero vs LEGO Rock Band

Well it's a battle of the kid friendly versions of Guitar Hero (Band Hero) and Rock Band (LEGO Rock Band). Both are aimed at younger kids with a more Top 40, family friendly hits vibe. Which is better? Are they any good? Will I survive the saccharine sweet songs? Will I get to rock out?

Story:

Well they both have a little bit of story to their career modes and both follow a similar tale. Band Hero's tale starts when a new band gets their big break when the latest pop star cancels their mall tour. From there as you play shows you gain stars unlocking bigger and bigger venues. LEGO Rock Band's tale starts as a band is sitting at home get inspired by watching LEGO Queen perform "We Will Rock You" on TV. From there you get a van and start playing shows. As you gain stars and LEGO "Studs" (LEGO's equivalent of money) you unlock vehicles that take you to bigger and bigger venues. By the end of both games you will have become big stars.

Gameplay:

The tried and true gameplay of Guitar Hero & Rock Band continues on in both titles. Press or hit matching colored buttons or drums to the notes on screen, or in the case of vocals, sing with the same pitch as that on screen. Both games bring an easier mode to the game for the younger players. LEGO Rock Band also includes an "auto bass kick" for those that have problems using the kick pedal on the drums.

Band Hero includes all the new mode it brought into Guitar Hero 5, drop-in/drop-out, any combination of four players (ie you could have four drummers or two drummers, two singers etc.).

LEGO Rock Band brings in a no fail mechanic in that if you play poorly you will lose LEGO studs, but later in the song you will get a chance to win them back by completing a "recovery phase."

Controls:

As with all Guitar Hero/Rock Band games these you need to have the guitar, drum, and microphone controllers to perform. More than likely at this point you have them. If not they aren't hard to find.

Graphics and Sound:

Sound is great on both, as it should be when you have a music based game. Both have their good and bad moments in their setlists, depending on your taste in music.

Graphically things are very different. Band Hero is pretty much that same as Guitar Hero 5 but more brightly colored. Lots of pink and neon and pastels. Almost like it was gear more towards tween/teen girls. Even all the characters from the Guitar Hero series have been given a pop makeover (punk rocker Johnny Napalm trades in his spiked mohawk for a full head of hair). The art style overall is still generally the same as Guitar Hero 5. In addition to the usual Guitar Hero characters, stars Taylor Swift, Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) and the band No Doubt are unlockable characters.

LEGO Rock Band on the other hand is completely different than it's predecessors. The art style follows Traveler's Tales (who co-developed the game with Harmonix) other LEGO games and brings along LEGO versions of Queen, Blur, Spinal Tap, David Bowie, and Iggy Pop.

I'll place full setlists for each game at the end of the blog post.

Overall:

Both games hit the mark for being family friendly. Both games songs have been selected to be suitable for younger players, though some have had lyrics removed to be more friendly. That said some song edits are....curious. For example Don McLean's "American Pie" in Band Hero has had the word whiskey removed from the song yet leaving rye which is also a type of hard alcohol.

Band Hero to me feels like Guitar Hero 5 "reskined." This is not necessarily a bad thing since Guitar Hero 5 is one of the better versions of the series. So the only thing new here is the music. So if you were turned off by Guitar Hero 5's hard rock or felt it was a bit too adult for your kids, then Band Hero's Top 40 focus may be for you. Additionally Band Hero will import songs from Guitar Hero World Tour and Guitar Hero 5 as well as certain DLC songs as long as they meet the family friendly criteria.

LEGO Rock Band feels like a new game on the other hand. While the basics are the same, the LEGO style makes it feel new. Additionally the LEGO graphics make it feel more kid friendly than Band Hero. LEGO Rock Band songs can also be exported to Rock Band 1 or 2 (for a fee) and it is compatible with DLC songs that again meet the family friendly criteria. One curious thing is that LEGO Rock Band does not have an online multiplayer mode.

In the end both games are fun, but I have to go with LEGO Rock Band for being more fun. I mean really how can you not like LEGOs? Band Hero gets a 4 out of 5, LEGO Rock Band gets a 5 out of 5.

LEGO Rock Band is rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and up for Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence and Mild Lyrics. Band Hero is rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and up for Lyrics and Mild Suggestive Themes.