News, Reviews, Previews, Editorials, and more @ GamingEvolution

Published By: MTV Games
Developed By: Harmonix
Genre: Music
Players: 1-2
Rated: E10 (Everyone 10 and Up)
Release Date: July 22, 2009
Screenshots: Link
Amazon: Buy Now!
Written By: Matthew Prunty

For almost two years, Electronic Arts, MTV Games and Harmonix has all enjoyed the global success of their musical title known as Rock Band. It allowed gamers, neighbors, family and friends from around the world the ability to live the life of a band member either playing the guitar, drums or laying down the vocals to some of the hottest rock tracks to ever be released. While there is going to be a continued pushed for all things Rock�N�Roll for Rock Band, the developers decided to branch off a bit with their latest track pack release, Rock Band Country Track Pack. Since music is all about telling a story or sending a message, the Country Track Pack is a perfect fit for Rock Band, while also opening up the demographic of its audience.

Just so everyone knows, there is a reason why the track packs are released for 29.99 at retailers nationwide and that is simply because it�s a stripped down version of the Rock Band experience. Besides there being only 21 tracks to choose from, the only gameplay modes to speak of are Quick Play and Band Tour Mode. Quick Play mode allows gamers to hop right into any of the supplied tracks for a quick jam session. Band Tour mode offers up a bit more of a challenge. Within this mode, you and a group of people perform 4 five-song sets. As you complete a set, the next set is a bit more difficult, which ends up testing your true Rock Band skills. A nifty feature to this disc is that you don�t need Rock Band or Rock Band 2 in order to play the game.

While Rock Band Country Track Pack is good at offering something different, its visuals still live within �rock� nature of Rock Band. I don�t know about you but the idea of having a band dressed in their rock attire and a rock themed venue playing country tunes just doesn�t sit quite right with me. It works, be considering this is a stand-alone experience, there could have been the inclusion of Country themed venues or simply stripping the venues down to something simplistic. Also, a little customization so the player looks and feel more like a country artist could have helped set the visual mood.

Also taking a bit of a hit is the song catalogue featured in Country Track Pack. The roster of artists is great; however the actual song selection is a mixed bag. When first hearing about this game and the artists being featured within the game, I was really looking towards a great Country rocking experience. However, once I actually got the game and begin to play, I just felt that they could have done a bit better with the song selection. At the end of the day, 21 songs for $30 is a better deal than paying $42 for 21 songs via the Rock Band store.

I nice added feature is the ability to import the tracks from Country Track Pack into your copy of Rock Band or Rock Band 2; given you have the hard drive space for the songs. This feature would allow a player to hop back in forth between Country and Rock tracks without have to swap discs every single time. For fans of Country music, this is well worth the $29.99 price point. For those just looking for something a bit different from the Rock Band norm, you can give it a try but I warn you, if you don�t like country music, you probably won�t be able to get into the swing of things.

The Set List:
-Alan Jackson - "Good Time"
-Brad Paisley - "Mud on the Tires"
-Brooks & Dunn - "Hillbilly Deluxe"
-Cross Canadian Ragweed - "Cry Lonely"
-Dierks Bentley - "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)"
-Dixie Chicks - "Sin Wagon"
-Drive-By Truckers - "3 Dimes Down"
-Jason Aldean - "She's Country"
-Keith Urban - "I Told You So"
-Kenny Chesney - "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"
-Kenny Rogers - "The Gambler"
-Lucinda Williams - "Can't Let Go"
-Martina McBride - "This One's For the Girls"
-Miranda Lambert - "Gunpowder & Lead"
-Montgomery Gentry - "Gone"
-Rascal Flatts - "Me and My Gang"
-Sara Evans - "Suds In The Bucket"
-Shania Twain - "Any Man of Mine"
-Tracy Adkins - "Swing"
-Steve Earle - "Satellite Radio"
-Willie Nelson - "On The Road Again"

8/10

Spread The Word...