Not everyone’s a guitar hero. Some of us are drum heroes, or bass heroes. Some of us just want a microphone in front of our faces to feel like superstars. It’s because of the fact that it takes a variety of musicians—and not just guitarists—to make a chart-topping band that the game Rock Band was created to battle the ever-popular Guitar Hero on nearly every videogame console out there. And that includes America’s sweetheart, the Nintendo Wii.

Included in the hefty Rock Band box is a wireless guitar, a drum kit, and a microphone. For those wanting a full band, the game supports a second guitar so that the bass parts may be played, but it is sold separately. Just like previous incarnations of the game for other consoles, the instruments are extremely responsive and can all be played at the same time (this requires some technical maneuvering, but it is totally possible). A difference in the instruments for the Wii is that the drum kit is white instead of black (staying true to the Wii branding), and the pads are softer and bouncier, which is great for the more up-tempo tunes.

Individuals can practice their rock chops on their own by playing any one of the three (or four) instruments, but the game really is best with your friends making up a full band. You get to name your band, pick your songs, and swap instruments between songs for a dash of showmanship. Unfortunately, Rock Band for Wii does not give players the opportunity to earn new fans, money, or equipment from touring or customize the appearance of your band members. Sorry, you’ll just have to look and act your favorite music genre in real life.

With more than in previous releases, Rock Band has 63 songs from which to choose. Most of the songs are the actual recordings by the bands that made them famous, but there are few dead-ringing covers. Some of the tunes you’ll have the chance to jam on are by classics like the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, The Police, and The Ramones, as well as some modern rock bands like Weezer, Radiohead, and Oasis. While the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game have the option to download additional tracks, the Wii version does not. Because of this, Harmonix Music Systems has made “Track Packs” available for purchase to Wii and PlayStation 2 Rock Band players. Each Track Pack is sold just like a game and features a variety of songs that are downloadable to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 players.

Despite the fact that Rock Band for Wii has some downfalls, it’s still the obvious buy to guarantee a good time at a party. And you won’t have to hire a band, either!

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