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LEGO Rock Band

(2009, Video Games - Music, Rated E10+, Play it on: Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Simplified, no-fail Rock Band with a whimsical story.

In this game kids can:   create an avatar, live vicariously, play multiplayer games, play music, play with others

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Ease of play:

    Delightfully easy to play. With five levels of difficulty, there is a level just right for everyone from kids and adults who have never played to Rock Band enthusiasts.

  • Educational value:

    By playing on the drum controller in this game, you can actually learn to play the drums. The singing tutorial is also helpful.

  • Online interaction:

    You can download more family-friendly songs from the LEGO Rock Band store if playing on the Xbox 360 or the PS3. It is also possible to export the LEGO Rock Band songs to other Rock Band games.

  • Messages:

    The main message is that playing music together can be riotous fun. But, the game also shows a little of the mischief that some rockers have been known to get into, including trashing their hotel rooms.
 

What to watch out for

  • Role models:

    While meant to be taken as fun or humorous, Lego characters are shown misbehaving as in belching loudly, and trashing a hotel room.

  • Violence:

    In one fantasy venue depicting a medieval castle, the Lego characters are seen duking it out with toy swords, arrows, catapults and the like. In another cutscene, a Lego rock band is seen trashing their hotel room. In another, a Lego dinosaur runs over a outhouse, causing it to break apart revealing one lone character still sitting on the toilet. A few songs make reference to violence like "My ex will start a fight."

  • Language:

    One song lyric using the word "Hell."

  • Consumerism:

    The game can be looked at as a marketing tool to further the LEGO toy brand. LEGO trivia scrolls across the screen as you wait for your new gig to load.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A few lyrics reference drug abuse as in "Brain fried tonight through misuse..." or "Without these pills you're let loose..."
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of LEGO Rock Band was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

Parents need to know that LEGO Rock Band is a music simulation game that is purposely made easier to play than traditional Rock Band games. It features a Super Easy mode that allows newbies and kids to play. It couples the playing of music with a silly LEGO-themed story about a band traveling the universe using the power of rock to do fantastical things. With tongue-in-cheek humor, the LEGO characters can misbehave: trash a hotel room, belch, and destroy an outhouse while someone is in it. A few song lyrics refer to violent situations and allude to drugs, but it is all pretty mild.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the humor presented in the game. What makes the LEGO characters so amusing?
  • This game is purposely easy to play and creates a no-fail environment. Do you like games like this one, or do you crave the competition?
  • How important is it to you to like the song you are playing? Is it all about the difficulty of the game play or do you play better if it is a song you like?
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More on LEGO Rock Band

What’s the Story?

LEGO ROCK BAND combines the popular play mechanics of the Rock Band series of music simulation games with the charming tongue-in-cheek story-telling found in the LEGO series of adventure games (LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Batman, and LEGO Indiana Jones). It also makes the playing of music easier by providing a "Super Easy" mode where all you have to do is strum the guitar controller, hit any drum, or sing in time to the music. In the story mode, which can be explored alone or with up to 3 friends playing different instruments, you form a band of LEGO characters and play gigs to earn LEGO studs. You start locally, but as you earn more studs, you can purchase crazy LEGO vehicles to take you across the universe to perform in bigger and wilder venues including a spooky mansion or even on the moon. The music is varied from classics like Rascal Flats "Life is a Highway" to crowd-pleasers that include Queen's "We Are the Champions" to Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters." Close

Is It Any Good?

This version of Rock Band is perfect for families who are new to music gaming. It has excellent tutorials that explain how to use the different instrument controllers. It creates a no-fail environment because whenever you are doing poorly, the game provides you with a recovery mode so that you are never booed off the stage. With five levels of difficulty, the game can be enjoyed by newbies and seasoned players alike.

For kids, not only can you select the "Super Easy" mode, but you can also choose to play shorter versions of some of the songs. On drums, the kick drum can be set to play automatically. And since the music videos are performed by LEGO characters (LEGO David Bowie is a hoot), there is never any questionable music video content. Plus the story is so much fun as you harness the power of rock to vanquish a giant octopus, chase away ghosts, and even demolish a skyscraper.

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/3/2009, price $29.99-$49.99, online enabled
ESRB rating: E10+ (for Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Lyrics)

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    kierangunn
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • Easy to play

    My 6 year old daughter loved playing the drums on super easy mode. We got to spend some good quality family time together. With other rock bands she would get too frustrated and we would have to quit. Today we played through 7 straight songs before we had to quit for dinner.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind
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