Top 5 Reasons to Buy Rock Band Instead of Guitar Hero III

If you were awesome enough to visit the site last week, then you should be caught up on the Top 5 Reasons to Buy Guitar Hero III Instead of Rock Band. But let's say that list wasn't good enough for you. Let's say you're a millionaire and you can actually afford to buy Rock Band (it's a smooth $170 at launch). Here are the top 5 reasons why you should buy it instead of Guitar Hero III.

#5: Drums - Some would say this is the #1 reason to buy the game. I disagree, mostly because I've never been able to play the drums and the drum peripheral for Rock Band is too similar to the real thing to instill much confidence in me. Then again, Guitar Hero is the great game that it is because it makes people who can't play guitar feel like they can. If implemented correctly, the drums in Rock Band could gain a whole new legion of wannabe drummers, myself included. I'm not entirely convinced that I will be able to play the drums in the game, but even the slightest possibility of being able to gets me excited.

#4: The Songs - At launch, Guitar Hero III will have more songs than Rock Band. Rock Band, however, offers a much better selection of music in my opinion. Included in the game's soundtrack are some fairly notable songs by Stone Temple Pilots, The Hives, OK Go, Soundgarden, Beastie Boys, and MORE! As much as I love Guitar Hero, I have to admit that the selection of songs that it offers up doesn't even compare to this lineup. Rock Band is just another example of quality over quantity.

#3: Downloadable Albums - EA has announced that they plan on assaulting gamers with loads and loads of downloadable content for Rock Band (some people even suggesting a song per day through 2008). To me, the most exciting aspect of this approach is the revelation that Rock Band will have downloadable ALBUMS! Not much is known as to which albums will be available for download just yet, but what is confirmed (Nirvana's "Nevermind," The Who's "Who's Next") is pretty awesome. Here's hoping EA brings us some decent albums to play and not just Fall Out Boy and Blink 182 (please god!). Of course, when you consider that MTV Games is behind Rock Band, the outlook is not as good as it could have been.

#2: Master Tracks - As opposed to Guitar Hero III, the overwhelming majority of songs on Rock Band (read "all but a few") will be master tracks! That includes, but is not limited to, Garbage, Radiohead, Weezer, The Pixies, Smashing Pumkins, The Hives, and Beastie Boys. Thank god too! Can you imagine some nobody trying to nail Thom Yorke's vocals on "Creep" or even coming close to Howlin Pelle's trademark...well...howls on "Main Offender?" The decision to get the rights to these master tracks was one of the best that EA and MTV Games could have made. As long as you don't play with your loser friend who insists on rockin' the mic, you should have a fairly pleasant gaming experience. Sweet!

#1: It's the Ultimate Party Game! - How many times have you and your friends talked about starting your own band? If you're like me and my posse, the number is up in the hundreds. Rock Band not only give you the ability to make your dreams come true, but it also serves as some instant gratification! And for all you drinkers out there, this is probably the one time where the drunker you are, the more people will love your singing (Because it'll not only be hilarious, but they'll be drunk too! Yay!). Or let's say you get tired of playing guitar, well just kick your friend off the drum kit and take over there for a while. Rock Band offers near-limitless possibilities for party-play. Personally, I'm a big fan of Mario Party and similar party games, but I have to admit that the idea of getting a group of people together and rocking out for hours probably appeals to me more than anything else about Rock Band. I'm still not sure if it's worth $170 to do so...but it might be!