Rocksmith (2012)

Developed and Published by: Ubisoft
Available for: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 | Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Format: Optical Disc
Rated: T for Teen (Lyrics, Mild Cartoon Violence)
Genre: Rhythm, Music
No. of players: Single-player
Special Requirements: Guitar with ¼” output jack
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Rocksmith is a music game in the vein of Rock Band that is notable for its unique controller: any real, electric guitar. The game comes with a cord that has a USB output on one side (for insertion into a gaming console) and a standard ¼-inch guitar jack on the other side. The hyper-intuitive game teaches players more than fifty different rock songs, constantly adjusting the difficulty of each song based on the player’s real-time performance. If a player is having trouble with the opening riff of The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry,” for example, the game will dial itself back to a more simplified version of the song until the player demonstrates enough proficiency to raise the difficulty.

Like Guitar Hero, Rocksmith guides players through a simulated rock ‘n’ roll career. The playlist is varied, but focuses heavily on the work of indie bands. Gameplay is fairly straightforward: before each song, the player is guided through the tuning process and then the song starts—the individual notes and chords delivered in a manner reminiscent of guitar tablature. Though it takes a little while to get acclimated to the presentation, the notation is easily understood, with each string color-coded.

The glaring flaw in this game is the split-second delay that occurs between the note being played on the instrument and it registering on-screen. However, beginning players will likely not notice it and experienced players will be able to adapt to it. The delay effect can be minimized (though not eliminated) through calibrations in the game’s settings. Rocksmith has the potential to teach a player who has never touched a guitar before the intricacies of the instrument in a fun and addicting way. For that reason alone, it will be an essential title for many libraries.

Caris O’Malley