Rock Band Rivals Review: Is It Worth Your Money?

My review of Rockudrama
• Rock Band Rivals: Rock...
My Review of Rivals Mode
• Rock Band Rivals: Riva...
Rock Band 4 released last year to mixed reviews. While many including myself were happy to see the series return after a long hiatus, it lacked a lot of the basic features from previous game’s including online play, setlists and practice mode. Most of these modes and features have been patched in over the past year of updates. Rock Band Rivals (Rivals) represents Rock Band 4’s first major paid update with a slew of new and returning features. Rivals features two new modes: Rockudrama and Rivals Mode. Rockudrama is a new career mode whose story is told through live action cut scenes resembling VH1’s Behind The Music. Rockudrama charts your bands rise to fame by interviewing your old teachers, roadies and fellow musicians. There’s a lot of cheesy and over the top moments in the career mode and I personally loved it. There are also some references to past Rock Band games as well. This mode clocks in around 3.5 hours or so and while the gameplay itself hasn’t received any updates, it’s the window dressing that makes this mode standout. This mode features four chapters, with most of them being split up into three parts that feature multiple song setlists. You advance in the game’s story by earning fame. Certain chapters require a minimum amount of fame to unlock, but seasoned players won’t feel restricted by this. As you progress through the game’s story the narrator comments on your performances between sets and you’ll sometimes hear the same recycled line over and over again. The songs you play are mostly done through voting (similar to the Shows mode) or making custom setlists. One of the new features is the wager system that lets you bet on how well you will perform during a gig. In addition to the wager system, the game will throw challenges at you to play certain songs or gigs using brutal mode (a mode which hides the notes on the track as you play better) or to gold star certain songs. It’s decisions like these that make the Rockudrama mode nail biting and worth checking out. Rivals Mode is where the real meat of the expansion lies. Rivals Mode is a competitive multiplayer mode that lets you form a crew of up to ten players and compete against other crews. In order to be successful in the Rivals mode you need to have a good assortment of players to cover all four instruments. Each week there is a themed challenge. This week’s challenge involves playing songs with the word ͞Love͟ in the title. As you play the themed songs you’ll earn XP and contribute to your team’s score. Playing on higher difficulties and scoring well will mean more XP for you and your team. The Rivals Mode is built in such a way that even lower skilled players can make a meaningful contribution as well.
Also released alongside the Rivals mode is a new IOS/Android App which lets you see the week’s challenge, track your team’s progress and chat with your crewmates. The app is free and works surprisingly well. In addition to the crew XP, you’ll earn individual XP which lets your character rank up. Regardless of what song or modes you play in Rock Band 4, you’re always levelling up. I found Rivals Mode to be incredibly addictive. During the first week Rivals was out, I was always eager to get home and contribute to my team. I’ve always been the type of Rock Band player to chase gold stars and full combos, so having a new twist on this competitiveness gave me extra incentive to go back and play some of my older songs. There’s also a great sense of community with the Rivals mode. Chatting with your crew mates and exchanging the best strategy for the week is critical to topping to leaderboards.

[@SteveWhiteman]

Hi guys, I noticed when I play Rock Band 4 it's offering me 39 free songs if I upgrade to Rock Band Rivals. Is there anyway of finding out what the 39 songs are?

[@somedot]

Probably just look it up on google

[@d_Kuma_b]

paid 160 euro and got a game without online multiplayer and still after all the time there still is none. till NOW it is kinda waste of money :/

[@wildboycory8858]

Can you play with your controller instead of instrument

[@toltaldominationx7183]

I need crew members! I'm trying to jam online with people. I play on expert drums. I've never had drum lessons but I'm still pretty damn good. Hit me up!!!

[@LordSaucyPickles]

How many people can there be in a crew?

[@michaelwhite4799]

I agree Sidd its pretty good fun, I think HMX has done a great job with rivals just need multiplayer now and I will be very happy.

[@markdickerson3445]

Clearly this is a Home Run for HMX. I love the base game but I''m having a blast. Honestly, I haven't played this much Rock Band since Rock Band 2. I have fallen in love with the game all over again. I would have given it a 9. Great review. Tomorrow it is time to put in more work on the Love Songs. I have a lot of songs I haven't played on different instruments I'd like to know what the next challenge is. Anyway, as always, keep up the good work and LET'S ROCK.

[@lilhaze34]

Could you do a review on the new guitar? If you picked it up..

[@rnrtruestories]

i would, but unfortunately i never picked it up. Whatever i read so far seems to say it's good.

[@MuSiCXTrEmE2K13]

Hello just wondering how much exp per crew member should be considered as good.

[@thomaskyprios8086]

MuSiCXTrEmE2K13 , It depends on how experienced your crew is. If most of the players in your crew is around the 900 Mark in their specialised instrument, then you should expect over 5000 crew xp from players in the crew. However, if the players in your crew have a lower skill level (let's say around 600) the expectation should be around 2000 crew xp. if you own the crew, I recommend hiring a large amount of people, let them work for a couple of weeks and see how each player reaches with the xp expectations from the rest of your crew.

[@MuSiCXTrEmE2K13]

Thomas Kyprios thanks for the reply and the advise, I am part of a crew so far I got 37k exp but the rest of the crew are on the 10k mark ☹️️

[@Daz21721]

For the rock band fan I'd say it's worth it .

[@WilbertBeltman]

No new songs in Rivals? Since I bought the game in I think 2016? I had this pop up that said "Get the rivals package" and after not playing for a year or so I still have that pop up and it says "Get the Rockband 4 Rivals bundle! 100+ new songs!" Thats why I wanted to see a review. Because I want to know what songs are on it. I won't pay 60 dollars for just 2 new modes.

[@theshannonandmaryshow]

do i have to have rockband 4 to play this. are all rockband 4 songs on this game

[@henrymaccabee7988]

the kits come with rock band 4

[@darrencorbit5994]

What is the difference between rock band rivals and the regular game?

[@ellucas2915]

x2

[@Agentshadling]

I know I'm late but I'm someone who only was able to get Rivals this year. It's SO much better than all the footage I saw of the regular 4. I was actually stunned because it is 100% improved and different compared to everything I saw of the base game 4 years ago.

[@Daz21721]

Can someone tell me how I search recently purchased songs .

[@deannam3875]

It's going to depend on what system you have. I've got a PS4 so to see mine, I have to go to Library and they should be listed there. I think if you log into the Playstation Store, there should be a list of everything that you have downloaded and purchased under your login. But trying to find all my previous purchases, I've noticed that some are located in one place but not another. I see one list when I've got Rock Band 4 up and I go to the store under Get More Songs. Under Exports, I can see some of the bundles I've purchased before. When I log into the Playstation Store and go to Add Ons, sometimes I'll see songs that I've purchased before but aren't listed under Buy More Songs in RB4. There is also a way to sort the songs by Free and Purchased in order to download previously purchased songs. I don't have an Xbox so I'm not able to say how to do that. I'm sure there's a way just like in PS4 to do that though.

[@Daz21721]

Deanna M hey thanks for that . I meant how do I find my recent purchases within the game via the new sorting system they have .

[@deannam3875]

You can go under the store and have it reload your dlcs

[@A1mostFamous93]

so the songs u bought for rockband 4, do they transfer to rivals to play?

[@Lycosa]

Yes of course!! BUt what do you mean? you do know that there is no online where you can play with a friend at the same time, yet? Its coming in December! You can play all yourr songs you had before, pretty much

[@A1mostFamous93]

Lycosa right I know that, but ya what I was just wondering if my songs would transfer to rivals. bc I bought 200$ worth over the year. alot of drinking nights with the friends an I'm a competitive player

[@Lycosa]

xALMOST FAMOUSx Yeah I've bought DLC songs too, they work of course. Rivals is just an expansion/update thingy.

[@A1mostFamous93]

but thanks for the reply man, but rivals I will buy😊

[@Sailor_Ferret]

RB4 changed so much tho ever since rivals and the online matchmaking that came out last week so I’ll give it a 8 out of 10

[@sonofriggnarok9320]

And what about character customization? Did they every make it good?

[@rnrtruestories]

no new updates to character customization features. They may have included some new outfits and stuff but you can't change body types,etc. New character customization updates may come next year.

[@sonofriggnarok9320]

Rock Gamer Thanks for replying. :D

[@rnrtruestories]

SonofRiggnarok you're welcome.

[@MrJokerbunny]

Is anyone else having issues with some of the notes not registering on guitar.

[@onecrazyasspanda]

Nope prolly your Guitar has crapped out.

[@blueleo1965]

Yes I am.

[@ElChivoJ]

I thought you were going to be able to battle players😑 like how guitar hero was. I've struggle to join a group on rivals. I request to join one but no luck. Do anybody know if they will add that later?

[@schadspencer9462]

John Torres I know !! add me JayXnXSilentBob Xbox haha

[@ElChivoJ]

Schad Spencer for sure bro, I'll add you when I get home. We can play some game too man. My tag is XxSNUGG1E5xX

[@ElChivoJ]

Schad Spencer just added you bro haha

[@schadspencer9462]

John Torres nice!!

[@breestone6607]

Good question, i wish they did though. I'm kinda new to rock band and like you im just looking for people to jam out with

[@hughmartinez5658]

Was gonna buy a new rockband guitar for $50 and then I saw rockband rivals bundled with one and was like eh I'll get it at game stop for $90 but then amazon had it for $40 and I was like okay I'll get it now

[@nirvanarocks83]

Mbn the bundle $500 now

[@bloodrain999]

Lucky guy lmao

[@psx0005rr]

+Rock Band Gamer - decent review and you hit valid points. For the haters/dissenters: Yeesh, people complain when there's too much Rock Band/music genre games. People complain when there's no games. People complain without even thinking that the music genre is a niche market and doesn't have the big money that Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto has, or that Harmonix doesn't have all the resources available to them like aforementioned games do to give you everything that YOU want. Folks, you need to stop acting like you're entitled to something when you don't put your money where your mouth is and show support.

[@dicloniusgames]

Do you need Rock Band 4 to play it?

[@d_Kuma_b]

it's a dlc

[@FusionKush]

not worth it to me. all they added was just a new two story mode! expect that you don't talk smack about your friends like in rb4. thought i was able to playing woth my crew and see there notes and everything like online multiplayer but i guess i can wait another month or two. i just wished i didn't spend the 30 bucks and just bought the music pack instead

[@Lycosa]

Well the online IS coming in December already. sorry buddy, no same-time Online yet but competitive and epic stuff, with your crew / band of 10 guys.

[@externaldeath4260]

Mine cost 180 last 2 left on amazon but i feel it to be worth it

[@williamlewis6859]

it not bad, personally i was looking for the old school online play.

[@rnrtruestories]

coming in December.

[@crazy-_-Beard]

I bought Rock Band Rivals today on PS4. Unfortunately the Rivals Code is already used ??? If anyone has an un-used Rivals Code for PS4, please send me a message

[@nickolassmith8759]

Before I played rock band 4 I thought this was a whole separate game not an expansion

[@turgturg4479]

Got rivals guitar, game and dlc cheaper than the original rb4 game and guitar so I'm happy

[@thomaskyprios8086]

I completely agree. I love the new rivals mode! I have never played Rock band so often in the past 5 days in my entire life, sure, I have spent countless hours playing the Rock band series, but I think the time I normally spend on Rock band 4, has doubled since Rivals came out. I am constantly thinking about keeping the skill of my specialised instrument up, whether I have contributed enough to my crew, how the members in the crew that I am in are doing compared to me, I love it! if I don't have the time to play Rock band, I am always on the app! I give rivals 9/10.

[@AnubisDark]

Join my crew : DEATH N DESTRUCTION ps4

[@alandunaway3000]

Won me over already. Better than playing Overcrap.

[@Freaks-yc9th]

It's not worth it. But if no bought it then buy it now it's 67% off and it's 9$

[@jasminm4515]

Can you just play guitar on this?

[@kusansimpson2514]

Yes

[@lesxus1750]

Of course it isn't worth it. We spent 200$ on a guitar and drum set and still have to pay for things.. That's ridiculous to me.

[@antlienx529]

I spent $20,000 on a new car and i still have to pay for gas. That's ridiculous to me.

[@ATumbleOfTheDice]

kek

[@mylefnepple1936]

I spent $100 dollars on a phone and still have to pay $60 a month

[@onecrazyasspanda]

In short: If you want the Competition yes it is worth it. If you want a new Career Mode again yes worth it. If you do not care for any of the above and just want to stick with Vanilla Rock Band 4 with no online no it's not for you. $30 is a pretty high price point for a Expansion with a low production but yet hilarious story and a new re-texture to the score board. On the other hand. The RBR Drum Kit is awesome, it's the best kit since GH:WoW. The guitar is "Eh" at most only thing new is that it folds and is rechargeable. The expansion would've been better at $20.