Topic: REVIEWS: Rock Band Country Track Pack

[Nick DiMola]

The twenty-one song expansion is a great addition to Rock Band 1, but owners of the sequel have a harder decision.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=19810

 Rock Band Country Track Pack is more of an expansion than it is a game. Country Track Pack marks the fifth Track Pack expansion to the series and, like the others, includes a selection of 21 songs. Due to their almost identical nature, much of this review's content is shared with my review of Track Pack Volume 2.    

First and foremost, players must realize that while it is an expansion, this game is actually a standalone title. Neither Rock Band 1 nor Rock Band 2 is required to play; you only need the equipment that comes with either of the titles.    

This track pack features a nice selection of songs that country music lovers should easily enjoy. As a value proposition, Rock Band Country Track Pack is a smart investment. At $29.99, players can enjoy a total of twenty-one songs at about $1.50 a track. If players were to purchase all of the included tracks via the Rock Band 2 in-game store, they would be spending 200 Wii Points ($2.00) for each of the tracks.    

Of course, if you only own Rock Band 1 and its associated equipment and you want more songs, the choice is easy. Players who do decide that the disc is a better investment won't be disappointed with the tracks and the quality of their note charts.    

The choice can be tougher for Rock Band 2 owners. Currently, the Track Pack is the only way to play this selection of songs. However, at some point in the near future, these tracks will be available for download in the Rock Band 2 shop. If you don't feel like waiting or swapping discs and are happy with the song selection, this track pack is an excellent investment. Unfortunately, unlike the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, these tracks can never be copied to your SD Card; they can only be played from the track pack disc. Therefore, if you own Rock Band 2 and would like all of your tracks to be in a centralized area, you should avoid purchasing this disc and wait to buy all the songs you really want through the online store.  Also, just like the original Rock Band, none of the tracks can be played online, adding another disincentive to the pack.    

All of the Rock Band 2 equipment works like a charm, and all of the tracks are available from the get-go without the need to unlock them via the included Tour mode. The unfortunate part is that even now, nearly a year after Rock Band 2's release, the game still features the Rock Band 1 interface and lacks the automatic calibration feature present in Rock Band 2 and its equipment.    

Rock Band Country Track Pack is a no-brainer for owners of the first Rock Band who love country music, and are looking to cheaply expand their song list. Owners of Rock Band 2 are better off noting their favorite tracks from the pack, and then buying them individually from the online store when they become available.    

Track Listing:  

 
• "3 Dimes Down" - Drive-By Truckers
 
• "Any Man of Mine" - Shania Twain
 
• "Can't Let Go" - Lucinda Williams
 
• "Cry Lonely" - Cross Canadian Ragweed
 
• "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" - Dierks Bentley
 
• "Gone" - Montgomery Gentry
 
• "Good Time"   - Alan Jackson
 
• "Gunpowder & Lead" - Miranda Lambert
 
• "Hillbilly Deluxe" - Brooks & Dunn
 
• "I Told You So" - Keith Urban
 
• "Me and My Gang" - Rascal Flatts
 
• "Mud on the Tires" - Brad Paisley
 
• "On the Road Again" - Willie Nelson
 
• "Satellite Radio" - Steve Earle
 
• "She's Country" - Jason Aldean
 
• "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" - Kenny Chesney
 
• "Sin Wagon" - Dixie Chicks
 
• "Swing" - Trace Adkins
 
• "Suds in the Bucket" - Sara Evans
 
• "The Gambler" - Kenny Rogers
 
• "This One's for the Girls" - Martina McBride
 

Pros:
       

If you want all of the tracks, this pack will save you $12

 

Nice selection of songs

       Cons:
       

Cannot play songs in Rock Band 2 via SD card

 

No online play

 

Still uses the Rock Band 1 interface

 

Automatic calibration of the instruments is not available

               Graphics:  6.0
       The title looks identical to the first Wii Rock Band; models are low-poly and look like an early PS2 game. The animations are all well-mapped, but all that matters are the note charts, anyway.

               Sound: 10.0
       The sound quality is fantastic and has no obvious flaws. The song selection is varied and interesting, giving the track pack broad appeal. All of the included tracks are also master tracks, and not remakes done by the internal Harmonix musicians.

               Control:  9.0
       The Rock Band (and Rock Band 2) equipment works without a hitch when you finally get it all calibrated properly to your TV. Unfortunately, calibration can be quite tedious, and cannot be done automatically as in Rock Band 2 with the Rock Band 2 equipment.

                      Gameplay:  9.0
       This release plays no differently from either Rock Band title. Unfortunately, you can't play any of the tracks online.

 

       Lastability:  8.0
       There are twenty-one songs in the pack, and depending on your affinity for them, they will last a variable amount of time.

 

       Final:  7.0
       Rock Band Country Track Pack is a great opportunity for country music fans with only the first Rock Band at their disposal to cheaply expand their song list. For owners of Rock Band 2, the online store is recommended when the tracks become available, regardless of the additional cost.      

[Flames_of_chaos]

I wonder how painful it was for Nick to give this a 7 considering how much he dislikes country music. With an exception to AC/DC I think he's given all of these a 7.0  (AC/DC received a 6.0) I'm curious how many more track packs will be released just to see how many reviews Nick will copy and paste creatively write about a 20 song track pack that shares the same Rock Band 1 Wii interface all the time.

[kraken613]

Well actually with homebrew you can import these track packs into RB2.

[Jonnyboy117]

The only songs I'd want are the ones by Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers. The biggest problem with these track packs is that you're buying in bulk and will usually pay for several songs that you've never heard and may not like. I like the a la carte system much better.

[Flames_of_chaos]

The only songs I'd want are the ones by Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers. The biggest problem with these track packs is that you're buying in bulk and will usually pay for several songs that you've never heard and may not like. I like the a la carte system much better.

Agreed, although it's nice for people who doesn't have Broadband internet access.

[Nick DiMola]

Well actually with homebrew you can import these track packs into RB2.

Hmmm, I never realized that. I just looked into it and it seems to be a cinch. When I get back from vacation tomorrow I'll probably try and import my Track Pack 2 and Classic Rock discs, and probably "On the Road Again" only from this one.

Also, that this regurgitated review has seen more action than my Flower, Sun, and Rain review.

[Stele]

Well actually with homebrew you can import these track packs into RB2.

I'll be damned.  Just another reason for me to consider trying that.  Have already been annoyed with the last year or two and all of the un-copyable save files that have been released with games.  After having a Gamecube memory card die years ago I have been a fanatic about backing up save files, and yet for some reason Nintendo doesn't want to let me. 

That alone has been driving me to try homebrew.  But if I can actually have the same RB2 features as the 360 guys too, there's another great reason to try it.

As for the review... since these track packs use the RB1 interface, are they also stuck with RB1 instrument compatibility or do they have the much better RB2 compatibility that works with RB/GHWT instruments both? 

Guess that'd be an even bigger reason to not buy them for many if it didn't...

[Nick DiMola]

The Track Packs are at least compatible with the RB2 equipment. I just checked over in the Rock Band forums and according to them the GHWT/GH3 guitars and microphones work with the Track Packs, but not the drums.

I'd say if you are a Rock Band 2 Wii owner, it's in your best interest to install the Homebrew Channel and check out RawkSD. You aren't doing anything illegal, just getting proper use out of your games and equipment.

I've been very hesitant to buy the first Rock Band because of the annoying and tedious process of perfectly calibrating the instrument timings. Now I can buy it and import it into the second one via RawkSD and be done with it. Not to mention the fact that all of the songs I've acquired will now be centralized to a single game. I <3 Homebrew.

[Jonnyboy117]

Now I can rent it and import it into the second one via RawkSD and be done with it.

Fixed. Hey, it's what everyone did on 360.