On paper, the concept of Lego Rock Band is a sure-fire success. Taking one helping of Harmonix' hugely popular Rock Band series, another of Traveller's Tales Lego franchise and mashing them together to create a full band experience the entire family can enjoy. But for those who've been playing Rock Band for years now, is Lego Rock Band worth the price of admission?

The style of Lego Rock Band shouldn't be too difficult to understand. Picture Rock Band. Now picture Rock Band where everything, the avatars, the instruments, and the sets are all made up of little Lego blocks. That's Lego Rock Band.  And for the most part, the cuteness factor works in the game's favor. I enjoyed seeing Lego-ized versions of Queen, Blur, David Bowie, and Iggy Pop, as well as some of the Rock Band staple characters like the Duke of Gravity, who reminds me of Tool's Maynard James Keenan for some odd reason.

However, I understand these are Lego characters whose hands are single block hooks, but seeing them behind instruments isn't all that exciting. In other non-Lego Rock Band games you could enjoy watching the avatars prance around and see their hands and fingers sliding to the correct notes or chords on the guitar, bass, whatever, but here in Lego Rock Band they just kind of pound on the instruments. Or in the case of the drummer, never even touch the instrument at all, instead just moving an arm up and down above it.

The tracklisting here in Lego Rock Band is also a bit more toned down to hit that family demographic the game aims for. So don't go in expecting to find Megadeth or Motorhead. But with that said, Lego Rock Band also isn't the top 40 monster Band Hero is. This game actually has something to enjoy for all fans of music. Whether you fancy yourself an Elton John fan or a Jimi Hendrix diehard. I consider myself a rock aficionado and even with a songlist including KT Tunstall and Good Charlotte (shudder), I was still able to enjoy the majority of the 45 tracks offered in Lego Rock Band (Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" anyone?).

Game-mode wise, Lego Rock Band offers the standard quickplay and story/career modes you've been playing in other Rock Band title for years. Quickplay lets you can jump right in and play any of the game's 45 tracks, as well as anything you've downloaded from the Rock Band store for previous Rock Band titles. While the story mode lets you create a group and hit the road, performing at different locales, gathering more fans and cash-dollars to unlock more songs, more venues, and more rockin' attire and equipment. It's pretty basic stuff, nothing revolutionary, but gets the job done.

The one new addition Lego Rock Band brings to the table, fitting in line with the Lego ease-of-play namesake, is the inclusion of "recovery mode." This mode allows you to save your own hide if you fail a song by spending gold coins from your Lego coin-purse. The game also gives you a chance to replenish your coin collection right after being revived, technically allowing you infinite "lives" as opposed to the three you would normally get in Rock Band. And even then you needed your bandmates to do the saving for you. 

This review has been super brief, but there is good reason for it. Lego Rock Band isn't really a new game. It's a $40 expansion with a new skin. No real new innovations for either the Rock Band or Lego brands. The game simply has 45 tracks not in any other version of Rock Band, therefore warranting its existence. But for $40? No thanks. I enjoy a majority of the tracks in Lego Rock Band, but when push comes to shove, I would rather use that $40 on downloadable tracks for Rock Band 2 or The Beatles: Rock Band. Lego Rock Band might have a charm and PG tracklist lacking from other Rock Band titles, but that's where the draw pretty much ends. So unless you absolutely love Europe's "The Final Countdown" and need it in your Rock Band catalog, you're better off passing on this one. Although, the game does come with a coupon for one free child admission to LegoLand. So, there's that.

CraveOnline Rating: 6.5 out of 10