Waaaayyyy back in 1998 – seven years before the release of Guitar Hero – Konami released a game in Japan by the name of GuitarFreaks, soon to be followed by DrumMania. Japanese executives might have been a little off the mark when they decided that Western audiences wouldn't be interested in a game that involved players strumming or banging along to music with a guitar or drum peripheral, but a seed was sewn nonetheless. A decade or so later and music-based rhythm games are a cultural phenom ... more >>

Waaaayyyy back in 1998 – seven years before the release of Guitar Hero – Konami released a game in Japan by the name of GuitarFreaks, soon to be followed by DrumMania. Japanese executives might have been a little off the mark when they decided that Western audiences wouldn't be interested in a game that involved players strumming or banging along to music with a guitar or drum peripheral, but a seed was sewn nonetheless. A decade or so later and music-based rhythm games are a cultural phenomenon, with Guitar Hero and Rock Band having raked in big bucks for their publishers. Konami's finally returned (at least as far as Western gamers are concerned) to the genre it pioneered with Rock Revolution.

Players can rock out with their instrument of choice – choosing from drums, bass and guitar. It's a true air guitar experience, with Rock Revolution making use of the Wii's motion-sensing functionality to simulate instruments using just the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. There are 14 characters to choose from, with the potential to unlock your Mii.

Of course, it wouldn't be much of a band experience if you couldn't rock out with your mates, would it? Up to four players can get together. You can play together in co-op, either through single songs or career mode or you can sonically assault your friends with battle mode.

Get ready to rock out old school! << less