Rock Band Blitz

Gaming Nexus (9 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz works as not only an extension of the Harmonix brand, but also as a stand-alone action game full of cool power-ups and competitive leaderboards. Plus, it's a set of mostly great songs that can be played in Rock Band 3. It doesn't matter if you shred with a fake plastic guitar, retired from the road long ago or are playing for the first time; Rock Band Blitz has a little something for everybody!

CGMagazine / Comics and Gaming Magazine (9 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz is more fun than it should be. I can't explain it but, I just get this weird feeling while playing and I keep thinking that this shouldn't be fun, but it is.

Games TM (9 out of 10)

After a rocky couple of years for rhythm-action, in which Guitar Hero came to an end and Rock Band 3 failed to repeat the retail success of its predecessors, it's fantastic to see Harmonix back on top with a game that reinvigorates the genre in new and interesting ways. But, more than that, it's just great to have an extremely playable reason to return to some old favourite songs.

Darkstation ( )

Blitz is a game that gives as much as you put into it. Keep an extensive music library and group of leaderboard rivals and its longevity is potentially massive. The packaged 25 songs definitely won’t be enough to sate your fill, and once you get the hang of its complex systems you’ll be chasing down those high scores in a fervour that you haven’t experienced since the rhythm game heyday. The fact that Blitz’s 25 songs also work as DLC for Rock Band 3 is the icing on the cake that makes it the most rewarding and fresh-feeling music game since Rock Band first brought the concept of plastic instruments to superstardom.

Gamegravy (9 out of 10)

Overall, Rock band Blitz is great and I highly recommend it. It’s perfect for a novice player and also provides that extra challenge for a hardcore player. Controls are intuitive and gameplay is very entertaining, not to mention no plastic instruments. With plenty of new features you’ll find yourself busy for hours. It’s great to challenge friends, share scores via social platorms and compare against global rankings so you know you’re competing with people all over the world. For $14.99, it comes with 25 songs in a plethora of genres so everyone’s taste will be satisfied. You just simply can’t go wrong.

IGN (8.5 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz is great. The core gameplay will keep you switching and tapping like a madman or woman, and the inability to fail allows anyone to get excited and enjoy the experience. Once you master that, the high scores and bragging rights will call your name and get their hooks in if you're that type of gamer. However, if you're not of the high score chasin' mentality, Rock Band Blitz might be an obsession that passes you by as there's no real draw for solo shenanigans.

COGConnected / Canadian Online Gamers Network (84 out of 100)

Overall, I had a blast playing Rock Band Blitz on XBLA. I never would have thought you could have this much fun playing a music based game without the plastic instrument controllers. Playing Rock Band Blitz with the standard Xbox 360 controller was a hoot as the fast gameplay, enjoyable set list and the ability to play your existing Rock Band tunes from your library (for a price) makes Rock Band Blitz a solid buy for fans of the franchise. Granted, Rock Band Blitz lacks some of the substance from previous Rock Band games but when you take into account its price point, Rock Band Blitz is money well spent.

Gaming Age (B+)

All this fun and additional songs for Rock Band 3 for only 15 dollars, you really have no other choice but to buy Rock Band Blitz if you are a fan of music and rhythm style games. Even if you have had your fill of the musical genre, this new take on the game play will make you a fan once again. If you are like me and still get those plastic instruments out every now and again or religiously, this is a no brainer. In short, Rock Band Blitz is a musical bargain.

Giant Bomb ( )

Harmonix builds on its collective knowledge of rhythm games for a downloadable experience that offers something old and something new.

Console Obsession (8 out of 10)

As a new way of experiencing the vast library of Rock Band tracks, Blitz can be seen as a fun addition to the series. As a full game it does lack the sense of teamwork and co-operation that makes Rock Band so playable, and while it is a competitive and challenging game to master the lack of multiplayer options holds it back. It is value for money in providing new tracks for the main Rock Band games but can never replace rocking out with your friends. Rhythm action as a genre is alive and well, and in safe hands when Harmonix is the developer.

Digital Spy ( )

Ultimately, Rock Band Blitz is a smart and satisfying extension to the Rock Band platform. It should be a no-brainer purchase for Rock Band enthusiasts, but it's also a worthy purchase for anyone who wants an addictive and at times chaotic rhythm title without the fuss of plastic instruments.

Destructoid (8 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz isn't going to change the world, with its appeal as a game likely limited to a niche market of dedicated rhythm game players, but it is fantastically fun to play and features considerable complexity. Critics who may have been skeptical of whether or not the game would be challenging or enjoyable with its simplified two-note design (as compared to prior Harmonix beat-matching titles) should find that there's still a ton of difficulty potential and a design that encourages players to experiment with a great variety of scoring methods. For those who enjoy beating down their friends in score-based challenges, the Score Wars feature alone will provide an endless amount of fun.

Polygon (8 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz's multiplier system makes for a frantic game of chicken with checkpoints and the meter on the side indicating how far ahead your closest leaderboard rival is score-wise. And as you're juggling lanes and building up overdrive, all while nailing more hectic note passages, Rock Band Blitz effectively channels the feel of Rock Band proper, all without a plastic instrument. And even after the furor over instrument-based music games has largely burned away, it's great to rekindle that kind of excitement and sense of musicality.

Official Xbox Magazine (UK) (8 out of 10)

Mastering a song is a lengthy process but that only makes earning that hallowed fifth star more satisfying than ever. And with 25 tracks - not to mention support for every single song in the Rock Band store - this could potentially keep your thumbs busy for months.

411mania.com (8 out of 10)

Harmonix really put great effort into Rock Band Blitz. Kudos to Harmonix for trying to push Rock Band into a different yet familiar direction and provide longtime fans plenty of incentives for picking up the game like free export to RB 3, making all DLC playable in RB Blitz, and also giving fans back a few songs they lost in the RB 2 export. Not to mention, they extended the life of RB 3 and RB Blitz with the facebook app as well. Oh yeah, and the whole package only costs 15 dollars to boot.

New Game Network (79 out of 100)

Rock Band Blitz is a totally different approach to the music-rhythm genre, and one that has a thoroughly enjoyable and challenging core gameplay mechanic. Having said that, If you've never played Rock Band before and have no desire to shell out for music DLC, then maybe give this a pass - there's not enough content in the download to justify the price.

Gamers' Temple, The (79 out of 100)

I had fun with Rock Band Blitz, but part of that is certainly due to my love of music and getting to play a game while listening to some of my favorite tracks. I wish that the game felt more like Amplitude and Frequency, though, and that the gameplay did a better job of making me feel like I am making music while playing it. While you could fool yourself into thinking that you were playing an instrument in Rock Band, the double stick, two note gameplay of Blitz feels more like you're tapping your fingers to the song than actually playing it.

GameSpot (7.5 out of 10)

The core gameplay model of Harmonix's classic games Frequency and Amplitude has aged very well--it's still a whole lot of fun to weave through the elements of a song, tapping out beats on a controller. The nutty arcade-style power-ups keep Rock Band Blitz from feeling like a simple retread of those old concepts; the fact that Blitz works with your existing library of Rock Band songs gives you a potentially huge amount of great music to play; and the game's emphasis on leaderboards and competition makes returning to songs again and again to improve your score a rewarding pursuit. It's unfortunate that the coin system may occasionally interfere with your quest for rock-and-roll domination, and that you need to be on Facebook to take advantage of all of the game's features, but Rock Band Blitz is still a very good way to keep the Rock Band train rolling.

4Players.de (72 out of 100)

Wie? Ein Rock Band ohne Instrumente? Und das soll funktionieren? Oh ja! Genau wie die Handheld-Ableger oder die ebenfalls von Harmonix entwickelten PS2-Titel Amplitude oder Frequency beweist Blitz, dass Rhythmus auch ohne Plastikklampfen Spaß machen kann. Das auf Kombos und Multiplikatoren setzende Konzept geht zwar auf, nicht zuletzt auch dank der gut reagierenden Steuerung. Doch ohne lokalen Mehrspielermodus (es werden nur Online-Ranglisten angeboten) sowie mit einer spartanischen und abwechslungsarmen Kulisse ausgestattet, ist es unter dem Strich wenig mehr als ein nettes Rhythmus-Geplänkel für zwischendurch. Es gewinnt allerdings zusätzlichen Reiz durch die Kombination mit den klassischen Rock Bands: Sämtliche Songs, die man auf der Festplatte hat, lassen sich auch hier verwenden und im Gegenzug kann man die übner 20 Blitz-Lieder auch mit Plastikklampfen & Co spielen.

ZTGameDomain (7 out of 10)

While traditional Rock Band games cast you as a musician, Rock Band Blitz makes you feel more like a producer, taking the individual instrument tracks and manipulating them to achieve the best result. For those who have a library of DLC it’s a nice way to get some extra mileage out of those old songs, and the game encourages you to revisit lots of different ones. For those without that existing content though, the appeal is limited, and I can’t imagine purchasing extra songs with the sole intent of playing them in Blitz. If you’re looking for a new way to play your old tunes it’s a fun change of pace, but newcomers probably won’t find enough here to merit a purchase.

Worth Playing (7 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz is an above-average music game and a worthy addition to the libraries of genre fans and dabblers alike. It's also great for people who want to enjoy Rock Band in a different way, don't want to drag out the instruments every time, or don't always have a crowd of pals handy. It's a little sad to see a game like this avoid greatness for reasons that could easily have been avoided. While its mechanics always feel somewhat cluttered, they can be adjusted, with much fun to be had once they are. However, the insufficient and incorrect documentation, lackluster presentation, no multiplayer and the current price, could discourage a lot of potential buyers.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (7 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz certainly isn't the Jazz Odyssey of the series, but its shortcomings taint its good intentions. There's plenty to like here, and Blitz is an undeniably enjoyable arcade game in short bursts. But it feels like an awkward offshoot for the Rock Band name, a little desperate in its push to get people downloading more songs, and an altogether lightweight experience that is unlikely to reverse the decline of the music genre.

Cheat Code Central (3.5 out of 5)

Ultimately, Rock Band Blitz is definitely worth spending some time with. Doubly so if you're a Rock Band enthusiast looking to expand your collection of playable songs. Owners of Rock Band 3 will definitely get their money's worth; for everyone else, there's a very enjoyable rhythm game here. Either way, it's $15 well spent.

Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) (6 out of 10)

Rock Band Blitz manages to improve on its predecessors’ concept and control schemes, but the harsh monetization of its music and repetitive controller-based gameplay ultimately doesn’t measure up to the feeling of a real Rock Band experience.

GamesRadar ( )

Rock Band Blitz is a bit like a wooden rollercoaster. When you first experience it, it’s thrilling--but with each repeated ride, it starts to feel less exciting and more rickety. The immediate comparison to make would be Harmonix’s 2001 PlayStation 2 breakout title FreQuency, and its fantastic 2003 follow-up Amplitude. Sadly, Rock Band Blitz’s fleeting fun falls short of the addictive arcade action of those titles.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine (3 out of 5)

Rock Band Blitz is a conflicting experience for hardcore fans. The game has its moments, but the most entertaining part of Rock Band has been effectively stripped from the game. Gone is geeking out with friends, nailing complex solos, and a sense of accomplishment for successfully completing a difficult song. The spirit of the game isn’t the same in that most of the gameplay is a mechanical trial-and-error process: find the appropriate times to play each instrument. The controls are one step above button mashing, and don’t deliver the traditional Rock Band experience. It remains fun for a bit, but would be better suited as a Rock Band 4 mode instead of a standalone title. Ultimately, Rock Band Blitz is a unique take on the genre, but not one strong enough to stand on its own feet.

Gameplay (Benelux) N/A

Al wie nog nooit een Rock Band-game heeft gespeeld, heeft al iets gemist in zijn leven. En nee, je hoeft geen dure games en tal van plastic instrumenten te kopen, dat bewijst het voordelig geprijsde Rock Band Blitz dat met een controller kan worden gespeeld op een manier die aan de PSP-game Rock Band Unplugged doet denken. Let's play!