Harmonix details Rock Band VR’s story mode, unveils more tracks

Same songs as the others

With Rock Band VR fast approaching, it looks like Harmonix is keen to detail exactly what you’ll be doing when the novelty of VR runs out. In addition to the classic style of slamming keys in sync with a scrolling fretboard, you’ll also have a “story” mode to work through in the Oculus exclusive game.

The producer and writer for the game, Katie Naka, writes over on the Harmonix blog, “Since our goal with VR gameplay was to provide the player with as authentic an experience as possible, we wanted to do the same with our narrative. I can tell you that our first draft of the story probably contained enough material for a full length animated film.”

“The final result shows your bandmates (Derek, Maddy, and Wes) as unique characters with relationships to each other and you that are revealed over the course of your band Autoblaster’s journey from playing dirty local bars to decadent theater.” Could this be similar to absolute classic film This is Spinal Tap? Hopefully the game goes to 11!

Along with that short description comes a reveal of an additional 20 songs in the game. We now know 41 of the 60 songs that will be present in the final product. You’ll notice a few repeats from past Rock Band titles:

• Blondie – “One Way Or Another”
• Carrie Underwood – “Church Bells”
• Catfish And The Bottlemen – “Postpone”
• Coldplay – “Birds”
• David Bowie – “Suffragette City”
• Europe – “The Final Countdown”
• Green Day – “Holiday”
• Jimmy Eat World – “The Middle”
• Maroon 5 – “Maps”
• Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
• Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
• Parks – “Sweater Weather”
• Pearl Jam – “Alive”
• The Pretty Reckless – “Heaven Knows”
• The Starting Line – “Quitter”
• Stone Temple Pilots – “Plush”
• Switchfoot – “Float”
• The Temper Trap – “Alive”
• Twin Atlantic – “I Am Alive”
• The Wind And The Wave – “Grand Canyon”

As far as the original songs in this setlist are concerned, they will eventually be making their way to Rock Band 4 as DLC. I don’t really see anything worth grabbing that I don’t already have, but the gesture is appreciated.

I always find it strange how similar the setlists end up being between these different games. I know that licensing for music games isn’t indefinite, but how many times can I play “Suffragette City” past the original Rock Band and have it still feel new? Hell, I’ve probably played that song more than David Bowie has performed it. Classic or not, some deeper digging into an artist’s catalogue would go a long way to enticing me into playing this.

Rock Band VR‘s Second Setlist Reveal, Campaign Details [Harmonix]