This game’s sense of visual direction should be noted by lots of non-rhythm game developers. It has a really strong sense of color, sensible usage of post processing and great camera angles. My biggest complaints about the visual experience is that the members of the Beatles are basically always some level of smiling, and that for 3 chapters you’re playing in Abbey Road. Both of those complaints are probably counterintuitive considering it’s trying its best to be accurate to reality, and the Abbey Road sessions still give way to some of the most imaginative sequences in the game.
Personally this is my favorite UI design in any of the Rock Band games. The overall look of the gameplay elements like the highway and score counter really compliment the on screen visuals super well with their understated colors.
I think my favorite moment is the haziness applied to the visuals with the I Want You So Bad/She’s So Heavy outro. The hard-boiled look perfectly matches the song’s sound and the combination of sight and sound hits a truly perfect combination that almost gives the player a contact high. Slamming the door shut with a hard cut to black and kicking you to the results screen is pretty damn cool.
Lots of moments can be brought up similarly to the one mentioned, but simply put this is peak presentation in all of rhythm games. Harmonix was on top of their game and looked like they had a blank check from EA to pursue their vision, which was met damn near flawlessly. The only problem this game has is one outside of its preset restrictions, being that it’s all Beatles songs. Thats great from a hardcore Beatles fan and music enthusiast perspective, but their library lacks in the technical ability that some other bands that are prominently featured in the Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises bring to the table. Literally the only reason I’m not giving this Beatles themed video game a 5 out of 5 is that it’s too good at being only Beatles themed. Crazy, right?