Review

Rock Band 3

Common Sense Media says

Advanced music sim with sexy girls, mild cussing, alcohol.
Age
13
Quality
 
  • Positive messages1
    This game is about playing and enjoying music. If you play with friends, it’s also about playing music together as part of a team and helping each other out when you get in trouble. Note, though, that the nastier side of the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle bleeds through occasionally in the form of cut scenes that depict drunken musicians as well as some suggestive lyrics.
  • Positive role models0
    Players can dress their musicians in questionable, sexually suggestive attire. Plus, one scene shows them partying wildly on the roof of a skyscraper, waking up next to empty glasses and strewn underwear. They exude the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle.
  • Ease of play3
    Difficulty is generally in line with that of other music games. Assuming rookies choose the proper skill setting, they should be able to get into the swing of things fairly easily, regardless of whether they choose drums, guitar, keyboard, or vocals. Note, though, that the game’s Pro modes are exceptionally challenging and very nearly on par with the difficulty involved in learning a real musical instrument. The training sessions for these modes last hours and can be frustratingly challenging.
  • Violence1
    None, other than characters smashing guitars on stage.
  • Sex3
    Many of the game’s female characters -- both customizable avatars and non-player characters -- wear skimpy clothing, including extremely short skirts and busty tops. Also, a cut scene depicting a roof-top party ends with people waking up on couches with clothing -- including underwear -- scattered around them. Also, some song lyrics refer to love, sex, and even sexual organs, such as Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People” which talks about “the size of your steeple.”
  • Language3
    Strong profanity has been censored, but there are rare occurrences of lesser curse words, such as Swingin’ Utters’ "This Bastard’s Life.”
  • Consumerism3
    This game is a promotional platform for the scores of artists whose music appears in it.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    One cut scene shows the band’s musicians holding drinks filled with what one presumes is alcohol. It also shows these same characters waking up hung over the next morning with empty bottles and glasses scattered around them. Plus, the track list includes at least a few songs considered by some to be drug anthems, including The Doors’ “Break on Through.”
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Rock Band 3 is a music simulation game that has players taking on the roles of musicians in a rock and roll group. Players will see some typical rock and roll hijinks -- including one cut scene that has the band partying on a roof top and then waking up hung over surrounded by empty glasses and strewn underwear -- but the focus of the game is on having people play music with their friends. The new “pro” mode combined with the game’s new keyboard and pro wireless guitar (both sold separately), all but teaches players how to read music, making this perhaps the most educational -- and also at times the most challenging -- music simulator yet released.

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This review of Rock Band 3 was written by
Age
11
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say there are positive messages
  • 33% say language is an issue
  • 33% say it's educational
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Teen, 13 years old
December 27, 2010
13
OK for kids & up
 
Nice game, could be less inappropriate though.
Great game! Just wish it wasn't so inapropriate. And it's really confusing at first if your used to #2.
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Kid, 11 years old
February 25, 2011
11
OK for kids & up
 
Tween and up, some dodgy lyrics and scenes, 11+
I love Rock Band 3. It's so fun singing, playing guitar to, playing bass to and drumming to the songs you love. Some sex references in lyrics, some skimpy clothing on both men and women, some minor swear words like p**s, b***ard, d*mn, h*ll and a*s. Words like f**k and b**ch are muted and you can't hear anything. Some minor tobacco, alcohol and drug references. At one point your band drinks alcohol and gets drunk. Rock Band 3 has plenty of songs and since Rock Band 2 they have added the keyboard. This means you can now play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard or sing. You can create your own character and customise them with clothes, tatoos, make up, earrings, piercings, hats and more. Great game but slightly dodgy so only for mature kids.
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Teen, 13 years old
November 2, 2010
2
OK for kids & up
 
I don't care who plays it it's the best. Great for everyone. (Not implying that a two year old will actually/be able to play this game.)
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Teen, 17 years old
October 29, 2010
8
OK for kids & up
 
Best rock band game yet!
nothing really bad about this game. A few swear words and drinking scenes, along with a few characters wearing very few clothes. Pro modes are awesome, though if you're going to shell out 150 bucks for a fake guitar, why not buy the real thing? The keyboard is awesome. Pro keyboard is great and a good challenge, even for the seasoned piano player.
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Parent of 10 year old
October 27, 2010
10
OK for kids & up
 
Comes with a price, but worth it.
Me and my son have been waiting for this ever since we saw the signs. It was just as satisfying as the other games in the series. The content is mild, you may come across a cuss word or two, but nothing is stronger than b*stard. It is a bit pricey though, with the gutair, drums, and microphone to buy.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 28, 2011
11
OK for kids & up
 
Amazing Game
Almost 0 cussing, no suggestive themes in multiplayer, all-around good gmae.
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Teen, 14 years old
December 20, 2010
10
OK for kids & up
 
Love it ! this game is alsome !
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Parent of 17 year old
December 16, 2010
14
OK for kids & up
 
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Teen, 13 years old
January 3, 2011
12
OK for kids & up
 
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Teen, 13 years old
July 25, 2011
11
Pause for kids & under
 
Best to have the keyboard add-on, but this has the best songs of all three games.
My rating: T: lyrics
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