In the past year, rhythm music games have had a huge breakthrough into the mainstream, thanks in no large part to the Guitar Hero franchise. Using controllers shaped like the titular instrument, players are able to imitate their favorite songs without actually learning how to play them. It was instant gratification. Now developer Harmonix, who created the first two Guitar Heros, has moved on to a new project: Rock Band. Instead of one instrument, you now have four (guitar, bass, drums, and vocals). Whereas Guitar Hero was all about blistering solos and face-melting challenge, Rock Band is all about the cooperative experience.

Harmonix’s finely honed framework stays intact with Rock Band. Different colors of dots scroll forward on a treadmill and the player is tasked with strumming or drumming at the correct time. It seems like a simple formula, but it’s incredibly addictive.

The game provides a few different options so that one can go it alone or with a group of friends. The solo tour is a standard affair in which players simply progress through increasingly difficult tiers of songs. The solo tour is available for guitar, drums, and vocals, so there is no shortage of things to do when you’re alone. The problem with the single-player modes are that none of the songs cater to one particular instruments. This means that you should expect the occasional long intermittent pause.

However, faux-rockers won’t want to touch the solo mode after they experience Band World Tour. In this mode, up to four players can create a band, customize their rockers, band name, and logo, and then jet off around the globe in search of fame and fortune. Nothing compares to the feeling of having yourself and three friends rocking out or tilting guitar and bass simultaneously for a massive score multiplier. Adding to the music video mood are expressive and animated characters, and visual filters. The cooperative, as opposed to competitive, experience is unparalleled.

Rock Band’s online functionality is surprisingly robust. Players can use any of the four instruments to engage in a tug-of-war or high score contest. The cooperative experience is also brought online, but only in Quickplay. It’s a huge bummer that Band World Tour is not available online. A large part of Harmonix’s devotion to the game is through downloadable content. Already, a variety of songs are available for download (at a price), and I highly recommend Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”. This DLC adds longevity and variety to the 58 tracks already included on this disc and are seamlessly integrated into the game.

The song selection in the game is nothing short of incredible. The tracks range from classic (The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter”) to current (OK Go’s “Here It Goes Again”) and there are three or four songs at most that I don’t enjoy playing (though the list can be expanded with the previously mentioned DLC). Another important aspect of the song list is that all but about half a dozen are master tracks recorded by the original artist.

Of course, what would a music game be without its peripherals? The current bundle comes with a guitar controller, drum pad, and microphone. The Fender Stratocaster-inspired design works well, and I like it some what more than I like Guitar Heros Gibson X-Plorer controller. Aesthetically, it looks much less like a toy than other guitar peripherals, as its buttons are embedded in the neck of the guitar and the strum bar does not make a clicking sound, allowing a greater immersion in the game. Playing the game is identical to Guitar Hero, though I like the Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs (a technique which allows you to play multiple notes with one strum) system more because they are easier to spot. Smaller notes register better with me than notes without black circles. The Stratocaster also features a set of fret buttons lower down on the neck for designated solo sections, but most players will probably ignore this.

The drum pad is a surprisingly substantial piece of hardware, and it is a wonder that Harmonix was able to fit into such a manageable package. Setting it up for the first time only took me about ten minutes. The pad features four different colored circles and a kick pedal. Be warned: Playing drums for the first time is hard. Rhythmically-challenged people will be able to stumble through the easiest songs. If I have one complaint, it is that the drums are a bit loud; so much so that it occasionally drowns out the music.

Singing requires just a microphone and large cojones. The vocalist simply needs to match the pitch scrolling across the screen, and it works well enough. During prolonged instrumental sections, the singer must tap out rhythms on the mic. Playing the cowbell section of “Don’t Fear the Reaper” is unbelievably awesome.

Harmonix has created the year’s best game in the form of Rock Band. There is nothing quite like working together as a band, and all of the games elements combine to form one cohesive, immersive package. The excellent track list and hardware allow you to feel as if it really is yourself up their on stage. Despite a pricey entrance barrier ($170 US), fans of rhythm games, and especially Guitar Hero should take the plunge and try the greatest music game ever.

This review is based on the Xbox 360 version