Golden Jubilee
Just about everyone you talk to knows at least one Queen song. Maybe it’s from hearing the anthems “We Will Rock You” or “We Are the Champions” at a high school championship. Or they’re fans of the classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” scene in Wayne’s World (or even The Muppets version of the iconic music video). The band’s cultural influence is undeniably intrinsic to our modern pop culture. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Queen’s inception, the group is releasing a series of weekly behind-the-scenes archival footage. Additionally, and perhaps most strangely: a mobile game.
Queen: Rock Tour takes the historic moments of the original members’ tours and puts them in the palm of your hand. This rhythm game is a collaboration by teams at Universal Music Group Recordings, Inc., Hollywood Records, and mobile publisher Gameloft. With that kind of backing, one may be wary that it’s a potential brand cash-grab in disguise. But I’m happy to report that this game spectacularly disproved this expectation with design and gameplay of the highest quality.
Play the Game
Taking cues from Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Queen: Rock Tour is a fairly straightforward rhythm game. Players tap and drag their fingers on six lanes of moving icons in time with classic Queen tracks. However, it stands out from its spiritual predecessors with little details that make the game unique. Instead of tapping for just a single instrument, you’re playing for the entire band! Each of the original members has his own icon color. When you miss one, their individual tracks drop out entirely until you resume accurate play. This added layer of specificity immediately raises the app beyond rip-off status.
The game also has a very clear aesthetic that it fully commits to. While some related titles try to overreach with their graphical capabilities to middling results, QRT maintains a specific, more refined approach. All of the band members are rendered in an adorable, emoji-esque style. This cartoonified version of each musician looks excellent on a mobile screen while still giving individual personalities to each band member. With unlockable outfits for each, you never feel as though you’re receiving a lesser or more childish experience, but rather one that is more stylized. It almost feels like this big-budget game is taking its cues from many indie titles in this vein, which is certainly not a bad thing.
Killer Queen
All 20 of the tracks chosen for Queen: Rock Tour are bonafide hits: “Somebody To Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “Another One Bites the Dust” to name a few. A particularly cool aspect of the game’s layout is that each of the tracks is sorted by album release date. As you play through them, you unlock the next iconic tour stop, with archival footage bookending each. The way the game follows the band’s timeline and evolution is highly satisfying. Additionally, completing each of the three difficulties for every song unlocks special concert and tour photos from the band’s archive.
I Want to Break Free
I have very few complaints regarding my playthrough experience. The $2.99 fee to unlock the full track list feels justified with the overall quality. But there were a few record-scratches from time to time. Firstly, you start playing each song on any difficulty once (with sufficient accuracy), unlocking the next tour of two songs. After about halfway through however, you must play the songs on other difficulties to progress to later tracks. This has the potential of frustrating more casual players. Secondly, some Android players have reported issues with consistent play in their Google Store reviews. So be sure your device’s specs are up to snuff when considering a download.
The Show Must Go On
Queen: Rock Tour is a worthy celebration of the iconic band’s 50th Anniversary with very few hiccups. The energy, stylings and fun of Queen emanate from every aspect of this game. Fans will enjoy experiencing the enduring legacy of these songs alongside the adorable avatars of those who made it possible. Whether you’re a new fan or old, you’ll be humming every track you play on this title for the rest of the day- if you aren’t still playing, that is!
Is it Hardcore?
Summary
Queen: Rock Tour is a worthy celebration of the iconic band’s 50th Anniversary with very few hiccups. The energy, stylings and fun of Queen emanate from every aspect of this game. Fans will enjoy experiencing the enduring legacy of these songs alongside the adorable avatars of those who made it possible. Whether you’re a new fan or old, you’ll be humming every track you play on this title for the rest of the day- if you aren’t still playing, that is!