In case you don't know, Rock Manager is a fun little strategy game by small developer Dreamcatcher that has you as a manager in the business. Being only about 8 bucks a pop, picking this game up would have little downfalls. Perhaps the reason it's so enjoyable is because it's true to the rock community while habing a comical cartoony feel.
The premise is simple: take lowly (and many times untalented) musicians and turn them into international stars. As you begin the game, very little of the buildings are unlocked, which can be a pain. You'll always ponder on what is in those buildings. As you progress, the buildings naturally become available. Getting these new buildings to open up, however, isn't always easy. Once you get to the mission "Metal to the Masses", you realize that bandmate Sonny van Lord cares more for his chick than the band. Keeping Firewolf together is tough enough as it is, and it just keeps getting tougher.
The graphics are plain and simple. The characters are influenced from cartoons, with stick arms, legs, and necks with massive heads and digits. Looking at the box art, you'd think you're looking at a kid-friendly game. Well, it is cute seeing these little boogers dropping the F-bomb whenever they please. The map is almost non-moving, and could be given some life breathed into it. At times, it may seem laggy, but overall, it's a pretty smooth game.
Without a doubt, the best thing about this game is the studio. It's a dumbed down version of a real studio. It's its simplicity that makes it so gripping. You can add effects, hire studio musicians, and change riffs to near 30 songs. Although these songs are only 10 second clips, they are some of the catchiest tunes you'll hear. Whether you're growling to Jamie Zoon's "Heart of Stone, Soul of Metal" or jamming to Charlotte Johnson 's disco chords, you'll be humming these for weeks after you beat the game.
Surprisingly, there are some flaws to this. For one, it's to short. Only about 10 missions are present to amuse you. There's also not enough options outside of the studio. I'd like to send my CD to multiple magazines and set prices and other small details. There also seems to be a feature lacking for the addition of new tunes. But even with these minor flaws, Rock Manager is still worth a buy. If you can find it in a bargain bin, you might as well buy it.
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