The original “Rock Band” took the music video game world by storm by incorporating the entire band feel. Friends and families could now come together and play songs that everyone loves to hear. “Rock Band 3” is no different. The advent of the pro section and revitalized tour mode add a new depth to music gaming and certainly bridge the gap, spilling over into actual music.

One of the game’s selling features is the reworked tour mode. The introduction of challenges in career mode allows the player to level up their avatar and earn new venues to rock out in. Challenges can be band, instrument or even venue-specific and add a new experience to the game. The player or players can tour all over the world, racking up points and mastering favorite songs from all decades. The touring actually feels like you’re out there to rock the world.

By far, the most important aspect of “Rock Band 3” is the pro section. In previous games players were able to pick from any difficulty level, easy through expert, and test their skills against the rest of the world. The revamped pro section allows players to play the song as it really is. Every note matches up in the pro section and every chord struck is the real thing. Now anyone can learn to play “Smoke on the Water” exactly as Deep Purple has so often on stage.

In the old version, players only have access to the Mustang guitar, the plastic controller with 106 buttons, but with the release of the Squier Stratocaster players can use a real guitar both in game and out. Countless hours of practice sessions and training courses prepare anyone to make the leap from the plastic controller to the real thing. “Rock Band 3” is more than a game; it’s a musical trainer that everybody can learn to use. At first, the pro section is daunting and maybe even a bit scary, but once you settle in, you can feel like the rock star you always wanted to be.

“Rock Band 3” is a must-buy for the musician or music-lover. It’s the same game we’ve come to know, but with so much more. It opens up the music world to everyone and gives the world a chance to show off classic skills or build some new ones. No longer will players get destroyed by 12-year-olds who sit glued to television screens for seven hours each day. I, for one, cannot wait to spend days in a practice session hoping to gain ground on the diabolical “Free Bird.”

Expect a sharp learning curve that resembles a mountain for some, but serves as a mere steppingstone for those who want to embrace their musical side and shred with the best.

Rating: 4 out of 4 Stars