Noughty by nature: Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Rock Band 4

Bang, crash, wallop

Rock Band 4

There's always an element of danger when bands reform after years away from the stage. Will they still have the same energy, the same presence and will the old songs sound the same?

What about their new material? Will it be worth listening to, or something you'd rather they ditched to leave room for your favourite tracks? And what about that new member, the one who has replaced the old bassist who currently resides in Tibet having kicked his drug habit to search for the meaning of life?

Virtual vocalist ponders the monobrow look

Well, in many ways, the return of Rock Band has fans worried about the same sort of thing. No one can doubt that the rhythm guitar game didn't make its mark back in the day. But does the same formula necessarily remain as entertaining after so much time in the shadows?

Well, the answer's a "yes", with a rather large "but". For while jamming on plastic guitars and drums or wailing at the top of your voice is as fun and hypnotic as it ever was, the concept hasn't been furthered.

There's no doubt that the old gameplay rekindles memories of stolen afternoons and drunken evenings – especially when you and a group of friends are playing in perfect synchrony. However, soon enough its limitations resurface, reminding you why your plastic peripherals were left to gather dust in the first place.

Given the price of Mad Catz peripherals, the real thing might be cheaper

It doesn’t help that there are no game modes beyond "Play a Show", "Go On Tour" and "Quickplay", meaning this really is Rock Band at its most minimal.

At least "Go On Tour" has a story-based campaign mode where you can – to an extent – control the band’s Spinal Tap-like misadventures through multiple choices. Don’t go expecting something that might rival a Telltale game though, for, despite the odd comedic moment, there’s little gravitas layered into your decision-making.

It's also disappointing that any online options you may have enjoyed before are now non-existent. Their removal means that you'll need your line-up assembled under one roof to get the full experience, something that seems somehow backward given how today's consoles have upped the online ante through streaming options and social engagement.

The plastic "Oh no" band

The assortment of songs provided on the disc doesn't help matters either. It's a collection designed to cater to everyone's taste, though arguably at the expense of never truly gelling with anybody's.