"Though Unplugged feels very much like a spiritual successor to Amplitude, the game carries the Rock Band branding for a reason. Aside from the fact that the overall look and presentation of the game feel distinctly similar to its console counterparts, you'll have the option to create your own customized band and then take them on the road in World Tour mode. There are 24 venues to choose from along the way, and you can earn cash to buy new instruments and clothing while building your posse by hiring staff members."
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3173746&p=7
"Just like Rock Band, Unplugged has four instrument tracks: Bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. In the default control scheme, you use the shoulder buttons to move between instruments. You use Left, Up, Triangle, and Circle to keep time with the music -- tapping the corresponding button as it scrolls down from the top of the screen. But other parts of the game borrow more heavily from Amplitude; for example, you can't sit on just one part throughout the entire song, you have to change it up. A bar running across the note track acts as a visual cue, letting you know when your current instrument is about to run out of notes and you need to slide left or right to a new one.
The regular career mode makes you manage each part in a song equally -- instruments you're not currently playing perform fine on their own. If you fail any one part, only that instrument is out. Just like on the console, you can switch to another instrument, activate the series' signature Overdrive power, and then bring it back into the rotation to continue rocking as usual. If that sounds too easy, the game also includes a Band Survival mode, where every track has a constant stream of notes, and any instrument you're not playing steadily loses fans until eventually failing out. It makes track management a lot more challenging, and is just the thing for people who might scoff at the simplicity of pounding out rhythms with just four buttons.
Unlike Guitar Hero: On Tour for DS, Unplugged doesn't use any peripherals, but also unlike its handheld competition, there's no multiplayer. And despite coming out for the PSP, there's no cross-platform compatibility with PS3. Any tracks you've downloaded or characters you've created for the console version will not carry over, but Unplugged will have its own built-in music store. Though it won't be as regularly updated as the weekly add-ons Rock Band receives, 10 tracks will be available for download at launch and Alex Navarro (a member of Harmonix's community team) promises regular content updates at $0.99 to $1.99 per song. When the game launches, nine songs on the UMD will be Unplugged exclusives (though they'll eventually come to the console download store as well). A few highlights include Tenacious D's "Rock Your Socks," the Jackson 5's "ABC," and Alice in Chains' "Would?"."
http://kotaku.com/5212547/rock-band-unplugged-hands+on
"What Needs Improvement
No Multiplayer: There's really not much that Harmonix can do to add this, since it hasn't been announced, nor is it planned for Rock Band Unplugged. But the absence of multiplayer, something we've been spoiled by in the console versions and even the PlayStation 2 game Amplitude, is sorely missed.
Less Schlock, More Rock: Purely personal preference, but some of the PSP exclusive tracks are a little lacking. I'm singling out things like 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite" and Blink 182's "What's My Age Again?" While the Unplugged tracklisting is more than balanced out by new Alice In Chains and classics from The Who and Boston, the currently announced selection doesn't overexcited. Having to double dip for the PSP version of each track is going to make Rock Band Unplugged investment a little tougher to justify.
What Should Stay The Same
More Pop, More Rock: Here's where I begin to contradict myself. The inclusion of "ABC" by The Jackson 5 is a great, unexpected addition. The return of Freezepop, this time in the core tracklisting of Unplugged, is also welcome. While personal tastes will obviously differ, the tracklisting does venture into the appreciably eclectic.
Same Great Rock Band Feel In The Amplitude Style: Amplitude was a hell of a lot of fun. So is Rock Band Unplugged, which builds upon the established gameplay so under-appreciated in Harmonix's previous rhythm-based console efforts. The aesthetics of Rock Band are kept intact, with a capable World Tour mode, customizable band mates, and great information design that makes understanding the four across note highway a breeze.
Customized Control Layouts: The default control scheme may just take some getting used to, but if you'd prefer a different button layout, you have the option. If going left and right on the D-pad, circle and square on the face buttons makes more sense, have at it.
Final Thoughts
While it may seem like Rock Band Unplugged is devoid of what makes the game so fun in the first place—the instrument simulation, the multiplayer modes—the PSP version feels like a very capable entry. It's not a common thing to see quality rhythm games on the PSP, outside of a handful of titles, so the addition of Rock Band to the platform is a good portion of the appeal. Fortunately, the game seems to stand on its own, even without the Rock Band brand attached to it. The potential for extended play through downloadable content will likely make the investment worthwhile, especially when you don't have anyone to play the fully-fledged version of Rock Band to play with."
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Seems cool overall, I definitely want it. And GameSpot had a video preview where some of the songs were visible, so I wrote them down, which means that so far, we know of 27 of the songs.
Boston - More than a feeling
Social Distortion - I was wrong
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a prayer
Modest Mouse - Float on
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Jackson 5 - ABC
Lit - My own worst enemy
Smashing Pumpkins - Today
The Police - Message in a Bottle
Lacuna Coil - Our truth
Kansas - Carry on Wayward Son
AFI - Miss Murder
The Who - Pinball Wizard
Billy Idol - White Wedding (Part 1)
Rush - The Trees (Vault Edition)
Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Killing Jar
Black Tide - Show me The Way
Pearl Jam - Alive
3 Doors Down - Kryptonite
Alice in Chains - Would?
Audioslave - Gasoline
Blink 182 - What's My Age Again
Freezepop - Less Talk More Rokk
Tenacious D - Rock Your Socks
Foo Fighters - Everlong
Nirvana - Drain You
Weezer - Buddy Holly
