Rock Band Reloaded HD

We've grown a little tired of music games, but Rock Band Reloaded is good enough to command our attention. Electronic Arts took the successful but lacking Rock Band title on the iPhone and expanded upon the formula with some key features that make this entry a must play, despite the uncomfortably high $9.99 sticker price.

The most important addition is voice recognition, allowing players to give their fingers a rest and sing into the iPad's microphone. Not only is it fun, but the tech works without a hitch, as the game picks up every single note with pinpoint precision.

We're also jazzed about landscape mode, which makes playing the game more user friendly, and World Tour has a wider assortment of venues (six cities and 36 events, to be exact), something that goes a long way to spicing up the scenery.

Of course, a Rock Band is only as good as the soundtrack, and once again, EA delivered a satisfying mix of tunes that span multiple decades. Players will find 20 songs available from the start, from artists like Alice in Chains, the Beastie Boys, Billy Idol and No Doubt; a new Expert option means gamers won't blow through Reloaded in one sitting. On top of that, EA already sells music at the online store, in case gamers want to add to the set list.

As expected, though, the game doesn't offer a complete Rock Band experience. Being able to play drums or guitar is enjoyable, but tapping the screen falls short of using a plastic instrument. Then there's multiplayer, which offers head-to-head, but not online.

Then there's the whole price issue. In typical EA fashion, it chose to release the App at $9.99 instead of cutting players a break. While that's a fraction of what Rock Band 3 costs, it's a bit high by iPad standards.

Still, there's no denying this game's quality. Rock Band Reloaded cannot compare to the console iterations, but it's a great way to get a music fix while on the go. Just keep singing in public to a minimum.

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.