Want to learn the basics of guitar? There's no better place to turn.
Here's a bit of a public service announcement: even if you think you've mastered everything that the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games had to offer, that does not make you a rock god. Sure, you can master buttons and strums, but a real guitar works much differently, with strings and small adjustments that you make for sound. That's not to say it can't be mastered, but you need a completely different simulation to do so.
Enter Rocksmith 2014. This follow-up to the original release is hardly an "add-on" sequel like those other franchises. It makes a number of notable improvements to streamline the learning process of how to play guitar, and even provides a few fun activities to help you nail down certain aspects. While hardly the perfect rock machine, it's as good as it gets when it comes to nailing down the fundamentals and having fun doing it.
The first thing you'll notice – if you played the original game at all – is the improved interface. No longer do you have to run through hoops to get to certain parts of songs. You can go right to certain charts and song parts, while also paying a visit to the Guitarcade, a retro fitted collection of mini games that require you to hit certain notes to complete certain activities. It's still one of the finer parts of the game, and a blast to boot.
You can really start anywhere, but Mission Mode should be one of your first stops. This has you meeting certain objectives with particular songs, which in turn teach you the "hooks" that come with guitar playing. As with the last game, you can choose a certain difficulty level and go at your own pace, rather than being ordered to follow pre-programmed notes. Get good enough and you'll switch to a Master mode, when you can truly accomplish wonders with your guitar. Don't be nervous, it just shows that you're making progress – the teacher basically lets you run wild with what you've learned. You can play in sessions and practice up however you please as well.
