Grade: A-

Video Game » Finally, a music rhythm game for people who have no idea who Buckethead or Jimmy Eat World are. "The Beatles: Rockband," arriving Sept. 9 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii, is a wonderfully eclectic catalog from one of music's greatest rock bands. Not a lot of new features populate the game (except for the ability to harmonize), but this is about 44 songs that helped change modern music. In career mode, players can start at The Cavern basement club in Germany, go through the "Ed Sullivan Show," and all the way to The Beatles' final public performance on the Abbey Road Studios roof. It's a splendid collection of songs that everyone knows, from the Beatlemania era ("I Want to Hold Your Hand") to the pyschedelic musings of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." There are a few glaring omissions -- the raucous "Help!" would have been a perfect addition out of the box, and "All You Need Is Love" comes later as a download. With expertly mixed songs for the game (by Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin) and digitally-restored sound and graphics art that fit the tradition of The Beatles, this is the game that's going to happily introduce a new generation to the Fab Four's magical mystery tour.

-- Vince Horiuchi