Music game showdown: Tap Tap Metallica vs Rock Band for iPhone

It's good times for iPhone users who are big fans of music games. In a one-two punch, Rock Band, the popular music game that brought drums and vocals to the party, arrived on the iPhone, while Tapulous, makers of the popular Tap Tap Revenge series for the iPhone, enlisted the aid of metal gods Metallica.

So which one rocks harder and plays better?

Tap Tap Metallica vs Rock Band - The Music

We might as well start with the music. After all, we aren't playing these games with the speakers muted. And judging on pure sound quality, both of the games really deliver. They both sound fantastic through earphones, and the sound quality of the iPhone 3GSs speakers is also pretty good.

As for music selection, judging based on the intended audience, Tap Tap Metallica has the advantage. Obviously aimed at Metallica fans, the only gripe here is that only ten songs were included. The selection includes a nice balance between 'new' Metallica with songs like Sad But True and Enter Sandman and 'classic' Metallica with stuff like One and Master of Puppets.

Rock Band has more variety, with tracks ranging from the Go-Go's We Got The Beat to Motorhead's Ace of Spaces '08. It also has 20 songs compared to Tap Tap Metallica's 10.

But while Rock Band gives you the bigger selection, it also invariably gives you a few you'll label as real stinkers. (Do I really have listen to Silverun Pickeup's Lazy Eye again? Ug!)

• Winner: Tap Tap Metallica

Tap Tap Metallica vs Rock Band - The Career

Both games come with a career mode, but while Tap Tap Metallica's career mode is a relatively simple 'play some songs at this difficulty' with a single song at each diffuculty rating that needs to be unlocked, Rock Band for the iPhone gives you the World Tour.

While the World Tour may not be quite as involved as Rock Band on the consoles -- you don't get to make your own rocker -- it does give you the same basic experience, including mystery songs where you cross your fingers and hope it doesn't come up Lazy Eye.

• Winner: Rock Band

Tap Tap Metallica vs Rock Band - Multiplayer

Tap Tap Metallica's multiplayer "Battle" mode is one of the coolest parts of the game. Not only are you tapping out the music of the kings of metal, you are also collecting bombs to shoot at your opponent and shields to protect yourself from your opponent's bombs. This makes for some crazy fun.

But Tap Tap Metallica's multiplayer mode is limited to Bluetooth, so you'll have to be in the same room as your friend. Rock Band offers two multiplayer modes: A quick play multiplayer mode that uses Bluetooth, and an Online World Tour that uses Facebook Connect to let you play with any of your friends regardless of location.

• Winner: Rock Band by a nose.

Tap Tap Metallica vs Rock Band - Gameplay

Tap Tap Metallica begins with three lanes for the balls, but ramps up to four and a horizonally-viewed five lanes on the most difficult setting. It also introduces Arcade mode, which adds the incoming bombs from Battle Mode to the mix. These bombs can have a lot of fun effects like blanking out the screen or causing miniature bombs to float down the lanes while you are trying to tap out the music.

Rock Band doesn't allow you to play all five strings on the guitar or with five drum pads, but you do get to play all of the instruments from Guitar and Bass to Drums and Vocals. Combined with the three difficulty settings, that amounts to a lot of variety.

• Winner: Tap Tap Metallica. Arcade mode is just too much fun.

Tap Tap Metallica vs Rock Band - The Final Showdown

This one is the very definition of too close to call. Tap Tap Metallica is the better deal, but the extra $5 you pay for Rock Band buys you twice as many songs. Ultimately, taste in music might be the best deciding factor, with those who don't care for Metallica obviously going the Rock Band route.

However, if you know someone else that is going to buy the game, and you can go at it against them with Bluetooth, Tap Tap Metallica's Battle Mode will add a whole new dimension to music games.

• Winner: Us.

Rock Band for iPhone Review
Rock Band for iPhone Track List

Tap Tap Metallica Review
Tap Tap Metallica Playlist