Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Cars Song Pack

Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Cars Song Pack is a DLC expansion for the guitar learning game Rocksmith 2014, delivering five iconic tracks by the new wave rock band The Cars—’Just What I Needed,’ ‘Let’s Go,’ ‘Good Times Roll,’ ‘You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,’ and ‘Bye Bye Love’—each equipped with authentic tones for electric guitar or bass, allowing players to practice and perform real instrument gameplay in a simulation environment across multiple platforms.

Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Cars Song Pack: Review

Introduction

Imagine plugging in your real electric guitar or bass, firing up a 2015 DLC pack, and suddenly channeling the sleek, synth-infused riffs of new wave pioneers The Cars— all while the game teaches you to nail every shimmering chord and driving rhythm. In the post-Guitar Hero era, Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition revolutionized music gaming by ditching plastic toys for genuine instruments, turning living rooms into rock arenas. This Song Pack, released on March 3, 2015, bundles five timeless tracks from The Cars’ early catalog: Just What I Needed, Let’s Go, Good Times Roll, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight, and Bye Bye Love. My thesis: Amid Rocksmith‘s sprawling library of over 1,400 DLC songs, this pack stands as a masterclass in accessible yet challenging new wave mastery, perfectly bridging casual players and aspiring virtuosos with its E Standard tunings and authentic tones, cementing Ubisoft’s commitment to evergreen rock education.

Development History & Context

Developed by Ubisoft San Francisco—the same studio behind the core Rocksmith 2014 engine—this DLC emerged from a visionary pivot in the rhythm game landscape. By 2015, the genre had cratered after the 2008-2010 plastic-guitar boom-bust cycle, with franchises like Guitar Hero and Rock Band fading amid economic woes and market saturation. Rocksmith, launched in 2011, differentiated itself by supporting real guitars via a special cable (Real Tone Cable), emphasizing skill-building over score-chasing. Ubisoft’s DLC model, debuting with packs like Foreigner and Creed in 2014, addressed licensing hurdles by releasing weekly singles and artist bundles, sustaining the game until March 2020.

The Cars pack arrived during Rocksmith 2014‘s “All-New” remaster phase, which introduced Session Mode, improved note detection, and dynamic difficulty adjustment. Technological constraints of the era—DirectX 9 graphics on Windows Vista/7/8, 2-4 GB RAM minimum—prioritized audio fidelity over visuals, with each song featuring “new authentic tones” crafted to mimic Elliot Easton’s iconic glassy Stratocaster sounds. In a gaming landscape shifting to free-to-play and battle royales, Ubisoft’s $11.99 pack (or $2.99 per song) exemplified a subscription-free, evergreen ecosystem. Platforms spanned PS3/PS4, Xbox 360/One, Windows, Mac, and even Linux via Steam, reflecting cross-gen support amid console transitions. The Riff Repeater site’s preview highlighted its debut-album heavy hitters, underscoring Ubisoft’s curation of radio staples to hook lapsed players.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Rocksmith eschews traditional plots for a “narrative of mastery,” where songs themselves weave the story. This pack immerses players in The Cars’ late-1970s new wave ethos: sleek futurism clashing with raw rock urgency. Ric Ocasek’s lyrics paint vignettes of restless romance and nocturnal escapism—Just What I Needed‘s urgent plea for connection amid emotional voids; Let’s Go‘s euphoric nightlife chant (“I like the nightlife, baby!”); Good Times Roll‘s ironic toast to hedonism; You’re All I’ve Got Tonight‘s desperate midnight confession; and Bye Bye Love‘s sardonic farewell to heartbreak.

No characters or dialogue exist beyond on-screen lyrics, but the pack’s thematic cohesion evokes a conceptual EP: urban alienation in a chrome-plated world. Arrangements layer Ric Ocasek’s wry vocals (via licensed masters), Benjamin Orr’s bass grooves, and Greg Hawkes’ synth stabs, challenging players to dissect punky power chords against icy keyboards. In Rocksmith‘s progression loop—Mini Riff Repeater to full performances—the “plot” unfolds as technical triumphs: mastering Just What I Needed‘s arpeggiated intro builds confidence for You’re All I’ve Got Tonight‘s soaring solo. This DLC’s “dialogue” is Easton’s riffing—crisp, angular, and addictive—forcing players to internalize new wave’s tension between precision and attitude, mirroring The Cars’ fusion of proto-punk edge and pop sheen.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Rocksmith 2014‘s mechanics—falling note highways, streak multipliers, Riff Repeater drills—shine here, deconstructing The Cars’ deceptively simple structures into layered challenges. All five tracks use E Standard tuning, easing entry for beginners while scaling via dynamic difficulty (1-5 stars) and paths (Lead, Rhythm, Bass, Alt Lead/Rhythm). Just What I Needed kicks off with palm-muted verses exploding into chorus hooks, teaching strumming endurance; Let’s Go demands rapid alternate picking for its “nightlife” riff, with bass parts emphasizing walking lines.

Core loops include:
– Tone Designer: Custom amps/pedals emulate Easton’s setup (e.g., chorus-drenched clean tones).
– Session Mode (post-DLC): Jam with AI band over these tracks, honing improvisation.
– Sound Check & Mastery: Triple notes for bass-heavy Bye Bye Love, hammer-ons/pull-offs in Good Times Roll‘s bridges.
– Multiplayer: 1-2 offline/local, 2 online for competitive leaderboards.

Innovations like non-linear arrangements (skip solos) and Mini Games (Scale Attack on chord progressions) prevent frustration, though purists note occasional note detection glitches on older hardware. Progression ties to Guitarcade challenges, unlocking tones and virtual gear. Flaws? Repetitive for experts, lacking advanced techniques like tapping, but the pack’s 80s accessibility (no drop tunings) makes it ideal for intermediates, with bass paths adding co-op depth.

Song	Key Challenges	Difficulty Ramp
Just What I Needed	Arpeggios, chord shifts	Easy-Medium
Let’s Go	Picking speed, hooks	Medium
Good Times Roll	Power chords, fills	Easy
You’re All I’ve Got Tonight	Solos, bends	Medium-Hard
Bye Bye Love	Riffs, bass grooves	Easy-Medium

UI remains intuitive: clean menus, customizable HUD, but DLC integration feels seamless—no load hiccups.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Rocksmith‘s “world” is modular: blackout stage with song-specific videos or static venues (e.g., neon-lit club for new wave vibe). Art direction favors realism—procedural animations sync to your playing, with crowd reactions scaling by score. Visuals are era-appropriate: DirectX 9 shaders yield glossy chrome aesthetics matching The Cars’ angular album art.

Sound design elevates this pack: Authentic tones replicate studio mixes, from Just What I Needed‘s shimmering cleans to You’re All I’ve Got Tonight‘s overdriven leads. Licensed audio ensures pristine masters, with low-latency input (sub-10ms) fostering immersion. Synth elements challenge highways’ color-coding (guitar notes blue/orange, bass green), while dynamic mixing mutes backing tracks as you excel. Atmosphere? Pure 1978 Boston grit—Good Times Roll‘s party chaos feels alive, enhancing the “you’re in the band” fantasy. On modest specs (GeForce 8600 GT), it holds 60fps, prioritizing audio clarity.

Reception & Legacy

Launch reception was muted—no MobyGames critic scores, Steam’s 2 user reviews glow positive (100% amid low volume). The Riff Repeater hailed its “heavy hitters,” lamenting absent My Best Friend’s Girl. Commercially, it fit Rocksmith‘s DLC juggernaut (1,447 songs by 2020), boosting retention via weekly drops.

Legacy endures: Forward-compatible with Rocksmith 2014 Remastered, influencing successors like Rocksmith+ (subscription model). It epitomized Ubisoft’s artist-pack strategy, paving for packs like Primus and Queensrÿche. Post-2020 delistings (licensing expirations) make owned copies archival gems, underscoring Rocksmith‘s role in democratizing guitar learning—millions progressed via such packs. Industry ripple: Revived interest in real-instrument sims, echoing in Clone Hero customs.

Conclusion

The Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Cars Song Pack distills new wave essence into a flawless learning module: accessible tunings, thematic punch, mechanical depth, and sonic authenticity. In video game history, it exemplifies Rocksmith‘s paradigm shift from gimmick to genuine educator, outlasting flash-in-the-pan rivals. Verdict: Essential DLC (9/10)—grab it if your library lacks 70s-80s sparkle; a timeless pit stop on the highway to guitar proficiency. Whether shredding Let’s Go solo or jamming bass on Bye Bye Love, it proves Rocksmith remains the gold standard for playable rock heritage.