Review: Guitar Hero - The Rock God of Music Based Games?
by Staff Writer
June 18, 2010
Overview
There are all kinds of music based games on the iPhone, but now the most popular of them all has made its way on to the device. Guitar Hero is here giving you the same tap on note game we've seen from Tap Tap Revenge, but with all new elements too. You get to play either a lead guitar or bass guitar on four different difficulty levels for the six songs included.
Features
There are six songs included for $2.99 with many more tracks you can purchase via in app purchases. The six included songs are Queen’s - We Are The Champions, Rolling Stones’ - Paint It Black, Vampire Weekend’s - Cousins, The White Stripes’ - Seven Nation Army, Rise Against’s - Savior, and Weezer’s - Say It Ain't So. There are also three song packs from individual artists for $1.99 each with such artists as, Queen, Vampire Weekend, Minus the Bear, Silversun Pickups, The Faint, Band of Skulls, White Stripes, Obits, Darkest Hour, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Protest the Hero, Breaking Benjamin, A Day To Remember, and AFI.
To play the game you tap when the notes cross the bottom bar, and there are new elements including strumming and sliding. There are notes that are strung together in a chain, and other notes where you need to slide across the bottom bar in the direction indicated. The game also features a customizable 3D avatar, and Facebook connect for score tracking.
The Good
The game is definitely fun by allowing the Guitar Hero action to be played anywhere on the go. The iPhone interface in all of these music games is easy to maneuver as you simply tap on the notes. The new elements add a little more variability as you slide and swipe to pull off certain guitar notes.
With that said, it doesn't make the game feel any closer to an actual guitar, just like all the other music games on the iPhone. It's a tap the beat game, and nothing more, and it doesn't feel like air guitar or anything close. That's not to say that each game isn't enjoyable as you go for five stars on one of four difficulties.
The game keeps track of your total career progress as you go for being a rock oracle. Every song increases your overall skill either on lead or bass guitar. It gives some solid incentive to keep playing and trying different difficulties. The new elements really make the game fun as you're madly switching the movement of your fingers, and some of the movements fit how the guitar needs to be played.
The game is really nicely designed as you see your rocker playing in the background with an explosion of colors in the foreground as you tap on the right notes. The special mode really shines with the flowing stars, and blue theme throughout. The entire experience completely immerses you into the music.
One really good feature worth mentioning is that if you miss the note the lead/bass doesn't play until you hit a correct note. This makes it much more realistic which some games haven't been able to incorporate. The controls work well to pick up where you tap, swipe, or slide to keep you jamming.
The Bad
The worst aspect is the pricing model where after paying $2.99 thinking you bought the game you only get six songs. When we reviewed Rock Band we had a problem with only 20 songs, so six is especially disappointing. Then each three song pack is $1.99 so you will rack up the costs pretty quick just to get a little variety in the game.
The game itself doesn't play very differently than any of the other music based games with only a few new elements that are introduced sparingly. Furthermore, you can only play lead guitar or bass which is what you expect from 'Guitar' Hero, but lacks compared to Rock Band's drums and vocals. The game simply doesn't provide much new to the genre, and if you own any other rhythm based game there is no reason to pick this one up.
The Verdict
Guitar Hero is wonderfully designed giving you a spectacular interface to rock on the go. The new swiping and sliding elements keep the gameplay fresh. The problem is that there are only six songs for $2.99, and the three song packs can really add up fast.
The game is worth considering depending on how many music based games you already own. The game seems to cost too much compared to the more variety in Rock Band or customization of BeatRider Touch.
