Metareview: Guitar Hero (PS2)

18 Comments by Dan Choi Nov 3rd 2005 12:00PM
Filed under: Simulations, Metareviews, Rhythm

Taking up where Guitar Freaks left off, RedOctane's Guitar Hero is either in stores now or on its way there. So how did the makers of Karaoke Revolution, Frequency, and Amplitude fare with the hard-rockin' route? Check it out: concurrent scores of 92 on GameRankings and Metacritic! That deserves a standing-O and an inevitable sequel, er… encore.

Here's what some specific reviews had to say about Hero:

Electronic Gaming Monthly: 90/100 "I am frankly astonished by how much playing this game feels like playing the guitar for real."
GameSpot: 90/100 "With its extremely smart approach to difficulty, its great guitar controller, and its killer song selection, Guitar Hero might just be the best rhythm game ever made."
1UP: 100/100 "After a few beers, some leaps off the couch, about 8 renditions of Boston, countless moments of faux-rockstar posturing, and actually stomping so hard that we broke the disc during the thundering finale of 'Take Me Out,' everyone seemed to agree on a score for Guitar Hero… But our scale only goes up to 10."
IGN: 92/100 "The game is just fun. Pure, unadulterated fun."

All that praise is actually reminiscent of the first reviews of Katamari Damacy when it finally came out here in the States. Anyone else with Guitar Hero experience out there who can chime in, for good or for bad?

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

BXJoseff: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Wait, this awesome game isn't coming out for the XBOX? LMAO!!!!!!!!!

What else is new...

DigitalFirefly: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

I'm left handed. Doesn't looks like it works both ways.

we3bus: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Here's my bad experience. The game was released 11/01. I pre-ordered the game from RedOctane (the publisher) and they're going to ship it to me until 11/08.

Mike F.: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

This game has gotten an Editor's Choice award from every site and magazine that has reviewed it (except Yahoo! Games, since they have no award like that).

To address a few comments:

#2 - It DOES work both ways! There is a lefty option in the settings, you flip the guitar around, and you are good to go (except the whammy bar is on the top). It works perfectly.

#3 - The game was never slated to be released until 11/08. Best Buy broke the release date, which is why it is on their shelves. RedOctane never announced any date other than 11/08. It was mis-posted on EB and some other sites as well.

JackBurt0n: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

This game freaking rocks! I nearly got carpal-tunnel I was playing so much yesterday!

Aric McKeown: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

It's damn good, even if you look stupid playing it. Here's my review:

http://www.wayiplay.com/a-47-danger/2005/11/03/i-look-like-an-idiot/

Rice Cooka: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Not only my GOTY but also perhaps the best game to come along in the last couple of years.

Koomaster: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Quite Simply - the game rocks! Some BestBuy stores are breaking the release date. They will do it if you pester them to check their stockroom for you - it doesn't show up in their computers yet. However someone might have already asked before you and it's on shelves now ^_____^

I stayed up till 4am last night playing. The Best!

murph: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

anyone know if blockbuster will rent the guitar along with the game?

an xbox 360 version would be cool - they could sell "song packs" and make Billy G very happy.

Uchendu Nwachukwu: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

I played it briefly at Best Buy last night.

I played a grand total of two songs, and I was so hooked I would have stayed all night. Alas, the store was closing.

The game scratches that air-guitar itch like nothing else.

Dear Redoctane: We need an Xbox version. STAT!

fuzzy: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

My question is: What makes this game different than Guitar Freaks, the Bemani game that you play in the arcade?

I always played Drummaniacs instead of Guitar Freaks anyways, because I had more fun drumming. Wonder if there will be a Drum Hero game in the future (complete with Def Leppard songs!)

Nick: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

its only similar in the fact that its a music rhythm game and uses a guitar

the major difference is the layout of the notes is like frequency or amplitude and also it has 5 fret buttons instead of 3 and a whammy bar

doesnt have quite the songlist(not even half as many) we are used to getting on bemani games but i guess that is what you get with american song licensing

wes: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Most fun I have had this generation period!

NooRotic: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

I played this game back in August at Otakon (Anime convention) and have been waiting ever since. I bought the taiko drum from the red octane stand and it took a bit longer than expected, so I'm not surprised if others get the same treatment. Great guys at the booth but just so-so in speed.

As for the game....It's def a must buy. i've never played guitar or been in the rock world but this game and controller are a BLAST. I'm planning on pestering my local best buy tonight to try and get ahold of one.

master kong: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

I got this last night because of Gamespot's review... and well they were completely right.

Its more than worth the 70 bucks, and I already placed my order for a second controller.

RAWK

Andrew Hsieh: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Gosh, no Xbox? ;_; Boooooooo.

Alex H: Dec 18th 2005; 9:37PM

Too bad it only comes out for PS2...

And by the way, that one review has the best Spinal Tap reference ever. Ever.

Frank Kersh: Dec 31st 2005; 12:25PM

I bought the game based off the reviews EVERYWHERE, and thought that my 11 yr old daughter might like it and take a break from DDR, the only problem is that we now fight over who gets to play next. I have ordered an additional Guitar for the jam modes.

Let me tell you, you lose yourself in the game and think that you are the ROCK STAR!!

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