Metareview - Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 2nd 2008 at 10:54AM }
So, the same ... just remove the whole part about the dev team getting bought and releasing that follow-up through Activision's biggest competitor – oh, and the whole part about it being 2007 – and you've got an idea of where critics are putting GH:A on the fake-instrument rhythm game pantheon. Like Aerosmith? You probably already bought it. Don't like Aerosmith? Move along.
- IGN (76/100): "Even if the formula is a bit stale by now, that doesn't make Guitar Hero: Aerosmith a bad game. In fact, if you're a huge fan of the band, of the Guitar Hero franchise, or haven't yet seen what all of the fuss is over the music rhythm phenomenon, this release will please and then some. However, if you've been following the franchise since the beginning, you'll probably wonder if this game is really necessary."
- GameDaily (70/100): "Aerosmith junkies will love Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, thanks to its impressive song list and extra content. Everyone else, however, should rent it. It's a pleasant diversion, providing single-player and multiplayer enjoyment for would-be strummers, but with missing songs and the same old gameplay, it doesn't have enough sweet emotion to justify its $59.99 price."
- GameSpot (70/100): "If you like Aerosmith, you'll like this game. If you don't like Aerosmith, you will not like this game. Even dedicated fans of the group may have trouble rationalizing paying full price for just 41 songs, but while GH: Aerosmith is a little short on content, it's plenty of fun."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:00AM
Sounds like this is a re-run of GH:80s. It was $50 for 32 songs. I paid $40 and felt greatly ripped off.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:10AM
Oh... I really the 80's edition.
My favorites Guitar Hero games are GH1 and 80's edition... I don't like the music selection in II and III =(
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:31AM
I'm such an 80s guy I practically have boneitis. But having half the regular number of songs at full price is bad. And so many 80s songs didn't really involve guitars much at all and so about 1/3rd of the songs in 80s aren't at all enjoyable to play.
Haggard @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:11PM
I liked the 80's one a lot, the final song was epic.
Mighty Healthy @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:37PM
*waits for Keyboard Hero: New Wave*
Jhongerkong @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:36PM
Its Keyboardmania
T @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:05AM
Definately a rental. Wake me when the price drops below $40 and I'll consider buying it...probably used.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:08AM
At least they should have included better songs:
Where is Crazy, Cryin, Amazing, Angel, What it takes...?
Shagittarius @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:49AM
If you think those are their good songs, you need to listen to old aerosmith.
dark_inchworm @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:59AM
"Back in the Saddle" beats the shit out of all five of those songs and runs off with their pocket change, too. At least they didn't make the mistake of excluding that one.
Really, I didn't expect you of all people to enjoy *that* era of Aerosmith...
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:06PM
Yeah... I like those songs. Brings me so many memories.
Farseer (GDI) @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:25PM
Fernando,
You do realize that those are all the same song, right? Angel is the original, and the rest got stuck in some kind of cc loop which degraded with each copy.
Rocketboy @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:57PM
Heck, you could even have the same jewel pattern for Amazin Crazy and Cryin.
gwangi @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:12AM
Rented the game from Gamefly, beat is in about 3 hours on Hard (31 Songs). If you aren't a big fan of Aerosmith, than it isn't worth buying.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:19AM
The reviews sound like they're stretching to not call this game out on being a total exploitation of the market base.
Just say it - this game was made just to milk us out of money rather than do the right thing of releasing a music pack online.
senordeadite @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:34AM
Like this?
http://www.epicpixels.com
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:57AM
Yup. AceOfBass Hero would be better.
No, thats wrong.
Obie @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:21AM
I fucking hate how Activision is spreading their franchises thin. Their quality is gonna tank and then people are gonna spend their money elsewhere.
Why? Why? force your developers to spit out so many games with little time in between? I swear it's retarded.
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:23AM
God how I loathe Aerosmith
tc @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:58PM
Markez, you're my hero for today
that guy @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:28AM
Picked the game up and though it is good, and better than people are making it out to be, I agree wholeheartedly that it should not be a full-priced game. To give credit, there is a lot of extra stuff in the game that make it worth more than an 'add-on' pack for GHIII, but it's still not a lot of songs, and I'm just about finished the game on Expert (it's actually not all that difficult, but it is fun).
And Fernando (and the others who mentioned this) - the reason they didn't include songs like the ones you mentioned is because those aren't fun GH (guitar) songs. I'm by no means a big Aerosmith fan, but I'm diggin' the songs I'm not familiar with that they included in the game because they have the cool solos, the fun riffs, etc.
And believe me, I'm a Guitar Hero setlist snob and I really like the opening band songs as well. People say that Rock Band already has Sex Type Thing on it, but it's ridiculously easy and yawnerrific. Much more fun to play on Expert in GH:A. Plus the Clash, Kravitz, Black Crowes, etc ... it's a solid, if short, game. Definitely not perfect and I totally understand some of the complaints, but others I think are unjustified.
Daniel @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:41AM
My wife and I are big Aerosmith fans, so we picked it up.
I'm more than happy with it, but I totally agree that this game doesn't merit its price. I'm sure that slapping some new songs, stages, and characters into the already established GHIII engine required considerably less R&D.
If you are fans of the band, it's really cool. Most of the songs you'd expect are there, there's lots of cool easter eggs, and the opening act songs are awesome. Though if not, I wouldn't bother.
MechaDEVO @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:43AM
does anyone know if this will play GH3 DLC?
Christopher Grant @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:58AM
Nope
Christopher Grant @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:58AM
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/guitar-hero-aerosmith-wont-support-gh3-dlc/
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:58AM
Nope it wont. Either will GH4 if I remember correctly.
MechaDEVO @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:02PM
ah, thanks for the reply guys
P Diddy @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:49AM
It's surprising that it scored in the 70's, but not as surprising as Steven Tyler "scoring" now that he looks 70.
The Dude @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:51AM
Why did they use a photograph of Steven Tyler and caricatures of the rest of the band?
Ian @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:06PM
I c wut u did thur. Lul. But seriously... its true.
Shagittarius @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:56AM
Why do game reviewers feel compelled to give games better scores than they deserve just because they assume they are going to sell well?
Hey Apples @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:01PM
70/100 scores are the new "we didn't like it, but we don't want to throw it under the bus enough to piss off our sponsors."
Dirty @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:33PM
I think what they wanted to do here is capture an older crowd. Lets get the older demo to try this game out by adding a library of songs they know. After they try it the will be more willing to buy GH World tour.
As much as I dont enjoy aerosmith I think this was a good move for Activision from an investors stand point.
Ghoti @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:52PM
I wanted a second wireless guitar, and for the 360, those run $69.99 when not on sale. So, I bought the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith bundle, getting me an extra guitar and the game for $99.99. It makes me feel a little better only having paid a net of $30 for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. I really like the game, but 41 songs is way too few to include, and there are several songs by them that I love that are missing.
Shimrra @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:27PM
I would get this game when it hits the 20 dollar price tag.
CitizenSnips @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:28PM
I rented this game. It's actually quite good. You have to play it on Expert to get any sort of a challenge but its no where near as easy as people are saying. All of Joe Perrys songs are pretty hard, and train kept a rollin is ridiculous.
This game isn't worth 60 though, no matter how much you love the band.
giantenemycrab @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:35PM
I didn't even realize there were enough Aerosmith fans out there to warrant an entire Aerosmith game.
I hope this game fails. That way, Activision will learn(hopefully) that you can't release the same game twice a year and expect us to fall for it.
Hafk @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:05PM
Props to neversoft on this one. I think this is better than GH3, in terms of overall design. They have really fixed alot of bugs, such as the online co-op bug. Also, you can strum hopos easily again! The new hopo timing window is fantastic, and is just a tad bit bigger than GH2's. Honestly, they should use it in GH4. Also, the Wii version is suprisingly well done. You now log in BEFORE you get to the main menu, which is nice, because it was easy to forget to sign in. Then your scores wouldn't count on the leaderboards. Also, HYPERSPEED ONLINE!
I must also thank Neversoft again. The charts are SO MUCH BETTER in this one. I saw much less 3 note chords, and less strumming during solos (although Train Kept a Rollin and Joe Perry Battle are exceptions).
While I am not the biggest Aerosmith fan, a good amount of songs were fun. Walk This Way (Run DMC) is one of the most fun songs I have played in the series.
The only drawbacks for me were the price and the overall easy-ness of the game.
8.75/10 for me.
Neversoft is learning from their mistakes, it seems.
Still not perfect though. Needs more Dream Theater (Metropolis or Under a Glass Moon please)
Sora267 @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:33PM
"Don't like Aerosmith? Move along."
..
Move along? Guitar Hero: All-American Rejects CONFIRMED!
serotoninzero @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:50PM
GameFly'd it myself too. Took about four hours to beat all the songs on expert including the bonus tracks. It was definitely pretty easy. There were only two songs I didn't five-star, and that's with only playing through them once. I'm pretty good at GH, but not that good, I'm still stuck on a few end tracks on GH3 and RB.
In all, it was pretty fun though, there is a shitload of hammer-on/pulloff sequences in like EVERY song. Every song. I got around 600 some gamerpoints pretty fast for achievement whores out there too, even though I still have only like 200 in GH3 and RB and I own both of them. Anyway.. I say its a good rental for any Guitar Hero fans, but I honestly couldn't see anyone buying it except the die-hard aerosmith fan.
DidiusFalco @ Aug 1st 2008 6:58PM
Check out http://www.GameStrata.com for full stat tracking ability of Guitar Hero.
It's an entire online community like facebook except for video game players. You can organize game nights with other people for guitar hero or whatever game you want, track stats and achievements, watch videos and game reviews, ask specific questions about a game, and meet other reasonable, non-screaming 12-year-old, cool people to play with.
Even the site itself is a game. You earn points through participation in the site and achieve new levels. It's pretty sweet.