Some people make the argument that the music/rhythm game genre is nearing excess. The number of Rock Band and Guitar Hero games that have come out over the years have been staggering, with this year alone showing multiple entries for both franchises. Still, Guitar Hero 5 and The Beatles Rock Band are so high in quality, many overlooked this criticism and simply played along to the music. However, Band Hero may bring it up again, and for good reason.
This isn't an entirely new game in the series, despite the name and jazzed-up presentation. Band Hero is, essentially, a modified version of Guitar Hero 5, fine-tuned to fit a younger demographic. Most of the games in the series have carried a Teen rating, but Band Hero is the first to dip into the E10+ category, which should please parents and younger players who couldn't get into harder songs such as "Through the Fire and Flames" and "Judith".
All of the familiar gameplay features from Guitar Hero 5 are carried over. You can still drop in and out of a song at any time, use any instrument you please (even if this means going at it with four drummers at once), and take part in co-op and versus multiplayer sessions, both off-line and through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. The same party games are included, and they still work very well, although Activision sorely missed an opportunity to add family-specific ones exclusively to this game.
As you perform, you'll notice that Band Hero is a little more lenient in note hitting than Guitar Hero was. This is good for younger players who might've gotten frustrated keeping up with the tempo of a song. On the flip side, however, veterans will wonder just how they managed to get through "In a Big Country" on expert, outside of sheer luck. Overall, the game still plays good, no matter what instrument you're using. The fact that it's compatible with all music peripherals, be it Guitar Hero or Rock Band, helps too.
Then there are the changes to the presentation. The camera angles, interface and character designs are mostly the same (save for highlighted stage areas when you're trying to complete certain Star Challenges), but the venues and in-game cinemas have been revamped. No longer are you playing in dingy nightclubs. Instead, you're performing on a concert stage in the middle of a park, or following Avril Lavigne's path of success by rocking out in a mall. They're not bad, but long-time Guitar Hero players may snicker at the thought of taking part in a Live Aid-style benefit concert. They just want to rock, man.
That leads us to the game's 65-song set list, and here's where the line will be drawn between fans and the intended "tween" crowd. Most of Band Hero's selections consist of radio hits and pop songs, although there are a few 80's gems worth uncovering. Styx's "Mr. Roboto" is a superbly wild party song ("My name is Kilroyyyyy!") and the aforementioned "In a Big Country" is a classic. However, for every great song, there's one that will leave you stifling back yawns. Spice Girls' "Wannabe", for instance, isn't fun to play at all, and Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" is so long and dull, it almost qualifies to be the next "Green Grass and High Tides". Almost.
If those songs don't suffice, you have the option of adding more. Guitar Hero World Tour's downloadable content is compatible with Band Hero, along with select songs from that game, Smash Hits and Guitar Hero 5 (for a small fee). You can also port over songs to your GH 5 library, although, sadly, "Mr. Roboto" is not one of them. Nooooo!
Several guest artists also appear in the game, including Taylor Swift (who performs two of her hit songs – she's pretty, but "Love Story" feels way out of place here) and No Doubt (who are currently suing Activision for unlicensed Avatar use). However, their presence doesn't really leave a lasting effect like Johnny Cash and Carlos Santana do in Guitar Hero 5. (We will admit, though, Taylor is definitely hot in digital form.)
We aren't dismissing Band Hero completely. If you haven't played the latest Guitar Hero or are looking for something that all ages of players can get into, it's a respectable choice. However, its mostly flat song list and almost complete lack of anything significantly new may have you feeling a sense of deja vu that can't be shaken. Rent it first just to be safe.
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