Guitar Hero 5 received much-deserved praise, thanks to Party Play mode and its killer set list, but Activision has even more musical goodness up its sleeve with Band Hero, a game specifically made for family-friendly fun.

You won't find explicit lyrics in Band Hero.Click to see more images from the game...

For the most part, Band Hero is a modified version of Guitar Hero 5. Most of the features in that game are in this one as well, including the multiplayer options and the simplified scrolling note interface. However, there are a few noticeable changes.

First, you no longer play in dingy nightclubs with demons and guys wearing spikes. Instead, you hit shopping malls and brightly lit concert halls, playing alongside dapper looking characters, including up-and-coming musicians and energetic teens. In addition, Band Hero has a few celebrities in tow, including recent MTV Award Winner Taylor Swift (in a place where Kanye West can't interrupt her) and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine. As expected, you can throw yourself into the action, creating your own rock star and letting him or her jam with the others.

Band Hero's song list is family friendly, but still knows how to rock. You'll find several classic favorites, including Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", Jackson 5's "ABC", Styx's "Mr. Roboto" and David Bowie's "Let's Dance", along with more contemporary hits, such as The Bravery's "Believe" and OK Go's "A Million Ways". Sixty-five songs are available, and you can add more through downloadable content, as well as port previously downloaded DLC from Guitar Hero World Tour. The option to bring songs from Guitar Hero 5, Smash Hits and World Tour is also available for a small fee; if you own GH 5, you can port songs from Band Hero as well.

Finally, a new sing-along mode will get others involved, rather than having them sit on the couch and wait for their turn on the microphone. The lyrics pop up on-screen, like they would with a karaoke machine, and the group sings along to them during a performance; the game doesn't punish. If you prefer something more competitive, you can play against others in various mini-games, most of which are similar to what you've played in previous Guitar Hero releases, both online and off.

No, Band Hero doesn't play or look better than Guitar Hero 5, but it's still enjoyable. A recently released Xbox Live demo revealed a sharp-looking game engine, with characters prancing around in the background with the familiar looking note interface in the foreground. Players can jump in and out any time, even if the song's almost over. For instance, you might get tired of Katrina and the Waves' "Walking On Sunshine" (just like we did) and opt out, while not interrupting the other person. Finally, the game supports all of your GH peripherals, including drum sets, microphones and guitars.

Band Hero may not set the world on fire like Guitar Hero, but if you have little ones around or crave something easier, it might just rock your world.