Guitar Hero: World Tour adds a microphone and drums to the mix, allowing up to four players to jam through 80+ songs. Not everything is great, however. The drum set takes a while to get used to, setting up an online match is complicated and there are several repeat tracks from the forthcoming Rock Band 2. However, the gameplay is satisfying and the Music Studio and Mii Freestyle mode are wondrous additions. If you're tired of the competition and want a healthy alternative, Guitar Hero World Tour is your game.
With the release of Rock Band, Activision found itself in a unique position with its Guitar Hero franchise. Should it continue the same old formula, or expand into a band-oriented format? It chose the latter, and the end result, Guitar Hero: World Tour, comes with 80+ original tracks, a bevy of rock celebrities and three new peripherals, all for $190 (a game-only pack and guitar pack are also available separately.) If you like to rock, it's absolutely worth the investment.
Each one of these controllers offers something unique. The new guitar controller has a touch-sensitive bar installed in the neck, so you can tap away at long note strings without wearing down your fingers. It's an ideal addition, especially for dedicated Guitar Hero pros. The guitar also functions as a bass, with the addition of a sixth strum beat added to songs. The microphone is standard issue, working well enough but hardly better than the Rock Band model. The drums are a double-layer peripheral with three main drum pads and two cymbals. It's comfortable, but takes practice getting used to. Your sticks will often slip under these pads, resulting in missed beats. In addition, the foot pedal isn't attached to the main unit, and you may kick it away by accident. Of course, if you're not up for using these new peripherals, World Tour supports most Rock Band and Guitar Hero controllers.
As for the game, it follows a similar format to Rock Band. The singer's bar sits at the top of the screen, and the guitar and drum meters roll along on the bottom. In the background, your virtual musicians entertain audiences at different venues, including a Russian performance hall and a state fair. Overall, the interface looks good on Wii, albeit a little unoriginal. The on-stage characters look great for the most part, although a badly rendered performer or two pop up. Billy Corgan, for example, looks like a mannequin. There are also mild slowdown issues with more frantic songs, but you'll be able to play through them. Finally, whenever you pause the game, an excellent countdown meter that allows you to easily get back into the song. That's nice to have.
Then there's the set list. World Tour has 16 repeat songs from the forthcoming Rock Band 2, including "Livin' On a Prayer" and "Float On." However, there are enough original tracks. You'll find several classic favorites, including The Doors' "Love Me Two Times," a pair of hits from Jimi Hendrix, and Steely Dan's groovy "Do It Again." Newer songs are also here, including a three-pack from Tool that will rock your soul. There are even a few oddballs, such as Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again." Eighty-plus songs are available, not including the additional downloadable content (which stores on your SD memory card) and the easily accessible Music Studio.
Yes, the Music Studio is awesome, but it requires a lot of effort, both in building and editing. However, those with patience are happily rewarded. The character creation tool is just as deep, as you can create anything from a country girl with pigtails to a freaky looking pierced dude. If you don't feel like creating your artist, you can pick from several default characters. Celebrities pop up as well, including Billy Corgan and Ted Nugent.
A key addition to the Wii edition is the Mii Freestyle mode. This is a nice exclusive\ lets you jam out with your instruments using your own specific Mii characters. You can play around with instrument sounds as well. Ironically, it's more fun to play this than through Nintendo's own music simulation game, Wii Music.
Aside from separate Career modes for each individual band member, Guitar Hero: World Tour offers multiplayer options galore. Local multiplayer is easy to set up, and several classic modes make a return, including a pair of Face-Off modes. Unfortunately, they're all slammed together into a plain and unfriendly interface. You'll have to skim through preferences, match types, friend lists and such just to get a match set up. There's no "jump in and play" option; you actually have to work at it. Scores are also near impossible to access, even if you want to take a quick peek. Online play works fine once you get there – getting there, however, is the issue.
No, it's not perfect, but Guitar Hero World Tour is a great music game and a perfect holiday gift. The customization tools, Music Studio, crazy-fun Wii Freestyle mode and overall sense of fun make this show worth attending. Bring on the encore.
Related Links
Guitar Hero: World Tour Game Guide
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