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 84 new tracks, a bevy of rock celebrities and three new peripherals, all for $190. Is it worth the investment? If you like to rock, absolutely.
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, 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.
Then there's the set list. World Tour has 16 repeat songs from 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-four songs are available, not including the additional tracks from Neversoft, additional downloadable content 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.
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. The online play works fine once you get there – getting there, however, is the issue.
Finally, whenever you pause the game, there's an excellent countdown meter that allows you to easily get back into the song. That's nice to have.
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 options and overall sense of fun make this show worth attending. Bring on the encore.
Reader Comments (1)
I like Rock Band better!