Yes thats right, the wait is finally over. Its time for us to sit back, skive off of work for five minutes and enjoy Episode 2 of our new PlusXp mini series. Its time for another 2 Eds are better than 1.

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Friends, Family, Gamers, we are here today to mark the passing of our dear friend Guitar Hero. This week Activision announced that as of 2011 it is to discontinue development of the Guitar Hero series. The decision is said to be influenced by the decline in sales of music games in recent years leading to the conclusion that the series is simply not profitable enough anymore. It is undeniable that the game had been nearing its end for a while now. You only have to look at your local game store and see the lonely copies of Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock still piled high to realize that things in the world of GH are not as they should be.

Still, despite its poor sales in recent years I still feel a great level of personal attachment to Guitar Hero. Though it was not the first guitar based game to grace our shelves to me it made one of the largest contributions to music based gaming helping to shape and define the genre for over five years. In these five years the Gh series spawned over 14 titles, taking us to a vast multitude of exciting musical destinations. Through Guitar Hero we were able to explore everything from the cheesy hits of the 80’s to some of the biggest rock anthems of all time, as well as living out the careers of legendary bands such as Aerosmith, Van Halen and Metallica. Not only do I owe Guitar Hero for countless hours of gameplay it is also responsible for introducing me to the one true musical love of my life, my not-so-plastic, beaten up, second hand black Ibanez. I suppose we all have friends who see our plastic instruments, turn up their noses and tell us to go and learn a real instrument. I did and for this reason, strange as it may seem, I owe every ounce of joy that I feel when playing to Guitar Hero.

This post marks the end of new Guitar Hero titles however the downloadable content available for Guitar Hero appears set to continue, at least for now. In fact the number of releases combined with the existing variety of downloads available means that Guitar Hero devotees will most likely be able to continue playing until their controllers break with the only real loss being to the structured career gameplay. On another note  this announcement also raises the question of weather the spin off series DJ Hero will also be discontinued. Though as of yet the fate of DJ Hero is unconfirmed to me the similarities in the games makes the continuation of DJ Hero seem unlikely.

Over the next couple of days lots of questions will be asked regarding what finished off Guitar Hero. Some will say that in more recent years Guitar Hero had become a victim of old age. It is clear to see that over the years it had become repetitive, often forgetting small details, clinging onto what had passed and refusing to move with the times. Others will disagree saying that Guitar Hero was a victim of its own success, with too many releases causing over saturation in the market and its own demise. Many will however conclude that it is in fact Rockband who is the culprit. The family feud between Guitar Hero and Rockband was strong with one always trying to better the other and take the lead within the music genre. Despite the apparent fall in popularity of the music genre, you only have to look at Rockband 3 and the new pro mode instruments to see that an insane amount of time and money has been spent to ensure Rockband 3 remains a cut above its rivals. There is no denying that it would have taken some serious investment to equal the efforts of Rockband 3 and it would seem that with their attention focused on their other franchises such as Call Of Duty and World Of Warcraft Activision would be unlikely to continue to invest. In combination with the poor sales report it seems likely that Rockband 3 may just have been the last nail in the GH coffin, but personally I do not like to see it this way. As the main forerunner to the Rockband series I like to think that Guitar Hero lived a long and full life before reaching its life expectancy and simply slipping away quietly in its sleep.

The rival

And so this seems like the end, though, somehow doubt that we have seen the end of the Guitar Hero series. The iconic design of the original GH controllers and screen layouts combined with the intense popularity of the series put the game in prime position to become a retro classic in years to come. Guitar Hero revolutionized the music game genre and for this reason I believe that it will ever have its place in gaming history and will live on if not in gameplay then at least in image. I can see the controllers being dug out of dusty cupboards in ten years time raising smiles to our faces before being placed in the hands of bemused children raised on motion based systems rather than the traditional plastic and wire. Weather the games will ever receive a reveal or not I cannot say, but somehow I do not think they will be forgotten easily.

R.I.P old friend, you will be missed.

Until next time,

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Happy Times

So we’re approaching the end of the first month of 2011, and in the grand tradition of each year feeling identical to the last (what with months being a concept of time and all that) January still feels as cold and miserable as December 2010.
But that’s not really important, what’s important is what this year could bring us in the world of videogames. This could potentially be one of the more important years in gaming for a while. In 2011, could we see…

The End of the Gaming Drought?

The games come flooding back!

Every year there is a unique phenomenon where for several months, the release schedule dries up and we’re left parched from the beginning of the summer until the holiday season when developers decide to simultaneously release all their blockbusters and expect us to buy them all. However in the last couple of years a lot of games are being moved from the holiday season to the early months of the year after, which is also giving us more polished experiences as a result. Last year was a bit of a mess with the solution being to avoid the holiday squash by simply moving it to January until March instead. This year it’s been mostly avoided, with all the blockbuster games slowly trickling out across the year, so while the holiday rush will still be around (and when won’t it?) we should have to wait less time between each blockbuster game this time round.

Kinect for the Hardcore?

I think I actually heard the scoffs as I typed that. This one is a damn sight harder to argue as an idea, but think about it this way: Whenever new technology comes about, especially in gaming, the majority of the early stuff can be considered a tech-demo. Think about to the release of the DS and the early games that forced rudimentary understandings of touch screen gameplay on you. Think about the Wii. Kinect and Move are no different in that both are showcases of new technology which will start off lame and unrepresentative of their true power, then evolve slowly into unforgettable experiences only possible with that technology. However, Move already has hardcore games (though for the sake of argument forget that some are just previously released hardcore games with motion controls added) so out of the two, Kinect is the one most lacking in something that’ll really hook the hardcore gamer. I’d be incredibly surprised if at E3 Microsoft didn’t suddenly reveal a set of games that’ll be more essential playing for the hardcore than the casual gamer. After all, it’s not just about hooking the audience, it’s about keeping them in, and it’d be a possible death toll if Microsoft didn’t have their best people working on something already. I mean, button-less gameplay is something that seems alien and scary, but just like it took time for the DS and Wii to have their features used for good rather than evil, the same will be true for Kinect.

3D Gaming’s Fate Decided?

Another technology yet to prove itself is 3D in gaming, and while Sony have spent the last year telling everyone it’s totally worth splashing out ridiculous amounts of money on a 3DTV, glasses and relevant games, Nintendo are telling everyone to buy the no-glasses-needed 3DS. I get the feeling that no matter what happens companies will try and force 3D on everyone, but whether it proves to be a success in the short term or not will be decided by how the 3DS and 3D gaming on the PS3 fare, and whether it’s really an innovative new way to play games or another Virtual Boy in waiting.

iPhone Gaming Market to be deservedly recognised?

Despite not owning an iPhone or an iPod touch (I like buttons, okay?), even I can name several games that people owning the technology consider must haves. While it started building up last year, I think this year is going to be the year when many gaming sites start really embracing iPhone games in the same league as the other portable consoles. After all, Apple earned more money from the portable gaming market than Sony did, and there’s a reason Nintendo consider Apple their main rivals, not Sony. This year will hopefully see the world of iPhone games taken a lot more seriously in games, and this’ll also help give light to more indie developers and grant some more success to some truly innovative ideas.

The Year of the Indie?

In this case, I don’t mean the annoying bands that sound exactly the same or that annoying kind of indie, I mean the Independent Developers that sometimes come along with incredible ideas or the most amazing games. Take Super Meat Boy last year and the attention that started surrounding it, and it’s well deserved. It’s one of the greatest games of last year, and the attention it got is a good precedent for the future. This year could see more independent games that deserve it, like Super Meat Boy, get more attention and the limelight they deserve. That goes for the aforementioned iPhone market, too.

Shooters becoming fun again?

I’ve made it clear many times that I find a lot of current shooters very samey and all filled with the same faux-attempt at realism and cover-based shooting that while it gets the job done and can be fun, doesn’t hold much interest for me any more. Which is why I have done and continue to champion Bulletstorm as the game that is going to revitalise the way we shoot the living heck out of people in videogames. It’s ballistic, it’s bombastic, and it’s totally fucking nuts. Even if it isn’t the greatest thing ever, it’s going to change the way some future shooters are played and will bring the fun back.
Cementing that return of fun in shooting comes Duke Nukem Forever. We’ve waited thirteen long years for Duke to come along again and his ironically over the top macho mannerisms and propensity for one-liners have come full circle to the point where they’re now a refreshing image to see in the realm of shooters, and the game looks to do what Bulletstorm is trying to do – bring back silly dialogue, over the top and nonsensical stories and concentrate on the thing that matters most – killing things in the most silly and fun ways imaginable. Bank on those two games being big hitters, and if not, then may god have mercy on the shooter.

Out with the old, in with the old?

The music genre is on it’s way out. There’s no easy way to say it but the way the genre got milked meant that it soon became the old and is now in the latter stages of it’s lifespan. I hate to consider it because I’ve only recently gotten into it and I’m finding it to be a heck of a lot of fun, but the amount of Guitar Hero and Rock Band games that came out in the last few years borders on the obscene. Sadly, Guitar Hero’s not been doing well enough for itself and we’re seeing it slowly peter out, and Rock Band 3 should have been the swan song the genre deserved, but has sold poorly, unfortunately.
Couple that in with the Call of Duty franchise, which last year suffered a terrible blow when the majority of Infinity Ward walked out in circumstances we’ll not truly know until the long and expensive court trial where the money could go to making better games, arguably. Sure, Treyarch are holding onto the mantle now, but it’s hard to believe that Modern Warfare 3 won’t be anything other than a cash-in and a 6/10 game at best at the moment, and the way Activision are milking Call of Duty for all it’s worth while the money’s still good? I expect this year to be the last that the Call of Duty franchise hits it big.
To avoid ending on a sour note, though, we could see the revitalisation of several other franchises propping up in their stead. Duke Nukem’s back, and with that is it’s own franchise, for example. The success of Dead Space 2 could easily see the franchise hit back in the way EA hoped from the first. E3 alone will probably spawn the return of several franchises that have been absent for a few years, and we can always hope some of those will be games we’re dying waiting for. Personally, just give me Timesplitters 4 and I’ll be happy enough.

What about you fine people? It’s all well and good me making my predictions about the year ahead, but what do you think?

Besides, if 2011 doesn’t deliver, there’s always next year…

-Jokesound

Up until now I have not said much about Guitar Hero Warriors of rock. I suppose a lot of the attention has been diverted away by the unveiling of Rockband’s ‘real’ guitar controllers’ whose somewhat shiny if not a little controversial appearance would be enough to distract any hardcore fan. Still, I think its time to put realism aside for a second and change this. After-all, we are talking about a game here and not a virtual music lesson. It has been common knowledge for some time now that in contrast to Rockband’s attempt to bring music gaming closer to reality, the guys at guitar hero have decided to take their new release back to its roots. But how will this affect the set-list, story and gameplay?  I think its time to take a look at what we know now…

Set list update

Taking guitar hero back to its rock roots is to me largely dependent on two things. Number one, an epic (if slightly tacky) story line. Think guitar fights, fire, lightning and maybe even a dragon thrown in there and your on the right track.  Number two, a very loud Rock/Metal set-list. Think back to the glory days of battling rock stars and slaying the devil in Gh3 and you start to understand what I am looking for. So how is Warriors of Rock shaping up? Well fortunately I have found a nice Video which gives a glimpse of what to expect for the Warriors of Rock set-list. Stick with it people, there is something for everyone if you wait nicely…

So there you have a taste of the new set list. I suppose there shouldn’t be much to say after that…but then again when was I ever lost for words. Watching this Vid I coudn’t help but make a few small observations. The first observation was that though there is a fairly diverse mix of music, this set-list does seem much more reminiscent of Gh in its early days. Aside from the odd what were they thinking song, this taster video contains a good mix of modern hits, metal, some cheesy classics for good measure, epic monster marathon songs as well as a fair dose of the all important classic rock. In addition to this the choice of set-list feels much more like it has been chosen to incorporate the whole band, something which some previous Gh titles have missed a little.

Now for my second important point to take away. With the amount of song repetition going back and fourth between Gh and Rockband I was starting to worry the world may be running out of songs. I know, I know, there are a lot of songs in the world, but after hearing the same old stuff on multiple disks you do start to wonder if the world may simply have run out of Rock music. Thankfully this vid contained much less song recycling than we have seen in previous games, and has ever unearthed some old forgotten classics which I must admit made me smile. I suppose the lack of repetition will depend on what Rockband has chosen this year, but I for one am vaguely (if not a little naïvely) hopeful that the “I want what he’s got, his has sprinkles…” copycat nature of these games may be wearing off. Well…I can dream…

Oh and Dragonforce is back. This will be fun…

Story update

Now for a quick story update, well I say quick, it will probably go on forever but never mind.  Time for video number two. In this Vid we not only get to see Alex Lefeson and Geddy Lee (Rush) talk about their love of guitar hero, but we also learn a little more about the story as well as getting a better look at the Gh characters new Warrior looks.

So there you have it. The story of Warriors of Rock will be inspired by the music of Rush, the game will include the whole 2112 album and Geddy Lee loves guitar hero. In addition to this we now know that we will be soon embarking on a quest to find the Legendary guitar, re-discover the prohibited practice of rock music and awaken the Demi-God of rock. Nice.

Aside from the inventive new portrayals of the characters, and the story-line itself what interests me most is the level to which a single band has affected the games theming. With Rush included quite prominently into the game, it at first seems unusual that this game is called “Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock” and not “Guitar Hero Rush”. Despite the title claiming that this is more than another band add on game, it would appear that the story line, imagery, and locations are all inspired however loosely by a single band. So what makes this title different? Well for a start it is clear that this game does more than simply chart a bands rise to stardom. Instead Warriors of rock uses the music to create a fantasy, fictional story, which though is based largely on the music of a single band is not an actual representation of the band members lives. Warriors of rock seems to encourage us to lose ourselves in the imagery created by the music, and to me this is what music is really about, losing yourself. I’m not saying that the story line won’t be tacky, nor that this game will have the impressive realism that Rockband seems to be offering. Instead I expect quite the opposite, and will be very disappointed if I receive anything else.

Oh, and its my birthday today. Lovely.

Until next time

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Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock

Due for release September 2010

I had no plans to write anything tonight. If anything I was ready for a quiet night in with my duvet and a good dvd…AND THEN I SAW THIS….

Its just so shiny....

Yes people, its official. I returned to the country today to find that the internet has been littered with images of a guitar made of what can only be described as the heaviest of heavy metal. Well actually no, its still plastic, but you see what I mean. Looking like some sort of axe of the gods, it not only has an entirely interchangeable body but also claims to be the biggest controller yet. Oh and they have removed all of the extra stuff like the slide bar and unnecessary buttons, a decision which wins my instant approval. In my opinion the bigger and scarier they make the controllers the better the game and I in all honesty can’t wait to get my hands on one.

Look! Interchangeable bodies

Apart from tempting us with leaked images of a snazzy new axe the guys down at GH headquarters have remained relatively quite about their new release. So far only 2 of the 90 new songs promised seem confirmed, and though there have been rumors of new modes no official details seem to have been given as yet. Though the lack of solid information is quite evident my excitement at these new images is no less intense. It is obvious from the title, trailers and new controller that this game is taking the guitar hero series back to its almost comical rock/heavy metal roots and I am very hopeful that a lot more will be reviled about this title at E3 next week. Until then a final treat for you all. After a bit of light digging I have been able to turn up a pretty cool trailer. Being a guitar hero geek I watched this and got so excited I almost nerdgasmed, because of this I think everyone else should watch it too.

Guitar Hero characters turning into heavy metal beasts? I’ll take some of that…to go…with fries…I should eat something…its all just too much…

Until next time,

GuitarGirl24

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Guitar Hero Warriors of rock is set for release in September 2010. Until then watch this space.

Well I have kept my promise. It seems like a long time ago now that I was giving you all the low down on the Van Halen Demo but after a lot of strumming, a few harsh failures (and a bit of sneaky Bioshock 2) I am back to give Guitar Hero Van Halen its final Verdict. I feel that the phrase ‘Final Verdict’ is very appropriate when reviewing this game, for more reasons than one. Many people I have spoken to have judged this game quite harshly with opinions that in any court would suggest a verdict of life imprisonment or even death by burning. In other words, they speak of the game only with contempt anger and disappointment. I however feel that every case heard in the gaming courtroom must have defense as well as prosecution, and so I shall endeavor to give you a fuller picture before giving a final verdict. Please rise, put your left hand on the plastic guitar and swear to tell the truth the, whole truth and nothing but the truth. Gh Court is in session.

The defence:

Opening Statement
“The defense pleads that Gh Van halen is an innocent party, created only to amuse, challenge and entertain members of the gaming community. The songs were varied, playable and most of all challenging adding valuable content to a hugely popular series. The gameplay was solid throughout and challenged the player to explore many varying techniques in order to complete the game ”

Evidence.

1. The Set list is Varied, and provides a wealth of new songs. As strange as the choice of songs initially seems, Gh Van Halen does in a strange way have something for everyone. From ‘Painkiller’ By Judas Priest and ‘Master exploder‘ by Tenacious D for the rock heads to ‘I want it all’ by Queen for your mum, this is a mixed bag unlike any other. For some time now music based gaming has been a firm party favorite, and after rigorous testing with the Plus xp-house band I can confirm that though Van Halen may be slightly disjointed in career mode, it was more than enough to satisfy everyone during party play. True it does not have the varied brilliance of say Gh 5 or Rockband 2, but if like me you have a hard-core band who have pretty much exhausted all of the songs currently available any content becomes good content.

2. The difficulty has definitely increase. I can now confirm it. Though I have a feeling the days of ‘Family friendly’ gaming are far from gone, this title embraces a little of the spirit of the earlier Gh titles. How does it do this you ask? by taking the difficulty once again up to epic proportions. Of course. I feel that despite all of its flaws this game is in one way back the way nature intended, with songs progressing from easy and accessible to nearly impossible within a single setlist. I should also say at this point that this game challenges the player to explore many of the more recent Gh playing techniques. This title had its fair share of staggered chords, slide solo’s and four finger chords, making it a challenge for even the most dedicated Gh rocker. Though I kept my promise and completed this game, I must now confess that I am still battling with ‘Hot for teacher’ ‘Spanish Fly’ and ‘Erruption’ in Expert mode. For some this would be a cause for distress, but to me it brings a great sense of joy. Things are back the way they should be. Difficult.

3. Cathedral.  As expected this game is quite tap slider heavy, something which causes me great sadness. Though I will use the tap slider if desperate I am not its biggest fan, and though this is obvious unjustified prejudice I am certain that I am not the only one who feels the same way. There is however one shining ray of holy light for those of you who like me think that using the slider is *cough* Cheating *cough*. I am talking of course about the Van Halen Solo “Catherdral” which I am pleased to report is both extremely challenging and without a tap note in sight. As the game finishes with three of Van Halen’s most famous solo’s the tap free nature of Cathedral makes it impossible to complete this game without homing both your tap/slide skills and your traditional solo skills. Sliders beware, solo properly or fail miserably!

The Prosecution.

“Gh Van Halen was an overpriced disappointment with few surprises and even less atmosphere. The band clearly had little to no input with this game, and though the setlist was more difficult the songs chosen made no sense leaving the game lacking in both theme and purpose.”

Evidence.

1. Lets face it, Guitar hero Van Halen has little or no story line. In the good old days Gh titles encouraged you to connect with your band by showing you their progression from rock wannabes to rock gods. In more recent titles this has been taken to new levels, by allowing you to help your band members build their careers, earn cash and even defeat enemies, adding much needed dimension and a true sense of purpose to the games. I am disappointed to say that Gh van halen has little to none of this vital content. You begin the game as Van Halen at the end their musical career, which personally left me feeling both confused and as if there was nothing left to be achieved. Though in the past I never really valued any of this atmosphere building content, I must say that its absence was extremely clear when playing this game. At points it was difficult not to wonder ‘Why am I doing this again?’ which can never be a good thing. Sadly Gh Van Halen simply cannot compete with the, more atmospheric, compelling band orientated releases such as Gh Aerosmith, metallica and more recently the beetles Rockband.

2. It is undeniable, the set-list makes no sense. Though the setlist doesn’t look to bad on paper I have to say that even I (with quite a strange taste in music) found it a little unnerving. Unlike the Gh compilation titles (5/World tour etc..) which are strangely allowed to mix up genres, as time progresses I have come to expect most band based Gh titles to have a sense of theme and identity. For example, Gh metallica had a strong metal theme which ran both through the character creation, cut scenes and most importantly the setlist. Van Halen mixes songs which are just frankly un-mixable, in many cases leaving the player as much confused as inspired. ‘Painkiller’ with ‘Stacey’s mom?’ No Thank-you.

3. It is also clear that the band itself had very little input in this game. Further adding to the disappointment factor of this game is the remarkable lack of band themed content. Whereas Gh metallica told the story of the band using songs, video and pictures, Van Halen used only songs with no structure or explanation. Even without being a big Van Halen fan I found the lack of the usual band based ‘Treats’ a little strange. Van Halen fans expecting a glimpse at the lives your hero’s? Prepare to be disappointed.

4. It is a little tap slider heavy.  Though the gameplay is quite varied it is still virtually impossible to complete this game without using the tap slide bar. Though this will not bother everyone, if your like me and enjoy doing solo’s the old fashioned way you will be disappointed by pretty much all of the last gig. Also if you have an old pre-tapslide style guitar beware, in expert mode this game is not for you.

5. Your efforts are not rewarded.  Hours of trawling through career mode and what do you get? Nothing. No battle with the devil, no fire and the flames, no flying carriage of rock, no skyscraper, and certainly no fireworks. Three solo’s and thats it. Nothing.

The Verdict.

Ok, so lets be realistic here. What were we expecting? I said in my initial demo review that there was not very much new happening here, and to be honest why mess with a format that works. True this game lacked a lot of the atmosphere and mod-cons of Gh 5 but overall it delivered what we have come to expect from these titles, more songs. The one thing which has really suffered during this game is not the all important gameplay but the atmosphere. I would say that if you love titles such as ‘The beetles Rock Band’ for the rounded, thought out story you are likely to be disappointed by Van Halen, but if you are simply after more/harder songs this is for you.

On this note. Many have said that simply providing new songs is not enough to warrant a new release, and that this would be better left to downloadable content but I would argue that this is not necessarily so. After-all, though X-box live is pretty widespread I know plenty of people who are unable to have access, meaning that if Gh went over entirely to downloadable content they would be, well F****d. If like me you are lucky enough to have access to X-box live I am happy for you, but I ask you. Is it fair to punish all of those who live in the countryside/low net speed areas/with their parents/in student halls, just so you can be opinionated? There is simply no justice in that.

I Agree that this game is no game of the year, however if treated as an expansion pack its challenging setlist makes Van Halen actually a lot of fun. If you are a dedicated Gh fan, looking for a bit of a challenge I say ignore the critics and have a go. If you are a Gh Virgin looking to pop your Virtual rock cherry I would steer clear. After-all this game is much more about Rock than Romance and you are likely to be disappointed.

24
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Oh, I almost forgot. For those of you who read my Van Halen review and are wondering if this game helped me regain my ‘GuitarGirl’ status I am pleased to say that despite this somewhat damming review, I have once again found my love of the plastic guitar. In the end it was not so much a new game which helped me regain my fret mojo, but a little help from my friends. Don’t believe me? Here is a tasty easter egg to prove it.

Enjoy x

I have been feeling a little ashamed of myself of late, and as it is game related shame I feel I must confess. As you all probably know I have been writing under the name ‘GuitarGirl24′ for some time now, and recently this has caused me a some conflict. You see though my name was in part chosen merely for my love of guitar solo’s (and I LOVE a good guitar solo) it was also a reference to my unconditional love of the plastic guitar. Yet recently I confess I have been neglecting my faithful fretted friend in favor of my much louder, more tiring plastic drum peripheral. I must explain. It is not that I no longer love my plastic guitar, it is simply that I have spent less time with the drums, and therefore find them more challenging. That combined with the fact that recent Gh and Rockband releases have been getting more and more family friendly with each new release (Or easier, lets not beat about the bush here) has swayed my attention away from the guitar and onto the much newer world of virtual drumming. This is the cause of my conflict, my shame. As time goes by I cannot help but wonder, will anything be able to re-ignite my passion for the plastic guitar? Or am I doomed to change my name to ‘DrumGirl’ and hot, sweaty and most of all tired for evermore.

By this point you may be thinking all hope is lost, and that I have given up hope, but fear not. 2010 is here, bringing with it hope for all of those who like their solo’s fast, furious and finger burning. For anyone who hasn’t read the title I am talking of course about Gh Van Halen, and for those of you without X-Box live here my take on a demo which I believe may just have the power to get us all strumming once more.

At this point you may be thinking that I am a huge Van Halen fan, I mean why else would I get so excited about this game otherwise right? WRONG. Beyond knowing the chorus to “Jump” my Van Halen knowledge is actually embarrassingly small, leading to the inevitable question: Why do I find this release so exciting? Its simple really, the demo beat me. At this point, primarily for the risk of sounding big-headed I will give some context to this statement. Though, I am in no way undefeated I rarely consider songs un-winnable. In the good old days of guitar hero I used to fail songs all the time, but as some of you who have read my previous articles will know recent releases have posed me almost no challenge. For example, I played Gh 5 from start to finish in expert repeating only two songs, suggesting either I have become a guitar goddess (unlikely), or the games have been getting easier. Therefore to be beaten 33% into “Eruption” and to be still hopelessly stuck at this point in time is VERY interesting. Could it be that Gh Van Halen has a set-list with difficulty to rival that of even Gh Metallica? It would certainly be a refreshing start to 2010 if it does, and after-all I do like a challenge.

As for the rest of the demo its pretty standard really. Same format of following a bands rise to stardom etc… Same slightly self indulgent feel that Gh Metallica had (oops, should I say that?) However it is worth mentioning at this point a few unexpected curiosities which caught my eye when playing. Firstly, On downloading this demo I couldn’t help but notice that it has a strange underlying retro feel. Though there are no major changes in graphics or gameplay (if anything the graphics have improved again) I did manage to spot a couple of little changes to the game which were more puzzling than revolutionary. For example it seems that the decision has been made to revert back to the more spaced out screen layout reminiscent of titles released pre- Guitar hero world tour. By this I mean that the score meter, star power bar and star meter have moved to their retro positions at the sides of the screens, instead of being down the sides of the fretboard. I find this change a little surprising as besides perhaps making it slightly harder to read your score and play simultaneously it accomplishes next to nothing. Slightly more pleasing to me is the appearance of the traditional Guitar Hero set characters. As you are all probably aware the Gh band members have evolved quite a long way since Gh 1, in my opinion reaching perfection Gh 3, only to change beyond recognition in world tour and beyond. I am pleased therefore to report that In Van Halen our favorites are more or less back to their old selves. Sure Judy nails has lost a few pounds, and Larz a little more trim, but at least Casey Lynch has her long hair back. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, that bob never suited her….

Anyway, onto more important things. Set-list. Now as you will expect this game comes with a fair dose of Van Halen tracks as well as a splattering of other “Rock hits’. During the demo You are able to play a selection from the full playlist including “Drop Nose” by Weezer, “The end of heartache” by Killswitch Engage, “Eruption” by Van Halen and “Panama” by Van Halen. Though Eruption was the only song to actually cause finger burn, all of the songs were intricate enough to be found enjoyable, and this leaves me hopeful for the rest of the set-list. On the subject of the rest of the Set-list please Enjoy.

Van Halen Selection

“Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”
“And The Cradle Will Rock”
“Atomic Punk”
“Beautiful Girls”
“Cathedral (Solo)”
“Dance The Night Away”
“Eruption (Solo)”
“Everybody Wants Some”
“Feel Your Love Tonight”
“Hang ‘Em High”
“Hear About It Later”
“Hot For Teacher”
“Ice Cream Man”
“I’m The One”
“Jamie’s Cryin’”
“Jump”
“Little Guitars”
“Loss Of Control”
“Mean Street”
“Panama”
“Pretty Woman”
“Romeo Delight”
“Running With The Devil”
“So This Is Love”
“Somebody Get Me A Doctor”
“Spanish Fly (Solo)”
“Unchained”
“You Really Got Me”

Other songs

“Come To Life” Alter Bridge
“White Wedding” Billy Idol
“First Date” Blink-182
“Space Truckin” Deep Purple
“Best Of You” Foo Fighters
- “Double Vision” Foreigner
“Stacy’s Mom” Fountains Of Wayne
- “Pain” Jimmy Eat World
“Painkiller” Judas Priest
“The End Of Heartache” Killswitch Engage
“Rock And Roll Is Dead” Lenny Kravitz
“I Want It All” Queen
“Sick, Sick, Sick” Queens Of The Stone Age
“Master Exploder” Tenacious D
“Safe European Home” The Clash
“Pretty Fly For A White Guy” The Offspring
“Semi-Charmed Life” Third Eye Blind
“Dope Nose” Weezer
“The Takedown” Yellowcard

True there is nothing particularly unexpected here, and some of the songs are of course Rockband repeats as usual. However Van Halen are know for their solo’s, and that leaves me hopeful that the gameplay will be more enjoyable than the set-list may let on. That is, as long as the solo’s we are offered are not to heavily reliant on the slider/tap feature of the newer guitars. Call me old fashioned, but I do love a good finger breaking solo…You know what I mean…

Just a couple more things. Though this game is like Gh Metallica in theme, I am pleased to say that some of the problems which once tormented me have now been fixed. The biggest improvement to me comes in the smallest of features. Unlike Metallica this game allows you to chart your progress through the different difficulty levels using tiny Guitar picks with roman numerals on. Each Pick represents a different difficulty (kind of like the skulls in world tour) and beside each pick there is space where your score for the song in each difficulty is written. I know, I know. this seems like such a small thing, but anyone who tried to play Metallica in two difficulties will know why this is so important. I also couldn’t complete this demo review without mentioning the great attention to detail that has been paid to animating the band. Every member is expressive and dexterous, to the point of being almost quite scary. Though their energy can be a little overwhelming at times its is nice that although once again it seems we must abandon our custom creations to “BE” Van Halen, at least our virtual selves look as if they are actually having a good time.

And thats it. The demo is still on line so if you have a spare 5 minutes I suggest you download away and see what you think. Oh and if anyone gets past 33% on Eruption in expert (Not using the tap and slide bar!) please let me know. I will make you a paper crown.

Oh, and before I go I will make you all a promise. I “GuitarGirl” hereby promise to resist the lure of the drums and play this title from start to finish on my plastic guitar. I Vow to be faithful to the frets once more, and resist my evil urges in order to once again justify my name. No longer will I be found banging from noon until night, else the gods of rock strike me down for…misrepresentation of goods………?

Until next time,
GuitarGirl24
x

Anyone who read my initial post concerning Band Hero will know that my personal expectations of this game were, well shall we say, just ever so slightly, just a little weenie bit low. Being a complete worshipper of the original Guitar Hero series, when Band Hero was announced I had to shed a tear at the thought of my beloved rockathons being corrupted by mainstream pop. The mere fact that It was called ‘Band Hero’ quite frankly gave me shivers, and when asked to play the online demo I will admit I took on the task limited enthusiasm. However it is my duty to report on such matters, and as many people seem to believe that where there is darkness there is inevitably light, I feel I must give this game a fair hearing. Therefore to keep it simple I present to you Band Hero, The good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Firstly some good points about this game. As a descendant of the Guitar Hero series this game is very well animated, easy to pick up, has enjoyable gameplay and is very pretty. Though it was not rock themed (shame) It had good venus and atmosphere, with a much more colorful pop orientated feeling than the GH series. The party play feature was also excellent allowing players to swap modes and instruments at any point, which proves very useful when the drinks need refilling. The graphics were similar to that of DJ Hero in the sense that everything was very neon and slightly trippy, which I felt was quite fitting for a pop based game. I also noticed that a lot of effort had been put into the animation of the characters, especially the movements of the lead singer which I must say brought a small smile to my face. On that note my main good point of this game is that the set-list is much more accommodating to female singers, and about time too. Often I have found that my more girly friends would prefer to sing than play guitar, and so I am guessing this will be right up their street. I have often struggled through various singing careers either pushing the notes to extreme highs to survive or imitating a male voice, both of which sound quite frankly stupid. I suppose in an odd way Band Hero solves this problem for girls everywhere, but I am no raging feminist and so the review continues…

The Bad

Now for the bad stuff. Its too easy! I may be being a GH snob here, but I was able to play through this demo whilst taking happily about dinner at the same time. I had it on expert mode for all 3 songs, but it simply didn’t require that much concentration. I suppose this game is aimed at the younger, less experienced market (Aww bless their cotton socks) however this makes it a step down rather than a step up for experienced GH ‘musicians’. I suppose it’s to be expected, but its a bit of a shame. Also, since when could a guitar make a sound like a saxophone? Look I know with the right effects pedals it can be done, but there are points in this game where you are constantly switching from being a keyboard, to a trumpet to a guitar. I know GH5 did this a little too, but this game does it to the extent where it becomes completely ridiculous. At this point I find myself asking the question, Why make a game which is an offshoot of Guitar Hero and then include songs where there is simply not enough guitar to make the game playable? Its simple really. Its called ‘Guitar Hero’ because It includes songs with strong guitar riffs. Pop songs do not often have such strong guitar riffs, therefore why include them in a game where the whole concept is based around a guitar shaped controller. Think through your concept more thoroughly next time people!

The ugly

Now for the ugly part of this game. And my is it ugly… For me this game seems to be completely lacking in theme and identity. Though it boasts a diverse set-list I found the mixing of the genres in the demo made the game feel disjointed and very strange to play . For example the demo moved from happy clappy pop, to modern country style pop, to soft rock, with the same band members and gig set up. Now I know previous titles also did this, but not to this extent. To be honest I found it a little unnerving to see a massive heavy metal rocker happily singing along to ‘Walking on Sunshine’ By Catrina and the waves, especially seeing as this was a standard part of the demo not someone’s personal joke. In fact the completely random mix of band members chosen for the demo put me off a little too. When I played, my band consisted of 2 mature characters, (a sexy punk lead singer and a heavy metal lead guitarist) and two very young looking young teens (an Avril Lavigne style drummer and an alternative base player). This random combination of band members to me looked very odd. More worryingly still, with the differences in age and genre leading me to question weather if this band truly existed, it would actually be legal for them to go to the bar after gigs for drinks, let alone ever want to play together. Though the characters were probably meant to be diverse to show the diversity of the character creation feature, the lack of consistency in characters was to me direct proof of this games lack of direction. After reviewing the set-list more carefully I have come to the conclusion that it would have given the game more of an identity if older, more famous pop acts had been used. If the set-list had been more cheesy with more famous pop acts they may just have got away with the pop theme, however the mismatch of pop and rock chosen lead me to think that it might have been more appropriate to just bring out another true guitar hero with some pop songs on it, call it ‘Guitar Hero Pop hits’ and do away with the ambiguity. I imagine that if this would done it would feel a little like Guitar Hero Rocks the 80’s, which in my opinion worked a lot better than this confused little title. I hate to say it but in comparison DJ Hero has much better theming. I don’t want to be a DJ but at least the Characters, sets and music all fit together and create a real atmosphere.

Though I did to some extent enjoy playing this demo, I feel that it is very obviously aimed at the younger teen market, and not the true GH worshippers. The combination of younger band members,colorful settings, easier gameplay and tame pop set-list make an experience associated much more with the young teen scene than the heavy metal and grunge fantasy lands we are used to. Though this is not for me, I suppose not all games can be everyones cup of tea. Therefore if you are a 13 year old girl with a Taylour Swift poster on your wall you will love this game, and more power to you for buying it. As for everyone else, try it yourselves and see what you think. Oh but be sure to get the drinks in first, your really going to need them…

Until next time

GuitarGirl24

P.S. On an Un-related note, I have finally completed Gh5 (Work has been keeping me VERY busy!!) Its not as difficult as I expected, though I did have to re-play 3 of the songs in the end set-list through twice. The highlights for me were definitely “Sultans of Swing” Dire straits, “No one to depend on” Santana, “Do you feel like we do” Peter Frampton and “American Girl” Tom Petty & The heartbreakers. Not the hardest songs but definitely the ones I enjoyed plying the most. Shame its not as difficult as expected, but still as good play and definitely one to add to your christmas list if your not into DJ/Band hero and haven’t splashed out already.

I love Oxford street. I must say that when in London it has to be one of my all time favorite places to spend a lazy saturday. The shops, the people watching and of course who could forget the massive HMV, which is always kind enough to provide some little gem of new entertainment. This week my personal treasure chest has once again bestowed its bounty upon me, giving me my first taste of DJ Hero.

First off I feel that I must explain where I stand on DJ Hero. Being a true Guitar hero girl I have awaited DJ hero with both curiosity and a little distain. Personally I have never dreamed of becoming a hit DJ, and have not liked the idea of the guitar based games being interfered with. Therefore the idea of this game has generally been causing me a little distress. This aside I have decided to review this game as If i DID dream of becoming a hit DJ. For the sake of this article the next few paragraphs will be as without bias as I can manage, with all of the fading, scratching, techno, dance, hip hop and drum and bass action you can handle. Which could be difficult seeing as I sit here in my leather and lace. Please bear with me.

To state the obvious, DJ hero is basically guitar hero for wannabe DJ’s. The game uses settings and graphics similar to those of the GH series to transport you, the world famous DJ into increasingly cool, clubs, parties gig’s and raves. DJ hero is just as vibrant and creative as the GH series, with a very similar layout and feel. When the game loaded I instantly recognized the graphics from GH world tour/5 and from what I could see the character creation looks similar too (except with a fair bit more bling). Though the look of the game is the same as GH, the feel when played is actually quite a bit different.The objective of the game is to use the three fingers of your right hand to keep the beat using three colored buttons, whilst keeping your left hand on the slider, fading one of the three colored ‘beat lines’ in and out in time with the music. The game also replicates the classic DJ motion by getting you to scratch the mock record along with the beat, which has to be the most fun part of the DJ hero experience. In addition to this you can use the euphoria button to instantly whip up the crowd, increasing your score potential or saving you from an angry crowd should your DJ-ing not quite be up to scratch.

Though all of this may seem very similar to the actin of using a traditional guitar controller, I found that the feeling of the turntable controller gave a very different feeling to the gameplay. Whereas the guitar controller gives a sense of free spirited, reckless power, the Turntable feels much more fiddley and somehow quieter. To me the feel of this game was much more like playing an old style arcade machine, all buttons and switches and compulsion to make it to the last level. The sliding motion of the turntable was a lot of fun, but to me It didn’t really feel as much like playing an instrument as using a controller. I think that though this is perhaps a bit of a shame, it is a little unavoidable as the action of DJ-ing is very different to any of the other plastic instruments. One thing I think could have improved this though is if the decks were a little bigger. Everything feels a little too close together, which to me, when combined with a low table makes it seem as if you are fiddling about your waist doing something secretive and perhaps even quite naughty. If the decks were made larger (as the guitar controllers were) then the experience would become more proud and powerful which I think would certainly improve the gaming experience. Now it may seem like I am being a little harsh on Dj Hero, but honestly, I’m not just saying this because I like the guitar controller. I actually think that this game is very addictive, it is just a lot different and perhaps aimed at a different kind of person. The turntable action is fluid and smooth, and the setup works very well. In fact I would definitely recommend this title to anyone who has ever fancied having a go at being a DJ, so please don’t be put off. It is also worth noting at this point that it is also possible to incorporate a Guitar controller into the game, and though I did not get a chance to try this I am still interested to see how this will bear up to the beloved full rock-band experience.

Though I had mixed feelings about the decks, the music choices were much more pleasing. The game has over 102 songs, presented as 93 mixes, which to anyones standards is quite a generous amount of content. With genres boated including Hip-hop, pop dance and rock, the music you can scratch along to is a little random but surprisingly varied. Though when selecting my set-list I barely recognized any of the song titles, when I started to play it soon became apparent that the selection of songs actually consists of some really good songs. I ended up playing re-mixes of the gorillaz, the jackson five and Rhianna, all of which were (and I am slightly shocked to hear myself saying this) quite good. With more hits from artists such as Queen, The killers, N.E.R.D., Dizzy rascal, Daft punk, 50 cent and Eminem I am sure that the selection of songs will be enough to keep even the fussiest of potential DJ’s happy. Though personally I was a little disappointed there was no prodigy, I suppose you can’t always have everything.

Overall I would say that DJ Hero is a must for anyone who has dreamed of ruling the decks but never had the time, money, energy or commitment to buy the right gear. The controller felt small to me, but other than that the gameplay is very addictive and promises to be a lot of fun when mastered. Though I was playing through the easier levels, this game obviously has the potential to become extremely in depth and complicated, something which can only work to its advantage. Oh and for the true fans also be sure to look out for the renegade edition. This premium edition not only features a useful case which folds out into a portable table, but also promises to include Jay-z and Eminem. I don’t know how they plan to fit them both in the box, but its always nice to get added extras.

On a final note to me the plastic instruments seem to be growing ever closer to the real ones. First the Gh drum kit which basically teaches you how to drum, and now plastic decks which take up almost as much time and energy as real ones. I love my plastic instruments more than so many things, but to me they will always be in addition to learning the real thing, not as a substitute. To me the main value of my plastic friends will always be in party play, and I think it is a shame that the decks were not introduced alongside more of the existing instruments to make what I would consider to be a FULL band. I have a lot of friends who would like to use the decks to do the DJ-ing, effects, mixing, beat or Synth and though it would obviously be very complicated to work into the existing game structure it seems a shame that it has not yet been attempted. Perhaps this is one for the future, who knows. Until then I will silently await the day when a DJ can join my band, perhaps even like an equil. Perhaps.

Until next time

GuitarGirl24

With the hype for christmas building I find myself in the mood for reminiscing. Guitar Hero 3, my first ever Gh title was in fact a christmas present. Therefore this seems like a perfect time to look back over all of those songs which brightened many a long and tedious winter day. I refused to buy the greatest hits disk because I disagree with the choice of songs it offered (quite frankly I thought I could have chosen better with the game cases, a blindfold and a set of darts but thats neither here nor there) so without point or purpose here is how I would have done it, from Gh1 through to World Tour. My perfect set-list.

NB: These are not the songs I am best at, or indeed the most challenging (as you will see). They are merely those which I find most amusing, that I would pick up my plastic guitar and decide to play first. Though if you get the chance to play me and want to win, perhaps best avoid these songs. OR if you want to make me happy, choose them all!

Infected- Bad religion GH1(Dark, in a sexy way)

More than a feeling- Boston GH1(You just have to sing along!)

Spanish Castle Magic- Jimi Hendrix GH1(One big upbeat solo, always fun)

Carry on my wayward son- Kansas GH2 (I love the quiet section in the middle, beautiful and hypnotic)

Cherry Pie- Warrant GH2 (love the solo, also so tacky its good)

Who was in my room last night- Butthole surfers GH2 (I can’t help but thinking during the solo ‘Oh yes….he went there’)

Sweet child o’ mine- Guns n’ Roses GH2 (its just a classic)

Jessica- Allman brothers GH2 (whats this…I don’t know it…OMG TOPGEAR!)

Free Bird- Lynyrd Skynyrd GH2 (its just so pretty)

Talk dirty to me- Poison GH3 (nice easy end solo)

When you were young- The killers GH3 (miss the euphoric notes and you have to leave the room)

Paint it black- The rolling stones Gh3 (Black, Black like the Sky…)

My name is Jonas- Weezer GH3 (easy but so pretty)

Even flow- Pearl jam GH3 (they rock, great live too)

Black Magic Woman- Santana GH3 (Full of Twiddle and Widdle)

Rock you like a Hurricane- The scorpions GH3 (Cheesy!)

La Grange- ZZTop GH3 (an all time gh fave of mine)

Hellicopter- Bloc Party GH3 (I sing the word ‘Helicopter’ through all the ending notes to make it more fun, it doesn’t go with the tune at all but hey)

Stricken- Disturbed GH3 (good for the rage days)

Devil went down to georgia- Charlie Daniels band GH3 (Best moment ever, and I mean ever)

Monsters- Matchbook Romance GH3 (Great end to Co-op mode, fiddley and fast, like many a drunken fumble)

Avalancia- Heroes del Silencio GH3 (Euphoric, love the slide)

Don’t hold back- The sleeping GH3 (Good for a lift)

Prayer for the Refugee- Rise against GH3 (So beautiful, and sad)

Through the fire and the flames- Dragonforce (A Fetish, So hard but soooooo good)

18 and life- Skid row 80’s (One for those ‘Well, it could be worse’ moments)

Holy Diver- Dio 80’s(Makes me laugh, I finally understand Jack Black Alllllright)

The Warrior- Scandal 80’s (Stewie Griffin’s I-pod commercial)

What I like about you- The Romantics 80’s (It just doesn’t stop with the double notes)

Play with me- Extreme 80’s (I struggled with this in expert until my fingers ached, just because I loved it so much)

Dream On- Aerosmith (Easy to play but truely perfect song)

Train Kept a Rollin- Aerosmith (I like the increase in pace, fun on drums when playing rockband)

Mama Kin- Aerosmith (Exciting from start to finish)

Beat it- Michael Jackson WT (fun in band play, who doesn’t know it)

Everlong- Foo fighters WT (I LOVE to drum this song! I mean LOVE)

Hot for teacher- Van Halen WT(Fast, Furious, Sexy…How could it not be there)

La Bamba- Los Lobos WT (No NOT LaMamba! A chidhood fave of mine)

Lazy Eye- Silversun Pickups (simple but beautiful)

Love Removal Machine- The Cult (Sexy when played on drums)

Purple Haze- Jimi Hendrix WT (The day I kept my x4 through the entire end solo was one of the happiest days of my GH life…)

Enter Sandman- Metallica (So powerful on drums, its soooo satisfying)

One- Metallica (Passing the end solo in this was a major milestone for me)

Nothing else matters- Metallica (All love songs should in my opinion have at least one guitar solo…)

And there you have it. Now all I need is for someone to put it on a disk for me so I don’t have to keep swapping them over…Someone…Anyone…Neversoft? Now that I have opened up my most private, and personal music preferences I would very much like to hear from you guys. So tell me, Staff, contributors and gamers of the world, what have I missed? Do you have an absolute favorite that you re outraged I have not included? If I have forgotten your true favorites (And no picking the hardest songs just to try and show off, I’m onto you) Drop me an e-mail/comment and I will be happy to make a full apology in writing at some point during my future posts and add your song to the list, just because I’m nice like that.

Thats it from me this week. I’ll be at Eurogamer with the rest of the team in London next Saturday, and hopefully, If your all good, I’ll be able to give you something a bit more juicy then, and I don’t mean a peach.

Until we meet again,

- GuitarGirl24