This was the game that finally prompted me to get a PS2, and I'm so glad I did. This game is totally worth it.
The single player is a lot of fun. You start with a tutorial on how to do the basic moves, such as playing notes and chords. After that, you learn about Star Power and the whammy bar, and finally, the advanced moves like hammer-ons and pull-offs for playing multiple notes in rapid succession.
Then, you get into career mode, where you start out playing in basements and small clubs, and move up to large clubs and arenas. You start out with a relatively short and easy playlist, and work your way up to unlock more songs with increasing difficulty. The game is very easy to start out in, and each song gets progressively harder, with each mode preparing you for the more difficult levels.
The song list is great, with some fantastic guitar-centric songs by both classic and new rock artists. It's very varied (from Queen and David Bowie to Pantera and Helmet) and all of the songs are recognizable and fun. While there are some bands that you might not have heard of, their songs are fun to play, and nice to listen to. While all of the songs are technically covers, the in-game "band" does a good enough job of recreating them that they sound enough like the real thing that you might not notice. There are a few notable omissions from the playlist (Van Halen, The Who, AC/DC), but the ones that are there are so much fun, that there could have been 100 songs, and you'd still be wanting more.
Where the game really kicks into gear is multiplayer. Instead of the typical head-to-head format, Guitar Hero throws a bit of a curveball, with a classic "guitar duel" style showdown. The two players square off on the same song, but playing complementary parts, rather than playing all of the notes simultaneously. The end result is both challenging and fun, with each player not only trying to beat the other, but both working together to make the song sound "complete".
The only downside is that, in order to really get the experience of this game, you have to buy it with the special GS controllers, which run about $40 each, and if you want to play multiplayer, you'll need a second. However, the game is so much fun that you'll want to have them, and if they come out with a sequel, the controllers will have more than paid for themselves.
If you're looking for a fun game, definitely pick this one up. It's a great game for novices, music buffs, guitar fans, and any fan of rock music in general. It's also a great game for parties or gettogether, and the SG controllers make for a cool conversation piece to introduce new people into the game.
I don't think I could recommend this game any more strongly. It's just pure fun.
The single player is a lot of fun. You start with a tutorial on how to do the basic moves, such as playing notes and chords. After that, you learn about Star Power and the whammy bar, and finally, the advanced moves like hammer-ons and pull-offs for playing multiple notes in rapid succession.
Then, you get into career mode, where you start out playing in basements and small clubs, and move up to large clubs and arenas. You start out with a relatively short and easy playlist, and work your way up to unlock more songs with increasing difficulty. The game is very easy to start out in, and each song gets progressively harder, with each mode preparing you for the more difficult levels.
The song list is great, with some fantastic guitar-centric songs by both classic and new rock artists. It's very varied (from Queen and David Bowie to Pantera and Helmet) and all of the songs are recognizable and fun. While there are some bands that you might not have heard of, their songs are fun to play, and nice to listen to. While all of the songs are technically covers, the in-game "band" does a good enough job of recreating them that they sound enough like the real thing that you might not notice. There are a few notable omissions from the playlist (Van Halen, The Who, AC/DC), but the ones that are there are so much fun, that there could have been 100 songs, and you'd still be wanting more.
Where the game really kicks into gear is multiplayer. Instead of the typical head-to-head format, Guitar Hero throws a bit of a curveball, with a classic "guitar duel" style showdown. The two players square off on the same song, but playing complementary parts, rather than playing all of the notes simultaneously. The end result is both challenging and fun, with each player not only trying to beat the other, but both working together to make the song sound "complete".
The only downside is that, in order to really get the experience of this game, you have to buy it with the special GS controllers, which run about $40 each, and if you want to play multiplayer, you'll need a second. However, the game is so much fun that you'll want to have them, and if they come out with a sequel, the controllers will have more than paid for themselves.
If you're looking for a fun game, definitely pick this one up. It's a great game for novices, music buffs, guitar fans, and any fan of rock music in general. It's also a great game for parties or gettogether, and the SG controllers make for a cool conversation piece to introduce new people into the game.
I don't think I could recommend this game any more strongly. It's just pure fun.
