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GC - Guitar Hero 5 Hands On

Published By: Angus Deacon On: 31/08/2009 15:00

AT A GLANCE

"With a tasty track listing "

The Good: Muse, The White Stripes, QOTSA!

The Bad: More Bon Jovi?

The Ugly: Billy Idol

GamesCom was an audible cacophony of madness over in Cologne, Germany as music video games littered the arena. We had Rockband: The Beatles, LEGO Rockband, DJ Hero and then Guitar Hero 5 all being blasted from every corner. I have to admit though, Activision’s efforts with their hands-on area seemed the most popular. Then again Guitar Hero has always been popular in Europe and is the more established brand.

Guitar Hero 5 looks set to carry on the craze and in my humble opinion, has one of the tastiest track listings I’ve seen to date on disc. Despite the title, this fifth Guitar Hero is based off the same band dynamics that we saw in World Tour and isn’t limited to just guitars. Those who purchased World Tour will still be able to use the drums, microphones and have a second guitar for bass for the new tracks. In fact players can now completely mix it up, with the game allowing for multiple vocalists or any combination of instruments – including four drummers for those crazy freaks who just happen to have four drum kits lying around.

The gameplay mechanics have hardly been touched since we last saw Guitar Hero. The guitar controller hasn’t been updated although we were informed that a new looking model will be released with the game. But thankfully, Guitar Hero 5 isn’t just a mean-looking track pack and does include some fairly weighty new features. One of them is the new jump-in / drop-out feature that means band members can join in at any stage without interrupting the gameplay for those already jamming up a storm. It’s a great feature but the question remains as to why it’s taken this long to bring such an important aspect to the game. Band members will also generate their own Star Power now, instead of a joint one that could often be a frustrating experience to the lead guitar who is shredding away perfectly – only to have his Star Power jeopardised by his drunk drummer.

We weren’t shown any of the multiplayer aspects, but we were promised four AND eight player online play. Also touted around the place was a new online feature called RockFest Mode that opens up a versus type mode using a range of different instruments. There doesn’t appear to be anything revolutionary in store, but Guitar Hero 5 will still offer a comprehensive multiplayer experience. The local multiplayer has a bit of new life injected into it though with Party Play Mode that makes things easier for groups of people just to get stuck into their favourite tracks without having to muck around in menus and setup. There’s no better way to kill the party vibe than to have to spend ten minutes flicking around menus while others just stand around waiting.

But it is still the track listing that sells this game for me. It is by far the best list of artists suited to my music tastes that I have ever seen in a title of its kind to date. Just recently announced was a virtual representation of the charismatic Matt Bellamy of Muse who comes complete with the track “Plug In Baby”. It’s a classic, but I’m hoping for another half a dozen Muse tracks to be available online shortly after release. On top of that, other artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Arctic Monkeys, Nirvana, The Raconteurs, A Perfect Circle, Bush, Kings of Leon, Rammstein (as you can imagine this caused quite a kerfuffle in Germany), Spacehog and Wolfmother all make an appearance.

The game is set to include 85 songs by 83 artists and several in-game characters such as the extremely legilicious Shirley Manson, Johnny Cash and also Kurt Cobain all being playable. One of the more unusual (but greatly appreciated) bands to be included was The White Stripes. Lead singer, guitarist Jack White has always spoken-out negatively about unnecessary technology and I would bet my cat on him not appreciating a “non-musical” game like this bearing his name. I can’t help but think the record labels have had something to do with this. Either way, we get to rock out to “Blue Orchid” so we’ll let it slide.

NZGamer.com will hook you up with a full review when the game slides onto the stage on 18th September.

NZGamer.com would like thank Activision, Capcom, Microsoft NZ, SCENZ, SEGA, THQ and Ubisoft for making this trip possible.

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NZGamer.com - GC - Guitar Hero 5 Hands On

COMMENTS (19)

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On 31 August 2009, 04:19PM Posted by Xenojay

Any chance of there being any info on the hardware for GH5? Just like how RB2 improved their HW, any change here?

On 31 August 2009, 06:03PM Posted by Syn-Ryn

"crazy freaks who just happen to have four drum kits lying around."

I'll have one, my mate has 2. m/

On 31 August 2009, 06:10PM Posted by Oliver

I won't be buying a GH game until I see they've dropped the cheesy generic characters, horrible backdrops and the ugly interface. The gameplay is fine, it's just the appearance that makes me hate it.

On 31 August 2009, 06:54PM Posted by guitar93

WHEN WILL GH LEARN TO PUT GUITAR STRAPS ON THEIR CHARACTERS??

On 31 August 2009, 07:13PM Posted by Oliver

Jesus. Just noticed how bad Matthew Bellamy looks in one of those shots. They didn't try too hard did they?

On 31 August 2009, 07:46PM Posted by lowalk

Reply to Oliver31 August 2009, 06:10PM
I won't be buying a GH game until I see they've dropped the cheesy generic characters, horrible backdrops and the ugly interface. The gameplay is fine, it's just the appearance that makes me hate it.

Yea i know what you mean, they should of done what singstar did and have the video clip in the backdrop while your playing, not some gay animated concert.

On 31 August 2009, 08:25PM Posted by twisterjamz

hmmm not many people i know on this game, i think i will stick too beatles rockband

On 31 August 2009, 09:05PM Posted by pacifini

Reply to Oliver31 August 2009, 07:13PM
Jesus. Just noticed how bad Matthew Bellamy looks in one of those shots. They didn't try too hard did they?

Is that meant to be Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain in the pics above?

On 1 September 2009, 12:19AM Posted by arnies

Reply to Xenojay31 August 2009, 04:19PM
Any chance of there being any info on the hardware for GH5? Just like how RB2 improved their HW, any change here?

Think its the same as World Tour just a differnt face plate for the guitar. Maybe stronger strum bars because a lot broke

On 1 September 2009, 12:52PM Posted by Oliver

Reply to pacifini31 August 2009, 09:05PM
Is that meant to be Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain in the pics above?

Yeah it is, but I was looking at the other screenshots. :)

On 1 September 2009, 04:45PM Posted by ChatterboxZombie

More of the same i guess.
and whats wrong with Billy Idol?

oh, right......

On 2 September 2009, 01:58PM Posted by PotatoLegs

ugh, muse...

On 2 September 2009, 02:23PM Posted by Ron

Reply to PotatoLegs 2 September 2009, 01:58PM
ugh, muse...

What's wrong with Muse?

On 2 September 2009, 08:28PM Posted by SpawnSeekSlay

Being totally inexperienced with both RB and GH, what is the difference between the 2? Which is better? or is it just a matter of opinion or exclusive content?

On 3 September 2009, 08:48AM Posted by thejuror84

Reply to SpawnSeekSlay 2 September 2009, 08:28PM
Being totally inexperienced with both RB and GH, what is the difference between the 2? Which is better? or is it just a matter of opinion or exclusive content?

RB is definately better. It is made by professionals who love and are knowledgable about music. Music comes first and everything else just adds to it. Furthermore, RB titles are all able to be exported into the next so there will never be the need for disc swapping (unless it's the beatles, where things are very unique). On top of this the agreement with MTV means RB weekly updates their store with new quality tunes, spanning many generes of rock.

GH is all flash and gimmicks, without the substance. Charts for the instruments are overdone of unnatural for the sake of providing a shredding experiance or challenge. Play THRB and take in all the care and class that went into it, then think what would happen if craptivision had the rights "shudders" "TBRB, with guest artists lenny kravitz, linkin park and puddle of mudd; shred like george with the ability to play 5 guitars at once and have up to 10 vocalists!.

Throwing actual artist likenesses into the game pretty much somes up what GH is about. I went from GH2 on my PS2 straight to RB and now RB2. I feel sorry for those who stuck with the GH name despite it's core (HMX) leaving to persue better things

On 7 September 2009, 09:38AM Posted by PotatoLegs

the song choice on the guitar heroes has indeed become increasingly sh*t

On 11 September 2009, 03:48PM Posted by Barnicals

Looks like a similar lineup to previous GH's, in my opinion... Nirvana, Wolfmother, QotSA... Pretty "so what?" as far as I can see. I'd like to see a 70's rock n roll version come out instead: Ram Jam, The Clash, Quiet Riot, The Doors, Alice Cooper, The Eagles (they had more than Hotel California, you know). Beach Boys?

On 11 September 2009, 03:54PM Posted by Barnicals

Reply to thejuror84 3 September 2009, 08:48AM
RB is definately better. It is made by professionals who love and are knowledgable about music. Music comes first and everything else just adds to it. Furthermore, RB titles are all able to be exported into the next so there will never be the need for disc swapping (unless it's the beatles, where things are very unique). On top of this the agreement with MTV means RB weekly updates their store with new quality tunes, spanning many generes of rock. GH is all flash and gimmicks, without the substance. Charts for the instruments are overdone of unnatural for the sake of providing a shredding experiance or challenge. Play THRB and take in all the care and class that went into it, then think what would happen if craptivision had the rights "shudders" "TBRB, with guest artists lenny kravitz, linkin park and puddle of mudd; shred like george with the ability to play 5 guitars at once and have up to 10 vocalists!. Throwing actual artist likenesses into the game pretty much somes up what GH is about. I went from GH2 on my PS2 straight to RB and now RB2. I feel sorry for those who stuck with the GH name despite it's core (HMX) leaving to persue better things

You know, I wish someone had have told me that before I bought into the whole GH thing. I enjoy it, sure, but I didn't enjoy taking back the complete band set... TWICE.