This One Goes to 11
When EA launched Rock Band - a game that enabled players to form an entire band rather than just play the guitar - Activision had to go one higher when it revamped its Guitar Hero franchise, which they did with GH World Tour. Thoroughly good it was too, but this, the fifth iteration of everyone's favourite rhythm action game, is even better.
This polishes the Guitar Hero World Tour formula and adds a whole lot more to the mix including drop-in/drop-out play, a massive track listing from an equally massive number of artists, multiple instrument options and a rather surprising playable character.
Press the right buttons at the right time and you'll get all sorts of bonuses and increase your score. Fail, and you'll get booed off the stage.
Feel the Rhythm
If you're one of the very few people on the planet who have never played Guitar Hero or a similar rhythm action game, the premise is simplicity itself. A rock song plays in the background and coloured markers scroll along an on-screen fretboard. The player has to press the coloured buttons on his controller in time to the markers on screen to “play” the song correctly. Press the right buttons at the right time and you'll get all sorts of bonuses and increase your score. Fail, and you'll get booed off the stage. Now, though, things have got a little more complex.
With World Tour the format was expanded to include lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals, and here the idea has been developed still further.
Come Join the Band
This time around up to four players, plus an additional four players in online mode, can form a band and, depending on what hardware they've decided to turn up with, pretty much choose their line-up of instruments.
If a player mucks up and drops out of a multiplayer jam, the other players can attempt to play well enough to bring him or her back in.
In addition, as well as seeing band members drop in and out of a song during normal play, in multi-player mode they'll also be required to play cooperatively, taking part in Band Moments in order to gain bonus effects and points. Also, if a player mucks up and drops out of a multiplayer jam, the other players can attempt to play well enough to fill a Revival Meter, thus bringing him or her back into the game.
Masses of Music
As always, Guitar Hero boasts an astonishingly large track listing, with version five containing 85 songs by 83 different artists. Once again it's far too many to mention, but it's worth noting that GH5 boasts one of the most diverse track listings of any game so far with turns from such varied acts as Arctic Monkeys, Beastie Boys, David Bowie, Elton John, No Doubt, Santana, Stevie Wonder and The Police.
One final feature worthy of mention is the playable avatars. GH always had a few famous performers modelled and ready for you to take control of and this time around we have Johnny Cash, Matt Bellamy from Muse and Shirley Manson of Garbage fame. More controversially, there's also an unlockable avatar of Kurt Cobain, though whether playing the deceased Nirvana front man proves a bit uncomfortable is down to individual opinion.
Virtual resurrections aside, Guitar Hero 5 is a massively enjoyable game with more features than you can shake a plectrum at.
GAME's Verdict
- Multiple Instruments
- Huge track listing
- Great online play
- Unlockable characters
Review by: Simon 'Karaoke' Kirrane
Version Tested: Xbox 360
Review Published: 11.09.09