Guitar Hero 5 (Software Only) Xbox 360

Released on 11/09/2009

• Guitar Hero 5 Review

  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

  

  • Kurt Cobain? Really?

  Review by: Simon 'Karaoke' Kirrane
  Version Tested: Xbox 360
  Review Published: 11.09.09

  Published: 14/09/2009

• Bring On the Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he is a massive #@+! and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

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