The Rampant Coyote Rocks the 80's
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's (still an incredibly stupid name) was released yesterday, so I snagged myself a copy and was even able to rock out a little on my lunch hour. All-in-all, it took me maybe 2 hours to 5-star everything on medium so that all the songs are available in two-player mode (I even got two "gold star" 100% sets on my first try). And I got the Viking and Coffin guitars. Medium isn't much fun for me anymore, but the songs were great.

I'm going to have to agree with the critics, here --- it's being billed as a full-price game, but comparing GH80's with Guitar Hero II really leaves GH80's coming up lacking. While I can forgive the lack of bonus tracks (Were they supposed to hunt down authentic 80's indie music?), the fact that there are 10 fewer main tracks is somewhat painful. No costume changes, fewer characters, and only minor color-scheme changes on the six venues (as opposed to eight). My problem is not that it's just Guitar Hero II with different songs. It's Guitar Hero II with... less of everything. That wouldn't be a problem if it was priced as an expansion, but as a full-priced game? Ouch.

I don't really expect much in the way of new features. Really, feature-wise, Guitar Hero II nailed it. The big addition Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is sporting... the "battle mode" thing... sounds like zero added value to my ears. But would it have killed 'em to have thrown in one extra venue unique to the 80's edition? And a few more songs? Granted, finding popular songs from the 80's that weren't all done with keyboards and a drum machine can be tricky, but I'm sure they could have dug something up. Maybe some Styx, Rush, Van Halen, Queensryche, or even Huey Lewis or the Cars?

All that being said - I AM one of those people who bought the game (and based upon what the dude at Wal*Mart told me, we are legion), so I guess it isn't priced too far beyond the pale. And what songs are on the list are really pretty fun. Maybe a little embarassing to admit that I like them, but I had a blast playing them --- even on medium. For the most part, I love the track list, and I really enjoyed the character costumes.

Some songs might be considered questionable choices, though I think Harmonix made the most of them. Really, the lead guitar still doesn't have much to do in "Radar Love" - even the White Lion version. It'll be a lot of fun doing the bass in coop though, I expect. And those iconic 80's songs, like "I Ran (So Far Away)" have little to do on the guitar but make sound effects with the whammy bar. A couple of the songs I really haven't heard since the 80's. I think "Balls to the Wall" was last played on the airwaves in 1984. While playing "The Warrior," we cracked up when we heard, "Your eyes touch me, physically..." Ew! GRODY to the max! Did we even listen to the lyrics back then?

Some songs are really embarrassing to admit to even listen to, but they are really fun to play. "I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister is a perfect example. And dang it if "We Got The Beat" isn't a blast to play!

"Ballroom Blitz," "No One Like You," and Ratt's "Round and Round" were every bit as sweet as I'd hoped. The final selection, "Play With Me," is pure awesomeness and adrenaline. I've loved that song since I first watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

When it comes down to it, it's more Guitar Hero goodness, with more songs, mainly songs I grew up with, so for us 30-somethings who love the GH series its a no-brainer. I just wish they'd been a trifle more generous.

Labels: Guitar Hero, Mainstream Games

- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 5:00 AM (Permalink)