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Hands-on impressions: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
by Samit Sarkar on 06.02.2008 37 comments

Hands-on impressions: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith has been accused, like Guitar Hero: On Tour, of being yet another quick cash-in attempt for the Guitar Hero franchise (see also Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s). But looking at it another way, an artist-centric music game is quite a gamble. For many gamers -- at least, those who aren’t die-hard Aerosmith lovers -- the likelihood of shelling out full price for this, which has an approximately 60/40 split between Aerosmith songs and non-Aerosmith songs, is low.

Still, the hard rock band has sold over 150 million records worldwide since being formed in 1970, so it has a pretty sizable legion of fans. And according to what the developers kept emphasizing while I was playing the game last Wednesday in San Francisco, Aerosmith is legitimately interested in the videogame medium and was involved in the process of making the guitar game that will bear the band’s name. So how did my time with the game go? Click on below to find out.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot 1

If you’re not familiar with the basic mechanics of Guitar Hero by now, you must have been living under a rock for the past three years. On-screen fretboard, guitar-shaped controller, primary-colored buttons, strum bar, Star Power -- you know the drill. In fact, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith bundles will ship with the same Les Paul guitar controller that came with Guitar Hero III (except for the PS2 version, which will have a Kramer Striker controller again). But if you do end up buying the bundle instead of the game disc alone (PS3/360/Wii), you’ll get a super-special bonus: an Aerosmith faceplate!

Neversoft is also keeping many other things from Guitar Hero III -- that’s good in some cases, and bad in others. The mechanics are identical; there’s still that noticeably longer window for hitting hammer-ons and pull-offs, and the Les Paul controller was still a bit too tilt-sensitive for my tastes (unfortunately, the position in which I play the guitar naturally tends to move the neck upwards, and that engages Star Power when I don’t want to do so). I couldn’t notice any difference in graphics, either, and the HUD is the same.

To my dismay, Steven Tyler isn’t the only gaping-mouthed vocalist in the game -- the insufferable long-haired, black-wifebeater-clad singer from the last game also returns. In addition, the character list that I saw consisted entirely of series regulars, but with a twist thrown in: Axel Steel, Casey Lynch, Izzy Sparks, Judy Nails, Johnny Napalm, Lars Ümlaüt, Midori, Xavier Stone, and (pause for effect) … D.M.C.! No, not Devil May Cry; I’m talking about one-third of the pioneering hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., whose groundbreaking collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way” is featured in the game. It’s pretty hilarious to see him rocking out on stage with a guitar in his hands.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot 2

The game’s career mode takes the form of the now-standard tiered setup, with five songs per tier, as usual. We got to see five of the game’s song tiers, though we were told that the full game would have 41 songs in the main setlist and “a lot of” unlockable tracks as well. But because it’s an Aerosmith game, there’s some intra-tier structure, too. The first two songs in each tier are “opening acts” -- they’re songs from other artists who influenced Aerosmith, worked/toured with them, or have been influenced by them. The latter three songs are always Aerosmith songs.

Most notably, all the Aerosmith songs are either master tracks or have been re-recorded by Aerosmith specifically for this game (an example of the latter is “Dream On”). You’ll be able to tell the difference because the song selection screen displays the year in which the song was recorded. Unfortunately, there’s one cover per tier (except for tier 5) from what we saw, though they’re solid for the most part.

Aerosmith’s involvement in this game was something that the developers highlighted. Apparently, the band was highly invested in the quality of the game; Karthik Bala, the CEO of Vicarious Visions (the developer of the Wii version of the game), told me that Aerosmith didn’t want to release a bad product if their name was going to be associated with it. To that end, the band came in and did motion capture work for every single song of theirs in the game. So when you play an Aerosmith song in the game, you’ll see the band on stage performing it, and that’s actually them moving around -- which is pretty cool. Their animations are noticeably better than the stock band’s movements, too.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot 3

Bala also discussed the band’s passion for their work. According to him, Aerosmith signed on to do this game because they see videogames as a newly viable medium for creative expression -- as something that can further extend their music and bring it to a wider audience. Bala drew comparisons between videogames and music videos, saying that the consoles are serving the same purpose that MTV did “back when it was good.” Whether or not you want to indict Activision for “milking” the Guitar Hero name, I feel as if this can only be good for the videogame industry.

The career mode in Guitar Hero: Aerosmith has been given something of a facelift. Just like Guitar Hero III, it includes little vignettes between tiers (and at the start) of play. However, in a cool touch, the segments feature the real-life band members themselves; the opening one shows them fondly recalling their days at Nipmuc High. The videos aren’t in HD, but it’s probably better that way, considering the band’s grizzled and wrinkled appearance -- that’s what the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle will do to you. The career mode follows the band’s rise to fame, and you’ll see them relive the good days as you progress through the ranks.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot 4

As for my opinion of what I played, well, it’s essentially Guitar Hero III -- but with Aerosmith songs. There’s not really much else to say. I can’t legitimately say that the formula has gotten stale -- I’m not gonna lie; I’ve always wanted to play “Walk This Way” in Guitar Hero or Rock Band, and this game makes that dream come true. The multiplayer modes are the same as in Guitar Hero III, but again, there is the Aerosmith-ized career. Still, I feel like the asking price ($99.99 for PS3/360/Wii bundles, $89.99 for PS2; $59.99 for PS3/360 standalone game, $49.99 for Wii/PS2) is a bit high, considering the 41-song setlist. Let Activision know what you think when the game comes out on June 22nd.

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Latest comment by bebo |view all 37 comments
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Merry Ho's Avatar
Merry Ho at 06/02/2008 17:16

To much Aerosmith, not worth $60
taumpytears's Avatar
taumpytears at 06/02/2008 17:30

I think unless the next big guitar hero game turns things around the series is in trouble.
nanowerx's Avatar
nanowerx at 06/02/2008 17:33

I cant believe One Armed Scissor by At The Drive-in is on this fucking game. One of the best screamo songs ever and it gets coupled up with such pop hits as "Pink."

Yeah, awesome...
blehman's Avatar
blehman at 06/02/2008 17:33

So they haven't fixed the crap note charts?

Do not want.
MaxVest's Avatar
MaxVest at 06/02/2008 17:38

It's as though they made this game with no awareness that prior versions and competing products exist.
Fangeh's Avatar
Fangeh at 06/02/2008 17:39

In good news I'm sure this will top Revolution X as the best Aerosmith game.
liam2015's Avatar
liam2015 at 06/02/2008 17:40

San Francisco eh? School ending is giving you more time to do editor type things? Sweet.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 06/02/2008 17:46

I never really had a complaint with the note charts in GH. But GH3 definitely had a better song selection, this is just crap with poo stamped all over it.
Snoopbob2006's Avatar
Snoopbob2006 at 06/02/2008 18:07

aerosmith is not what everyone wants...

Guitar hero 4 is what everyone wants

and gitaroo man 2
Superfluous Moniker's Avatar
Superfluous Moniker at 06/02/2008 18:15

This has "Dream Police" in it!? Sold.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 06/02/2008 18:35

I might get the bundle on Wii for the second guitar.
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 06/02/2008 18:35

lol@Fangeh

I only see myself buying this game used on some rainy day when I have absolutely nothing better to do. And those days don't come often.
Big Z's Avatar
Big Z at 06/02/2008 18:36

Call me when Guitar Hero: Faith No More hits store shelves and we'll talk.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 06/02/2008 18:45

Won't be getting it. I don't have anything against Aerosmith, but then I don't have a boner for them either.
moocow21's Avatar
moocow21 at 06/02/2008 18:49

With this and Guitar Hero: Metallica coming it looks like GH is turning into a regular old Madden series...
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 06/02/2008 18:50

It features the best band ever. You know I'm getting it.
mix's Avatar
mix at 06/02/2008 18:53

"To much Aerosmith, not worth $60"

x2 for me as I don't really like any Aerosmith song enough to buy a game based around them. Heck, I wont even illegaly down load any Aerosmith songs.....
Big Z's Avatar
Big Z at 06/02/2008 19:02

"...Guitar Hero: Metallica..."

Now we're talking. I would honestly consider buying that depending on the tracks given. If it's all forgettable shit like I Disappear, I can live without it, but if we're talking some of my favorites like Where The Wild Things Are you're doing business.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 06/02/2008 19:20

I wouldn't even go for GH: Metallica. They haven't released a decent album in a decade, and they have plenty of songs out on other games already. I don't think that any band should have a whole game dedicated to them, it just narrows the focus way too much to be enjoyable. I wish I knew how to get a hold of the people that decide this crap and just choke the fuck out of them.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 06/02/2008 19:29

@blehman: Actually, they have. Fuck, I forgot to mention that. Yeah, the songs I played were much, much easier than anything in GH III. I didn’t have trouble with any of them on Expert, but the more difficult ones were still sufficiently challenging to be fun.
nanowerx's Avatar
nanowerx at 06/02/2008 19:36

Lets cross our fingers for Guitar Hero: My Chemical Romance.

What scares me more is that it will probably happen.
F Whipple's Avatar
F Whipple at 06/02/2008 19:50

"told me that Aerosmith didn’t want to release a bad product if their name was going to be associated with it"

RevolutionX????
parrothead's Avatar
parrothead at 06/02/2008 20:07

Too much for 41 songs and DMC!
Zac Bentz's Avatar
Zac Bentz at 06/02/2008 20:10

I probably won't be buying another game like this until it's solely based around Slayer and is full of blood, people getting killed, more blood and lots of the devil raping nuns. Anything else, like these "hard rock" tools, is a joke.
Crumpet Lips's Avatar
Crumpet Lips at 06/02/2008 21:04

I have to agree with the guy up above me a few posts. I actually still own Revolution-X which was on the Super Nintendo. The best game by far based on a band. You had to save all the members of Aerosmith who had all been kidnapped by a guy who always screams out "RUN TO MOMMY" when you fight him.... ah good times, throwing those records like frisbee grenades and the like.... just awesome.


Anyway this is a ploy to get as much money out of the consumer as possible. If it was sold at 40-50 Australian dollars, I would consider buying it, 100? Fuck no. I am getting heaps sick of this whole Rock Band Guitar Hero crap anyway.

Until they start pumping new innovative ideas into their franchise, it is nothing but stale to me.
TheNakedAnt's Avatar
TheNakedAnt at 06/02/2008 21:10

Coming up next, 'Guitar Whore-o: baroque adventure!'
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar
CaptainApocalypse at 06/02/2008 22:47

@TheNakedAnt

Would that be a bold combination of Eternal Sonata and the GH franchise, wherein the combat system would essentially be nailing solos to power-up your attacks? I might just buy that...
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 06/03/2008 00:22

Well, I commend Aerosmith for their involvement and interest in the process. And playing as DMC is win. However, I still think that basing an entire (well, almost) guitar game around one band is a huge mistake, particularly when that band isn't exactly at the top of their game anymore.

Admittedly, though, I'd still take a Guitar Hero: Weezer anyday.
bottled dark's Avatar
bottled dark at 06/03/2008 00:37

ill probably pick it up for $20 a few months later.
pendelton21's Avatar
pendelton21 at 06/03/2008 02:16

Amen, bottled dark.
Slick Icarus's Avatar
Slick Icarus at 06/03/2008 09:34

I love Aerosmith, but I'll be saving my cash for Guitar Hero: Metallica (recently announced)
Hitogoroshi's Avatar
Hitogoroshi at 06/03/2008 10:29

I'm sure as hell not going to shell out $60 for every Guitar Hero: Band XXXX game.
Ocified-Xboxer's Avatar
Ocified-Xboxer at 06/03/2008 12:43

When I first heard they were doing this I thought this would suck and they were milking it...Then I read the feature in (I think) last months issue of GI and thought that the spin of having the 'opening acts' songs, and making them relevant to the Aerosmith universe was a pretty novel idea.

I'm glad I won't be forced into buying another guitar...Especially since I plan on shelling out the serious cash for GH: World Tour.

I think that the price may be a bit on the high side though...Considering the very band-centric game, I guess it was unavoidable, but if they priced this at 40 bucks I bet there would be a lot more units moved....

I actually was looking for a 360 version of GH 2, and even used copies were unreasonably expensive (stand alone, no guitar). So maybe the demand is much greater than I think. In any case, I'll be glad to play some new stuff, along with some classics. Call me crazy, but if they made a digital DL of Rock the 80s, I'd probably buy it (for a reasonable price mind you). Thanks for the news Samit.
balth's Avatar
balth at 06/03/2008 14:45

I plan to show Actidousches what I think on release date by buying more Rock Band dlc.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 06/03/2008 15:38

Over here we have almost all the songs you can DL for RB. We've put like an additional 200$ into the game hahahahahaha.

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