Based on most of the reader comments to previous Band Hero stories, I already have a good idea of what you guys think of this game.
You don't know why it exists or how it's different than Guitar Hero 5, and all of this top-40 popular music is crap. You don't understand why the songs couldn't have just been released as downloadable content for Guitar Hero 5; even if they were, you wouldn't buy them anyhow because, like you said, they're crap. It's also really pink, and pink is stupid, and so is Maroon 5 who are like, the worst band ever. I mean, those no-talent hacks can barely play their instruments to perform the stupid songs they probably don't even write themselves.
The first ten minutes of Band Hero, as seen above, probably won't change your mind. In fact, it's likely you'll get even more worked up after seeing the game's American Idol-inspired intro and menu. Like, OMG, what have they done to Guitar Hero, guys!? Here's the thing -- Band Hero is probably not a game for you, obviously aimed at audiences more interested in celebrity name dropping, catchy hooks, and flashy laser-light shows than guitar heroics or clever song compositions.
This is probably the reason why Activision didn't send us a copy of the game prior to its release. Instead, I went to my local GameStop and picked it up with my own cash, out of pocket. Why? Because I totally wanted it.
But all of that doesn't make Band Hero a bad game. In fact, the answer to "how is this different than Guitar Hero 5?" is that Band Hero is, in most ways, exactly like Guitar Hero 5. (You want more details, read my Guitar Hero 5 review and tack on "treasure hunt" achievements/trophies and a karaoke mode.)
The ways that it's different, however, are significant enough that I think Band Hero does exactly what it sets out to do -- appeal to a different audience, one that may not be included to pick up a guitar to play along to Megadeth's "Sweating Bullets" or belt out the lyrics to Rammstein's "Du Hast." Instead, Guitar Hero 5 has been given a completely makeover, and yes, that includes a lot of pink, purple, and light blue. Even the game's muscian models have been slightly restyled -- meat-headed Guitar Hero rocker Axel Steel has been given a hair cut, his long stringy hair replaced by a more styled, short hairdo.
In terms of presentation and approachability, the game's a success for the audience that it's been intended for (read: teenage girls and those people who say "I listen to a little bit of everything!" when they actually mean "whatever's on the radio" in the car.). While many of the game's songs are silly fun but don't necessarily translate to a "band" experience (The Spice Girl's "Wannabe," for example), not all of the songs are simple throwaway nonsense. In fact, many of them (most of them, in fact) are pretty damn fun if you can manage to let your "pop music is evil" guard down. The funky bass line for Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" comes to mind, especially coupled with Neversoft's great "open note" strum mechanic for bass guitar.
Really though, there's no point in trying to convince you to like or want to play Band Hero. If saying that Styx's "Mr. Roboto" is playable wasn't enough to get you to at least want to try it out, I don't know what will. But I'm having a good bit of fun playing through the game's career mode, coming across a number of guilty pleasure top-40s radio hits that I simply can't help but sing along to.
If that makes me a bad person, well, I'll just be over here in the corner singing along to Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me."
[Note: The guitar playing in the video is by no means supposed to be an example of extraordinary Guitar Hero playing; yes, I miss some notes. If you're looking for someone to FC "Happy Together," I'm sure you can find it on YouTube.]
Yeah I'm getting this from Gamefly and I'm excited. I played the demo and actually got chuckles from the excessive pink and purple.
I bought Lego Rock Band yesterday not expecting much and was blown away by how much fun it was. The Rock Challenges are sweet. I doubt I'll have as much fun playing Band Hero but I've never said no to a music game before.
We (or I) don't have a final retail copy of LEGO Rock Band yet, but I've been playing a version for a few weeks and I agree -- a total blast to play. Maybe the best song pack ever? Heh.
Nice quick look Nick. Personally, I dig the look over GH's dark and dim presentation. I don't know, Band Hero just looks more fun to me. The soundtrack isn't too bad either, and if GH5's more favorable ones are importable, Band Hero does seem like a better GH shell.
Now if only I didn't keep reading about lead singers being swapped out when a song sung not by the gender appears, then I wouldn't have a deal breaker.
"This is probably the reason why Activision didn't send us a copy of the game prior to its release. Instead, I went to my local GameStop and picked it up with my own cash, out of pocket. Why? Because I totally wanted it."
Nick, this is why your Brutal Legend review is not to be trusted.
Spice FUCKING girls.
This game is an unholy abomination that should have never existed. And what the fuck is a Badass like Axel Steel doing in there... (shudder)
Eddie Riggs: "I can fix anything, but not...THAT."
Lego Rock Band? Hell yes, Lego games are awesome, Rock Band is awesome, at least even if it's just a kiddy version of my favorite rock game, at least they infused something different into it.
This is Guitar Hero 5 with new menus. It should be DLC. Not to mention the box art wants to make me vomit.
@ChronosWing - Seconded. I've been playing Brutal Legend online pretty religiously. The game is downright fun, and funny. Probably one of the first times I was honestly in disbelief with the Destructoid review. When this BH scores higher then BL, I will throw a huge gamer tantrum.
As much as I hate the this game (simply because its so unoriginal i mean really Band Hero?), I'd play it just to see axel steel playing a spice girls song...
Again, my thoughts on Brutal Legend had nothing to do with the music, etc. and everything to do with the game as an entire package.
If you're interested in knowing, my music selection this morning has consisted of Meshuggah, Mastadon, Sepultura, and the Melvins. So to insinuate that my "OMG low score" of Brutal Legend has anything to do with me not liking metal or heavy music and its culture is absurd. I also don't understand how it's so difficult for some people to comprehend that I could also appreciate Lily Allen, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Culture Club, even Maroon 5, etc.
Also, comparing reviews scores for a game like Band Hero to Brutal Legend is silly; they're both clearly trying to accomplish something different. It's as stupid as saying "OMG, you guys gave Dragon Age a lower score than Pixel Junk Eden! That is so dumb OMG!"
Anyhow, back on topic... Band Hero. I've yet to unlock Taylor Swift, and that's really bothering me. I want her to play drums on "Wannabe" with the dude from Maroon 5 singing.
I like it a lot more than Lego Rock Band, which also feels like it's from 3 years ago for some reason. Tried to play through story mode, but I ended up quitting and playing Taylor Swift in quickplay. Taylooooooor!
I'm no music snob; I can find examples in pop music that I like. I am, however, a music game snob, and will not touch a band game that is not made by Harmonix. =D
I've invested hundreds in DLC for Rockband 2 which has forced me to make that the only music game we play in my house. Might pick this up some day for $5 though.
I agree with most of you guys -- I've invested quite a bit into Rock Band. I'd like to just have all of these songs in one place, too. But I really am actually having fun playing the game, and I totally "get" why Activision released it as a separate game with a different name. Also: Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is in this.
Yeah, my distaste for this game doesn't specifically stem from the fact that I don't listen to the music. I don't dislike a lot of it, but fuck all if it isn't boring as hell.
The over-use of "There's no guitar here, so let's make the guitar player play keyboard, or hell, how bout that trumpet?" Meanwhile the drummer has an anime sleep bubble coming from his nose about to pop all over the crowd, so their attention is drawn to fear of being covered in sleepy drummer goo and they aren't getting to enjoy the show of the guitarist smashing his face against a wall hoping that the pain will make the songs a little easier to chew through.
If I could hypothesize for a minute about the hatred many people have for both Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero...
These games are about challenge and fantasy, right? We all want to be in a band and play awesome rock and roll music or be talented at playing an instrument.
The people who *REALLY* love rock and roll (in all shapes and forms) don't care if they get rich or famous, they just want to be in a band and play the same kind of music that they love so much. They (including me) love their music so much that it's more than music to them.
So when a game comes out giving you that chance (to have that fantasy of being in a band, playing awesome music and being talented at playing an instrument) it feels like it was made for you. Just like most rock albums feel to these music fans. Those games (GH1, GH2, GH3, RB1, RB2), they were ours, man. Finally something for the outcasts!
And then along comes Activision and they turn the whole deal into a commercial misery. Commercial music which, to rock and roll fans, has no soul, hardly any talent. And from a game perspective it's boring for the hardcore GH/RB fans to play because these songs don't really feature that much solos or awesome riffs. So just like a band selling out and going commercial, "the man" has taken something that was ours and made it "for everyone" and we hate them and the product for it.
And if I can add my own opinion here: I agree with Syn, it is pointless to make a game based on guitar and drum peripherals when there really isn't much to be done with them. And it is absolutely stupid to call the game Band Hero when 19 of the songs from the tracklist have an artist listed as the performer instead of a band name!
But the most disturbing thing I found about Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero? When you activate star power... no more satisfying guitar roar. It's gone. I don't want to say that THAT was the soul of the Guitar Hero franchise but that's definitely when I noticed it was gone.
Guitar Hero and Rock Band have had some awesome bands on the soundtrack: Every Time I Die, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, All That Remains, Authority Zero, Slayer, Mastodon, Underoath, A Day to Remember
Do you know what the chances are of me ever seeing awesome bands like that in Guitar Hero since Activision turned it into their personal cash cow?
Slim to none. I would almost say pretty much zero!
Syn has a real point here. I've been watching gameplay videos and there is a lot of keyboard/trumpet/timpani/whatever charting on guitar in this game...why?
It was great that GH5 greatly limited that, but it just feels really awkward and forced here.
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I bought Lego Rock Band yesterday not expecting much and was blown away by how much fun it was. The Rock Challenges are sweet. I doubt I'll have as much fun playing Band Hero but I've never said no to a music game before.