A few months ago, Activision showed and let me play Band Hero at an event in New York City. The game was set up on a small stage with various instruments set up -- four guitars, two drum kits, and three microphones.
Problem is, I'm not sure what I'm allowed to talk about. I'm clear to talk about what I saw and heard, but I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to give impressions of my time with the game. I suppose I can tell you that I made a total ass out of myself, flipping out while playing songs like Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" and Lily Allen's "Take What You Take." What was that like? I can't say. Sorry.
Here's what I can say: In Band Hero, you can do everything you can in Guitar Hero 5. We've written extensively about that -- its drop-in/drop-out gameplay, it's music studio, etc. -- so if you're looking for the finer details, check that out. I can also confirm that Band Hero will have one feature Guitar Hero 5 does not, a vocal karaoke mode where four singers can pick up four mics and just sing along to their favorite hits.
And that's what Band Hero is all about -- the hits. The soundtrack consists of over 60 songs, most (if not all) of them have cracked the Top 40 charts at one point or another. While a handful of songs have already been revealed, we saw a few tracks that have yet to be announced. Check them out after the jump.
- Cheap Trick - "I Want You To Want Me"
- Janet Jackson - "Black Cat"
- Roy Orbison - "Pretty Woman"
- Tonic - "If You Could Only See"
Contest:
12:10 PM on 08.19.2009
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Teacher, I have a question.
Why is this game?
It's not even that it's not a capable rhythm game.
I just don't understand why it's being made.
This year alone, Activision is dropping Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero, Band Hero, and Guitar Hero Van Halen. How in the world are unknowning parents going to be able to figure out which one game to buy for their kids for X-Mas with all these different titles (from the same publisher!) on the shelves?
Just give me GH5. You guys get one chance out of the year with me. What? No I don't want a Van Halen game. I said no...Listen! I DON'T WA...free you say?
Three Taylor Swift songs!?! Hot damn. I guess the radio play and Top 40 status wasn't enough.
You're constantly bashing Activision, saying that they charge for stuff that just isn't worth it...yet this has to be the 100th instrument game i've seen featured this month!!!
Either stop complaining or stop posting this shit... hypocrites.
get an avatar dick, then complain
also cocks
You do realize that "Destructoid" is not one person, right? That it is a collection of individuals, all with different viewpoints and opinions?
I don't remember seeing Nick Chester say "Activision charges for stuff that just isn't worth it". You're just making shit up.
Wait a minute, I can do that, too!
Onlineatron, you constantly say that you hate Destructoid and that anyone who comes to this site is a complete piece of turd, yet here you are posting a comment? Either stop complaining or stop posting comments...hypocrite.
It's impeccable logic I know.
@KenzinFive: That's exactly what it looks like, a GH5 re-skin with a younger audience in mind. If that seems pointless, remember that Taylor Swift is one of the biggest names in music, and Kidz Bop is consistently a top-selling album series. Kidz Bop. I don't have much of an interest in Band Hero, but I don't blame them for capitalizing on the market (kinda like Lego Rock Band).
I'm not disputing that there's a market for music like Taylor Swift. My main issue is that I think Activision is in over their heads by releasing this around the same time period as many of their other rhythm games. I think it saturates the market and could lead to Activision's own games cannibalizing sales from one another.
I would have no problem if Guitar Hero 5 or Band Hero were pushed back a couple of months. It would make more sense to space out big releases in order to maximize sales. But having both those titles, along with Guitar Hero Van Halen and DJ Hero, on store shelves for the holiday season as fairly new products seems like a big mistake.
GH5 Release Date: 9/1/09
Band Hero Release Date: 11/3/09
That's a two month gap between two games that could easily keep selling strong for several months. The recession is still going strong and when the parents who don't buy games right away need to bunker down and get Jimmy or Jane only one of the video games they asked for, they're going to be very confused by having two games that sound very similar, look almost exactly the same, and have the exact same publisher. My best guess is that they would go for the brand name recognition (Guitar Hero 5) and leave Band Hero out in the cold.
otherwise I don't see a reason for the spin-off. thoughts?
At least they're not sending it out to die. I'm looking at you, Van Halen.