Guitar Hero was first published in 2005 which introduced players to a guitar hero shaped controller allowing them to match scrolling notes on the screen by pressing the matching colored buttons on the controller. After several releases and expansions, Activision shut down the series for a time and the release of Guitar Hero Live is the first new title in the musical rhythm game in five years. Guitar Hero was one of the most influential games in the industry and the new release has brought back all of that great content with remastered features.
Guitar Hero Live is a living, breathing network this time around and has reaped the rewards of advanced technology alongside a complete restructuring that has managed to deliver the best Guitar Hero game to date. The interactive network in Guitar Hero Live entitled GHTV allows players to discover a slew of new songs that are continuously available on the network at all times, 24 hours a day. The new addition allows gamers to turn to any channel just like they would their TV and play a new song while earning in-game currency to purchase a wide array of items. GHTV has never made it easier to rock out with friends and join others online to play Guitar Hero. Another fun aspect of the new release is the ability to level up to unlock new content and competitively strive to reach Hero Status before all of your friends.
Guitar Hero offers a ton of replayability straight out of the box starting with all of the unique customizations to add your own personal flair to your note highway and playercard. Also, let's not forget about all of the premium content up for grabs in Guitar Hero Live that gives players access to live concert footage and new music videos, all from leveling up or using real currency for instant access.
Fans of the series will notice that Guitar Hero Live features redesigned controllers beautifully-shaped like real guitars. The release takes the classic guitar to the next level while including the original strum bar and whammy bar for diehard fans. The guitar now contains an impressive 6-button layout that makes the title easier to pick up for gamers new to the series but proves a difficult challenge to fully master without hours of gameplay under your belt. The realism of the new title is beyond extraordinary straight from the up-close-and-personal gameplay on top of the authentic-looking new guitar controller. You will never feel closer to being a real rock star then with Guitar Hero Live.
What would Guitar Hero be without Star Power? And in Guitar Hero Live gamers get the next-level experience with several new Hero Powers that come equip with an all-new Hero Power button! If new powers wasn't enough to get you excited for the new release then get ready to sing your heart out with the addition of vocals--just plug in a USB mic and prepare to sing alongside the guitarist.
While Guitar Hero Live plays similarly to its predecessors, the presentation however, is mind-blowingly fantastic. As players try to match notes that flow down the screen, they are devouringly present on a realistic stage that has fans cheering or booing depending on how well you play. The series has never felt more immersive then it does with Guitar Hero Live. You truly feel like you are a rock star. The best part of the game is the wide selection of hit songs that you have at your fingertips from popular artists such as Slipknot, Incubus, Disturbed, Queen, and many more.
In the end, we found literally nothing to dislike about Guitar Hero Live. It is visually and musically stunning, and contains a ton of replay value for under $100 for access to over 200 songs starting out. Gamers will love the title’s responsive controls, fun gameplay mechanics and slew of content that is continuously expanding all the time in GHTV. Guitar Hero Live manages to produce a fantastic multiplayer experience while having the chance to play anything you want - when you want! There is no reason not to pick up the game today and starting jamming out with your friends while embracing all of the glorious new content in Guitar Hero Live.
Reviewed for Xbox One
Guitar Hero Live from Publisher Activision and Developer FreeStyleGames is now available for PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, and select iOS devices for $99.99. Guitar Hero Live is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.
KEY FEATURES:
- Live Action, First Person Rock Star Realism: GH Live introduces a whole new level of immersion – it’s a first-person, live-action gaming experience where the player is the star of the show. Players will feel the stage fright and exhilaration of being on stage in a variety of venues, from the smallest club stage in front a hundred people, to the massive main stage of an outdoor festival in front of a hundred thousand people.
- The World’s First Playable Music Video Network: The game also introduces GHTV, a 24-hour playable music video network that lets players jump right into various genres of music and play along to official music videos. The game mode adds an entirely new dimension to Guitar Hero, giving players the chance to compete with their friends in the same room as well as fans around the world to see who can achieve the highest score. GHTV is a living, breathing platform that will be continually updated, serving as an ever-growing source for new music discovery, while further bringing the party atmosphere back to the living room.
- Authentic, Re-designed Guitar Controller: The signature Guitar Hero controller has been redesigned to enhance the gameplay experience. The modern, redesigned guitar controller features six buttons: two rows of three buttons that look and feel more like an authentic chord-playing experience that is fun for players of all abilities. For beginners, you can feel like a rock star by mastering play with the bottom three buttons. Medium-level players don’t have to stretch their fingers down the guitar controller neck anymore and can instead skillfully play two-row combinations that mimic real chords. Experienced players have a new challenge in creating complex chord shapes and finger combinations that will bring new thrills to veterans.
- Earn Sweet Rewards as You Play and Reach Hero Status: As you play in GHTV, you earn in-game currency that helps you acquire a variety of different content. This includes items to personalize your experience like note highways and Player Cards, and also premium content that lets you play along to real concert footage. You can also acquire boosts and Hero Powers that increase your ability to rank up, ultimately reaching “Hero Status” that grants you access to the most prestigious tiers of badges, premium content and additional vanity items.
- Festival-Worthy Lineup: Music variety is at the heart of Guitar Hero Live. The game takes the approach of the modern music festival, with rock, folk, EDM, hip-hop, country and pop acts sharing the same stage. The game will feature hundreds of playable songs from a diverse array of artists, including The Black Keys, Fall Out Boy, Queen, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, Gary Clark, Jr., Green Day, The War on Drugs, The Killers, The Rolling Stones, Pierce the Veil and Blitz Kids, with many more.
- Shout It Out: Offering even more ways to play together, Guitar Hero Live adds a new layer of social gameplay to your living room with the addition of vocals, letting singers take the stage. Vocalists will be able to accompany the Guitarist with their very own lyrics highway at the top of the screen. All you need is a USB mic and you’re ready to rock out.
- No Console? No Problem: For the first time ever, Activision is bringing the Guitar Hero Live experience to iOS devices (including iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch), providing players with the rockstar experience anytime, anywhere. Guitar Hero Live on mobile represents a massive technological leap for the franchise, giving fans the opportunity to play wherever, whenever they want.