Game: Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
Platform: 360, PS3, Wii, PS2
Developer: Activision
Price: $59.99
Pros: Fixes niggling issues from earlier versions, all your favorite songs
Cons: We’ve heard these songs before
Harmonix… November 2005… Guitar Hero. The first game that had the musically UNinclined console geeks thinking they could hold their own on stage at the Super Bowl. Have you ever stopped to consider how many songs have been made popular by the Guitar Hero series? The games that made it nearly impossible to boot our loser friends out? Really? Are they TRYING to look like a tool head banging to EASY in your living room? To put your mind at ease (cause you KNOW you’ve been trying to figure it out, now that I mentioned it) there have been over 1300 tracks (according to wiki) when all is said and done. Yeah that’s right. 1300. Your head banger friend lost that many brain cells playing Heart Shaped Box while you read this.
With this many tracks, available on the Big 3 consoles, phones, and hand held systems, spread over 5 (at least) versions of the game, it was inevitable that they would have a Smash Hits compilation. And with the introduction of that other guy (ie Rock Band), people wanted to play their favorite Guitar Hero songs with the whole gang. So here it is… Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.
In the beginning, there was guitar. Then they added bass. Now, the drummer in the back and the show off singer in the front get to play too. Yes, I realize Guitar Hero: World Tour already did that. But I didn’t get to play that one, so back off! As a fan of that other guy, this was quite the change for me. I’ll tell you though, that I loved what they did to take care of my biggest pet peeves that the other guy hasn’t fixed yet. First, as per the usual, you can go career or quick play right out of the box. However, you don’t have to unlock everything in career mode, in order to have access to EVERY SINGLE track in quick play. YAY! No more drudging thru career on easy, just to get all the songs unlocked so you can get a quick GH fix. Another great change is that the songs unlock on every difficulty as you play the career mode. That’s right. If you start out playing career on medium, then decide you should be playing on hard, you don’t have to play the same songs over. No more unlocking them on each individual difficulty!
In band mode, the star power is gathered in a sort of pool. Everyone in the band can save THEMSELVES, even if they haven’t been the ones to earn the star power. There are bonuses for going into star power all together and for playing streaks as a band. It really makes the band feel like family, ya know? I love you, man! Beware, though. All of the tracks on this game come from previous Guitar Hero games (gee.. surprise, surprise), so if you THINK you have No One Knows memorized, think again. The play has changed from game to game, so you have to pay attention to not only the notes, but the rhythm changes too. Forget everything you thought you knew. Except Through The Fire And Flames. That song is still hard as you-know-what regardless of which game you play. Bah!
The graphics and animations in the game are amazing. The characters sing the words. They play the notes. If you don’t play the note, neither does the character on your screen. There are customizable characters (instead of just the usual suspects) with customizable exits and entrances, attitudes, etc. The options aren’t overwhelming but they’re varied enough that you can have some crazy looking freaks on the stage. Oh. And instruments are customizable as well. But you already knew that, right?
Another amazing addition lies within the Recording Studio, GHMix, and GHTunes. In this backstage mode, you are able to create your own tracks including whichever of the four instruments you want (or all of them at once). There is an online collection that you can browse also, if you’re like me, and just want to take advantage of the talented people who take the time to create their own stuff. For instance, some genius created a John Williams montage. Awesome!
Throw in the band vs. band 8 player show down, the head to head battles, and the across console online playability, and you’ve got a great game that makes me wish the song selection from Rock Band was on Guitar Hero (I don’t like singing these songs NEARLY as much as I do the other guy’s songs).
Popularity: unranked [?]
