Guitar Hero World Tour does add another difficulty element. In all previous games, chord notes start and end at the same time. Now, some chords are “built up”. You can hold down a single note, and you’ll have to strum in a new note that adds itself to the one you’re already playing. This took me off guard at first, but it adds another element of air guitar that actually lets you feel like you’re playing along with the song.
Boss Battles have changed a bit, too. In Guitar Hero 3 you pretty much had to foil your opponent by grabbing “screw ups” and unleashing them on your foe. Now your opponent just wants to see if you’re “worthy to hang with him”. Now there is a “crowd” scale with a needle that moves between both of you. The better you play, the more of the crowd will be on your side. If your celebrity compatriart wins the crowd completely over to his side, then you lose the Battle.
Progressing through Guitar Hero World Tour is now more flexible. Before you pretty much had to beat a 5-song tier before you could even move on to the next one. Now once you beat a gig (which can have between 2 to 5 songs), you unlock several more, so after a few successes you can choose the gigs you want to accept, which in turn unlocks more gigs. This method of progression is much more satisfying, as each of us will eventually encounter one song that we just can’t seem to beat. So, take a breather, try another gig, and come back later.
Instrument compatibility is a mixed bag. Nobody wants to have two sets of instruments cluttering the living room just to play both games. For the most part, guitars are very compatible, with the exception of the new features. The solo and slider buttons are not compatible with the other games… meaning you can’t use GH’s solo buttons in Rock Band and vice versa. In GHWT, when the solo notes come up (connected by a purple string), you don’t have to use the special slider; you can just tap the corresponding fret button without strumming.
The drums between Rock Band and GHWT are for the most part cross-compatible… on the 360 at least. It is still up in the air if the PS3 version of the drums work. Guitar Hero’s version of the drums have more features: namely 1 extra drum and pressure sensitivity. When using this drum kit, Guitar Hero presents you with 5 lanes (the bass drum is represented as a bar across all lanes), and you are presented with “armor” notes that you must smash by hitting the drum extra hard. If you use a “legacy” drum kit then no armor notes are sent your way, and you only have 4 lanes (to compensate for the drum you’re missing).
Those are my general impressions of the playability of the latest Band Games. Rock Band was a natural evolution of what Guitar Hero could be, but now Guitar Hero has taken the throne back with better instruments, more satisfying game play and modes, customizable avatars, and the ability to make and distribute your own music. Not to mention that you can make Ozzy your bitch… it’s just freakishly unnatural to see the Prince of Darkness sing “La Bomba”.
Both games are fun, and I play each every day. There’s just something I like about the Guitar Hero franchise that’s just more satisfying. Guitar Hero 3 has some amazing longevity for a video game, and now GHWT has so many features and downloadable user content that will keep players satisfied for years.
14 comments
well maybe there were a lot left on the ps3 and wii shelf coz not every body can buy a ps3…..coz they're hella expensive foo!!!i got mine for $500….while 360s costs like $299…=p..plus ghwt drum set sucks ass!!!!rily small and only 2 cymbals….but rb2 sets are hella noisy…have to buy a freaking silencer…i still think rb1 & 2 songs are better..justf***ingbuyarealguitar.com
The cymbals are easily fixable on GHWT. Just take off the cymbal, unscrew four easy screws and tape literally solves it.
I honestly think you are a fan boy. Because you did not mention any positives at all about Rock Band 2, and also, you have no Rock Band 2 photos at all posted up. It seems clear that you've already made up your mind before making this review, and its not really fair to the RB2 game since you only voiced your opinion on GH.
Oh, and as far as screenshots are concerned: I can't take large screenshots from the Xbox 360, so I have to have the studio provide them… and I didn't get as many RB2 screenshots as I did GHWT.
I'm only given so much time to evaluate a game before a review is written, so sometimes I don't get the full experience until after a month of playing. I now agree that RB2 is a better game than GHWT, and am planning a followup article.
I think you are all retarded for argueing about video games. Silly nerds!
okay obviously —— is ashamed of themself considering their anonymity, as well they should be. ok really, if you are going to place your own opinion on an open website, please, please be decent enough to spell check, or else, you end up looking like the jerk trying to call someone else out and spelling just about every other word wrong, guiter? really? if you knew anything it's spelled guitar!!
how come you only post GHWT photos but not RB2. Seems like you talk more about GH than RB
Not exactly a comparision you have written here, more like an article about why you like Guitar Hero franchise better. For those who want to see a fair comparision, check out the Rock Band or Guitar Hero forums where a player of both franchises has prepared a thorough comparision of both games.
well i dnt think monkeys could play gh on easy let alone expert fool, so stop moning like a bitch that it to easy if u want challage play a real guiter an remember its a game and gaming is ment to fun
Some of the drums for GHWT were. Acti is fixing them.
Thanks for the comparison! I am having a hard time deciding which one to buy but was leaning towards GHWT anyway, you have made my decision a little easier!
Thanks!
I hope there are more comparisons on the interwebs soon!
Guitar Hero FTW! Since Rock Band have been too up themselves to bother releasing anything in Australia yet! They've lost the Aussie market!
ur retarded the drum set for ghwt SUCKS!! it does really or god hope that i just got a crappy drum set