The latest in Activision’s “Hero” series is a stark contrast to games past. Band Hero sheds the rock for radio-friendly pop music. Tweens rejoice. If you listen to the Top 40 station on the radio all day and don’t get tired of it, this game might be just for you.
I played through both the console and Nintendo DS versions of the game, with the console versions being superior. It’s essentially Guitar Hero 5 toned down. You get all the modes and features from GH5 with glitter, glamor, and pop music. There are some shared tracks between the console versions and the DS version, but even with all of the songs available, I only found a handful I enjoyed playing. Poison’s Every Rose Has its Thorn is a winner in my book. The gameplay was solid on the consoles (not as much on the DS version), but the musical choices just aren’t my cup of tea.
The problem with Band Hero is the appeal of the game. This is definitely marketed at the casual crowd, whereas core gamers mostly aren’t into this type of music. Do you really want to play a concert in a mall? On the Xbox 360 version of the game, many of the Achievements did not unlock for me, even though I clearly completed the task (ie. unlock all secret characters and play in all venues). The DS version wasn’t a whole lot of fun for me on any instrument. The Guitar Hero adapter for the DS Lite has always made my hand cramp up quickly, and the drum cover wasn’t as responsive as I’d hoped. Keep in mind that neither of these attachments work on the DSi (I had to borrow a DS Lite from a friend to even play the game).
Band Hero brings rhythm games to the pop-loving crowd. That’s the basic summary. You get the same behind-the-scenes tech from Guitar Hero 5 with glittery venues and all kinds of pop music, from No Doubt to Tayler Swift to Marvin Gaye. If Guitar Hero games have always been too “metal” for you, the pop edition might be right up for your alley. For most of us, though, it’s safe to skip this one.
[Copies of the game were provided by the publisher for review purposes.]
