The rhythm, the rebel
November 8th, 2007So, rhythm games. I have to say, when it comes to this genre, I have never been a fan. DDR, Amplitude, In The Groove, and about a bazillion clones and homages - they just never struck me as “fun” and since “fun” is why I play games, they never really got much time in any of the various game machines I’ve owned.
This all changed a couple weeks back, when a demo of Guitar Hero III was released on XBoxLive. For some reason, I decided to give it a chance, and it really really grew on me. I’m now the proud owner of the retail version of the game, complete with a wireless Gibson Les Paul-alike controller. I should actually have two of these controllers, but that is a story for later.
Playing with the not-quite-a-guitar-but-almost controller makes the game even more fun. And while I am being forced, in Career Mode, to play some songs I would rather not [Stevie Ray Vaughn's 'Pride & Joy'? As an encore? REALLY??] there are also some tracks I love, including Dead Kennedys‘ Holiday in Cambodia and Black Sabbath’s Paranoid. Better still, I’m being exposed to good music I’d never heard before, including heard-of-but-never-heard Die Toten Hosen’s Hier Kommt Alex.
The difficulty ramping of the game is well done. Playing on Easy mode [I'm a wimp, shuddup] I found that it started as a complete doddle, but a few hours in, it’s gotten to the point where it’s obviously more difficult, but I’ve gotten better at about the same speed, so there’s a good feeling of “hey! look at me rock!” as I play more complicated note progressions and chords.
Now, if only I had that other controller, Chelle and I could be playing Co-op Career mode.
November 9th, 2007 at 5:49 am
I must be getting on, because I look at that game and I wonder if you combined the money spent to be able to play that guitar game, I wonder how many actual guitar lessons you could buy.
November 9th, 2007 at 6:24 am
By my reckoning, five, maybe six - and that doesn’t allow for a guitar on which to have these lessons.
Yes, you’re getting old. :)
[any co-relation between playing Guitar Hero, and playing a real guitar, is probably imaginary. Guitar Hero is about as much like playing guitar as D&D is like killing dragons in dungeons]
November 16th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I saw that at a target when I was up and forgot to play it - now I’ll never know how to fake rock :(
November 28th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I plan to learn how to fake rock at the altar of Kurt.
We just need to go over and visit sometime.
January 6th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
A little time has passed, and I have to question what sort of loser would buy these games??
btw, I saw that GHII is available for the 360 at Kmart when I was buying mine. I recommend it as Heart Shaped Box is great to play.
Oh, and “I wanna be sedated” off GHI is pretty fkkn hard.
January 7th, 2008 at 6:23 am
We actually ordered GH2 last night, I should have it in a couple of days :)
January 7th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I like GHIII’s co-op career mode, but the PS2 version doesn’t have a normal co-op mode in multiplayer which is kinda annoying.
Still, the important thing is that now I’m a fake guitar god.