Xbox 360
Rock Band took guitar simulation games one step further by bringing drums and vocals along for the ride. So far, the game has shifted an unprecedented amount of units worldwide and several million song downloads. Guitar Hero: World Tour takes this format, adds the surreal veneer the series is known for, and truly reclaims its place as the best the genre has to offer.
It was always inevitable that Guitar Hero would follow Rock Band's lead, adding more instruments into the mix. Lower the accusing fingers and cries of 'copycat' and believe the hype: this massive sequel offers would-be rockstars an insane amount of creative freedom.
First off, the tracklist is pure gold. Imagine a set comprised of 'Living on a Prayer' by Bon Jovi, 'The Middle' by Jimmy Eat World, 'Everlong' by Foo Fighters and 'Beat It' by Michael Jackson. Each song is immense fun to play with friends. This emphasis on social interaction is what made Guitar Hero so appealing to begin with. Here, it is done with splendour.
Gameplay is essentially the same, but for newcomers there are tons of in-depth tutorials to get you started. The most notable differences are new slide bar notes for the guitar; open notes that really make bass play a hell of a lot more interesting, and the all-important improved drumkit. The Guitar Hero drums are far superior to Rock Band's, boasting three rack toms, two cymbals and a kick pedal, all coated in rubber so they don't make that irritating 'clack' sound when you hit them.
There are some 80-odd tracks here, plus appearances from legends such as Zack Wylde, Sting, Travis Barker and Ozzy Osbourne. It's obvious no expense has been spared during the game's production, but this is no mere gimmick, as every song is a joy to play and every single one is a master recording—no cover versions here!
Should you ever get bored of the on-disc tracks and the slew of weekly downloadable content, head over to the GHTunes music maker, where you can record your own tracks. This is chock-full of songs, including metal renditions of the Mario Bros. theme tune and Zelda. The scope for creating new content is phenomenal, and while the editor is a real pain to learn, it is tremendously rewarding to put a fully crafted song online for others to enjoy.
World Tour is a game that could potentially last forever if you have the patience to learn the song creator. With full online battle modes and vastly customisable characters, you will spend ages playing this. The torch has well and truly been passed back to Guitar Hero. Rock Band just kept it warm for a little while.