Brutal Review - Guitar Hero Smash Hits
Game Review | June 23, 2009 2:52 am
By Meta
Guitar Hero Smash Hits effectively collects the core of the franchise's past and updates it with all the modern trappings--HD visuals, 5.1 digital audio, and the full band experience for every track. Don't mistake this for a greatest hits compilation.
Graphics - Same engine as Guitar Hero World Tour with the minor refinements learned from GH Metallica. Stylized presentation and nice but not distracting lighting. The 4-player screen presents all relevant information without being cluttered BS.
Sound - Using recording masters and their own touch of engineering, every song here sounds excellent, including a few that were muddy or glossed over in their original game/platform. Everything is configurable to your liking, from lowering the recorded vocals to making the background band louder or toning down the bass player so your subwoofer will STFU.
Playability - This is where the details shine: the updated note charting allows the songs to better reflect some musical nuances lacking in their original games' presentations that lead to early ignorant reviews. No it's not the same thing as playing a real instrument but yes it does feel damn close and especially gets the same spirit if you do it with friends. If it's you grinding by yourself at home then pick up a real one instead of using your talents bitching eloquently about how you aren't willing to concentrate on a video game anymore. The difficulty scale is more accurately refined than ever.
Story - While the story seemed unnecessarily tacked-on in GHWT, here it actually makes perfect sense as an entertaining yarn that uses characters/"avatars" established from previous games. Casey Lynch, Johnny Napalm, Lars Umlaut and the thrash metal meathead whose name eludes me are recruited by the God of Rock to purvey their craft to the masses in order to power a mysterious artifact. Cutscenes between loads are quick and to the point while managing to stuff in all relevant details if you pay attention.
Replay Value - As with other GH and Rock Band titles, the replay value depends a lot on what you do with the game itself. If you're grinding alone, there's enough meat here to keep you satisfied--this is a genuine package and not a weak milking attempt. If you ever have "guitar game parties" or even just have an enthusiastic friend who enjoyed GH or RB stuff, then this is worth the purchase no questions asked.
Waffle Factor - The Achievements here are a good spread and in the original spirit of the idea; ergo, there's about 200 points of BS grinding, 200 points of hand-outs, and the rest are earned by actually playing the game's content thoroughly.
To buy or not to buy? - If you are a Guitar Hero fan, buy it. If you are a Rock Band fan, rent it before you decide. If you are genuinely new to the series, this is an excellent jumping-in point.
Graphics - Same engine as Guitar Hero World Tour with the minor refinements learned from GH Metallica. Stylized presentation and nice but not distracting lighting. The 4-player screen presents all relevant information without being cluttered BS.
Sound - Using recording masters and their own touch of engineering, every song here sounds excellent, including a few that were muddy or glossed over in their original game/platform. Everything is configurable to your liking, from lowering the recorded vocals to making the background band louder or toning down the bass player so your subwoofer will STFU.
Playability - This is where the details shine: the updated note charting allows the songs to better reflect some musical nuances lacking in their original games' presentations that lead to early ignorant reviews. No it's not the same thing as playing a real instrument but yes it does feel damn close and especially gets the same spirit if you do it with friends. If it's you grinding by yourself at home then pick up a real one instead of using your talents bitching eloquently about how you aren't willing to concentrate on a video game anymore. The difficulty scale is more accurately refined than ever.
Quote by "Reverend M3TA":
Former "gimmicks" like hammer-ons and tap sections will now make much better sense, especially to players brave enough to swim the shark-infested waters of Hard and Expert-level playing. The game won't make you a better instrument player but if you can shred plastic guitars on Expert, your pinky will be stronger & more articulate for it, and you better believe that people getting 4 or 5 stars on a song in Drums' Expert+ mode are the real deal.
Story - While the story seemed unnecessarily tacked-on in GHWT, here it actually makes perfect sense as an entertaining yarn that uses characters/"avatars" established from previous games. Casey Lynch, Johnny Napalm, Lars Umlaut and the thrash metal meathead whose name eludes me are recruited by the God of Rock to purvey their craft to the masses in order to power a mysterious artifact. Cutscenes between loads are quick and to the point while managing to stuff in all relevant details if you pay attention.
Quote by "Reverend M3TA":
Pantera, Lamb of God and Dragonforce fans, take note: skittle-spastic XBL nubs will be able to better appreciate the groove of such intense music, and you will have more fun engaging it in the way only video games can.
Replay Value - As with other GH and Rock Band titles, the replay value depends a lot on what you do with the game itself. If you're grinding alone, there's enough meat here to keep you satisfied--this is a genuine package and not a weak milking attempt. If you ever have "guitar game parties" or even just have an enthusiastic friend who enjoyed GH or RB stuff, then this is worth the purchase no questions asked.
Waffle Factor - The Achievements here are a good spread and in the original spirit of the idea; ergo, there's about 200 points of BS grinding, 200 points of hand-outs, and the rest are earned by actually playing the game's content thoroughly.
To buy or not to buy? - If you are a Guitar Hero fan, buy it. If you are a Rock Band fan, rent it before you decide. If you are genuinely new to the series, this is an excellent jumping-in point.
Reviewed: Guitar Hero Hits
Keywords: None
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if anything they shouldn't of put in Take It Of.
