Guitar Hero II Review: W1k3d!!!

[Xiaou2]

  This is a MUST HAVE GAME!   Read below for review...

---------------
 Personal History:

  I dropped out of the Console scene after the PS1.     I only got the
the PS1 because of Ridge Racer.   However, after that... I didnt see
much else that interested me...  as most of the games were  FPS or
RPG.   I have no time for RPG's,  and FPS's are not my kind of game.
Also,  I didnt have as much money to burn on such things.
 
 My fav types of games are older arcade classics, 2d scrollers,
racing games of any nature, adrenalin pumping action, unique or
dual controls, and some puzzle type games such as Puzzle De Pon
or tetris.   

-----------

 Ok, So I went over to my friends house... as he was having a
'get-together'  with many others.   

  One guy breaks out with 2 mini guitars, and fires up my
friends PS2.   (I only saw his PS2 once, but never played it)

 I had heard of the games title, and had formed a basic theory of
what it was going to be like.   I didnt think it would be all that
great actually.   I thought that it would be like DDR.. but with
the cheesy guitar buttons.    I was wrong on ALL my accounts.

 ***  The Hardware ***

 Firstly,  I had never seen the Guitar before.   It very well made.
It has 5 buttons on the farthest end of the fret board...  and One
"Strum" button on the opposite end.   It also has an operational
 "Whammy" bar  too.   

 The strum button is like a Horizontal lever that can travel either
up or down to activate.  You can use this to good advantage
when playing very fast sequences of notes.

 The Strum button has a high quality micro switch in it.  You can
tell this right away, because it has a very solid click to it.  Its a
little noisy, but...  you know it will last a long long time. 


 The fret buttons are not micros..   But, this is good.  Because the
noise levels would be a bit too much if that were so.  Also, micros
tend to be a bit stiff and slower to respond to quick changes because
of the longer 'Activation travel'.

 The Middle Fret button has a vertically raised bump in its center.  This
helps you to feel where it is, and better know your position.  Its ok..  but
personally, I think I will file it down and add a softer version of it
at a later time.  (maybe some thin horizonal lines instead.. or maybe a
different 'coating' to make it feel slightly different)
 
 The Whammy is much nicer than expected.   Its bar can swivel to
whatever position you desire.  It only can be pushed down towards the
base.  Its analog, and you can use it to modify the way the notes sound
to incredible degrees... just like a real whammy.   Unlike a real whammy,
the spring tension on it is a little weak.  Its fine for the game actually..
but because Ive messed with a real guitar, I feel a little funny about it.
 
 The Guitar is light weight, and has a soft matte feel to its finish.  It
also comes with an easy adjustable strap.  Its mold shape is very true
to a real guitar..   Its just a bit smaller.   Its very comfy and easy to work.

------

 **** The Gameplay  ****

 Its similar to DDR.   You see notes come towards you... and
must press the correct note (and strum button)
when it arrives at the bottom bar.   

 I didnt realize that there was an actual 'strum' button... 
and so right away, it changed the entire challenge
and dynamic of the game.  Ohh, but theres much more too...

 You can press or hold down or any of the Fret buttons.. and will not
score a single note.   Instead,  you must hold or press the correct fret
button, and then also press the Strum button to active that note! 

 In addition to that, there are special cases:   Pull-Off's, and Hammer-On's.
If notes are very close together... you can strum once, and click down
each fret note consecutively and they will all register (hammer-on). 
You can also release a strummed note, and click the next notes  (pull off).
These help you when there are a lot of tightly spaces notes such as
wild solo wailing.
 
 In addition to a single note "dot"... there are notes that have long
"tails".   For these,  you must Hold the note button down for the
duration of the tail.  This also adds a lot of challenge to the game.
You wont get as many points if you do not carry the notes to their
full lengths.

 If a note has a tail,  you can use the Whammy on it.  The whammy will
give you more points.. as well as actually changing the sound of the
note.  The sound is purely your own, based on your whammy movements.

 As you play, there is a "ROCK" meter that shows your rating.  If you
do well, it goes into the green.  However, if you miss many notes.. it
will fall into the red.  Do too bad, and you will be kicked off
the stage.  (lose)   Do well, and you will pass and be given a rating.
As you progress,  you will open up more songs to try.  To get even more
songs,  you must play the existing songs on harder difficulty settings.

 In easy level, you only have to play 3 of the fret buttons.   Also, there
are less notes overall.   In harder levels,  the notes change.  You will
have to work with more fret button, more notes, chords (hold down many
buttons at once), and much more.

 Additional stuff...
 
 As you play notes, there is a point meter with a point multiplier meter.
If you play many notes in succession without missing any.. your multiplier
will rise...  thus multiplying the point value of every note or chord you play.
If you miss a single note... the multiplier will drop back to zero... where you
will have to try to build it up again.

 Some notes have a star shape and a glow to them.  If you play all of those
without dropping them,  you fill up the star-power meter.   (You can also use
the whammy on long, single star notes... to suck the energy out of it)   
Once the meter is full,  you can activate Star Power.   You simply Tip the guitar vertically.  (there must be an internal sensor in the guitar)     All the notes
will glow blue, and the current multiplier will doubled.  I believe every note
will be more point value even if your multiplier is zeroed.   Also, the Crowd will
cheer and your rock meter will go back up.   So even if you were about to
fail..   it might bring you back into safe levels again.

 The gameplay difficulty can be absolutely insane...  However, it starts you
off at a nice easy pace.  Before only a few sessions,  you will be amazed at
your progress and how easy the songs you once struggled with are.       

 If you are still having trouble..   There are tutorials, and more importantly,
a practice mode,  where you can slow down the speeds, and do not have
to worry about getting booted.   

 There is also a mode for 2 players.   As one player can play the "lead", and
the other will play the 'Bass".   

 There are many variety's of songs...  so even if you are not a big fan of some
of them...  there are plenty more that you are sure to rock out to.   Theres
even one song I found that has you playing a techno-ish  synth!     Very
cool indeed.   

 The songs are not the original recordings.   They were completely remade
with new singers and pro musicians.   I admit that Im not too big on all the
chosen singers voices.. but,  they are decent.  The guitar work (and the
rest of the instrumentation)  however, is 'spot on' excellence.
 

 *** Impressions ***

 After the party,  we all were hooked.   People who didnt have the game nor
the system... went out to buy it within less than 2 weeks time!  (myself included!).

 I had a hard time with the game difficulty at first...  but have beaten medium
level.. and have to try to get better so that I can play the hard level versions.
The games level of difficulty will keep me and even the best hardcore gamers
busy with it for a Long time.   Its got great Replay value too.

 The Guitar hero "Pusher"  told of stories of entire family's playing the thing
for hours each day.  Adults and children and even gramas.   Its really that
addictive, and fun.   Ive clocked some serious time on the thing already.  heh
(my fingers ache!)
 
 Take a peek on  Youtube.com   for videos of masters playing the
harder levels.   (Try not to let the insanity intimidate you though)

 Anyway, if you have not played this game..  track someone down
who has it.  Or just run out and get it.   I doubt you would
regret it.  (with exception to losing too much time to it!)   

[javeryh]

This is one of the best games I've played in years.  Pure fun.  It's also really "old school" in that it's unforgivingly hard but if you put in the time and practice you WILL get better.  I'm on my way to getting 5 stars on the Hard songs and a month ago I could barely even finish one of them.

[RayB]

Well Xiaou, you're really behind the times, but congratulations on catching up, just a little bit. 

I have to correct you on one thing though:
"If a note has a tail,  you can use the Whammy on it.  The whammy will
give you more points.. as well as actually changing the sound of the
note.  The sound is purely your own, based on your whammy movements."

You're only supposed to use the whammy bar if the note+tail has a faint blue glow to it. Use it then and you get bonus points+Star Power.

If you use it at any other time, you are not penalized, but the note will sound off-key and terrible.


I have both GH 1 and 2.

[Buddabing]

I've been playing a lot of GH1 and 2 since I got both games a couple of months ago. I still haven't beaten Jordan or Six on Expert, but I've beaten all the other songs. Now I'm going back and trying to 5-star everything on hard and get 100%  on easy and normal. It's tough, since I don't have any alt-strumming skill.

And don't file down the yellow button. That bump really helps.

[cowguy]

Yeah, I have guitar hero I and II, their great games! But if your good at DDR already it makes it easier already.  I think it needs to be longer because I beat it on every mode.

[RayB]

And don't file down the yellow button. That bump really helps.

You're joking right? You filed it off?!?!

[SirPoonga]

I did some experimenting with the whammy and I don't think if gives you any more points, just increases star power.  To test it I used a song that starts with a long note.  I hit the note without whammy and with whammy.  Without whammy I got 560 points, with whammy I got 540.  So whammy doesn't make a significant difference.

Right now you don't have to track someone down who has it.  You can find kiosks for both the ps2/3 and xbox360 versions at many stores like best buy and gamestop.

I wonder what the extra port on the 360's controller will be for.  Rumors are that the next version will incorporate an effects pedal.  Great, more coordination needed

[Buddabing]

And don't file down the yellow button. That bump really helps.

You're joking right? You filed it off?!?!

Xioau was saying something about wanting to file it off. My advice was not to do it.

[RayB]

Oh, silly Xiaou. That bump is how your hand is supposed to "find" the middle button without looking.

Look at your PC keyboard. You'll find the F and J keys have "bumps" for the same reason.

[loadman]

I love this game too 

I am tempted to build a custom guitar

We need a new Forum

Build Your Own Guitar Forum  

[Marky_1979]

Are there any significant differences between the ps2 and XBox 360 versions? I have a 360 and am considering getting this title. I heard that there will be planty of x box live market place content songs/ characters etc.

[SirPoonga]

The big difference is the downloadable content and 10 exclusive songs.  However, the content is expensive.  Comes out to about $6 per 3 pack of songs.

The 360 guitar controller has a phone jack on it, rumored for a future effects pedal.

[pointdablame]

You're definitely wayyyy behind the times, but welcome to the addiction.

I finished the PS2 games a while back and have been rocking out to the 360 game recently.  My career score is just about 9Million now I believe.  It's cool to see how I'm doing against everyone else in the world (and to see that I'm kicking Markrvp's ass )

The games are so much fun.  I agree tho that the 360 content is expensive, especially considering all the songs are from GH1 thus far.  Not much of an incentive for me to get them due to that.

I'm curious what the phone jack will wind up doing as well, it could be cool.

Also, go read up on the game "Rock Band"  It sounds like it will be amazing.

[Marky_1979]

What kinda songs are there in the games? and are they by original artists?

[Xiaou2]

 RayB,

   I simply stated  that I do not like the FEEL of the single raised
line in the middle of my finger.    I would either file it down to be
less raised  - OR - to make a slightly less Irritating version of it.

 I would prefer maybe 2 bars near the edges that were not as
raised as the current one.    Or maybe I would make a different
texture surface on that button alone.    If you ACTUALLY READ
WHAT I POSTED..  I WOULDNT HAVE TO RETYPE MYSELF. 


 Marky:   Theres a list of the songs (and more info) here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_Hero_II

  I also suggest checking out some Videos from Youtube.com...
as I think you may get a better idea of the song quality and
also the way it plays. 

 Finally,

 I dont need the Snobbery about being behind the times.  Not
everyone has the cash to dispose of so easily.  And btw- I get
to play the same game, for much less money.  Whos losing out?
Not to mention, that many games will never go out of style.  That
mostly why people have created emulation.

  And, GH is pretty forgiving to beat it...  so dont think your
bragging about how good you are lifts my skirt.   When you can get
5 stars on all the songs on all the levels..  OHHH wait... How
about getting all PERFECTS on all the songs on all the levels?..
Then maybe Ill give you a cookie.
 
 This guy is good.. and even he couldnt get a perfect on
Hanger 18.  Can you?

 
 
 
 I simply decided to review a good game for all that
may have missed it.  So there it is.  Im done with this
thread.

[Buddabing]

What kinda songs are there in the games? and are they by original artists?

There are all kinds. Google for Guitar Hero song list. The 24 bonus songs, and IIRC two of the main songs are by the original artists, and the rest are covers.

On the down side, one of those songs is "Yes we can".

[Joystick Jerk]

Well Xiaou, you're really behind the times, but congratulations on catching up, just a little bit. 

I have to correct you on one thing though:
"If a note has a tail,  you can use the Whammy on it.  The whammy will
give you more points.. as well as actually changing the sound of the
note.  The sound is purely your own, based on your whammy movements."

You're only supposed to use the whammy bar if the note+tail has a faint blue glow to it. Use it then and you get bonus points+Star Power.

If you use it at any other time, you are not penalized, but the note will sound off-key and terrible.


I have both GH 1 and 2.

It doesn't sound off-key! That's the point of a whammy bar, to distort the sound. Yes, earning extra star power is linked to whammying long star notes, but it's primary use is to distort the sound like an actual whammy bar on a real guitar.

[Level42]

Doesn't look like half the fun of Samba D'amigo....

[Zeppo]

I've never played Guitar Hero, but have heard of it ever since it came out.
I've got friends that have played it, and I have always meant to make it over and try it out, but never have.

I keep looking for a good deal on a PS2 and GH combo, but nothing yet.

Maybe one day.

Thanks for the great review.

[KenToad]

Yeah, thanks for the review.  I really enjoyed it.  And I read it all.   

[pointdablame]

 RayB,

   I simply stated  that I do not like the FEEL of the single raised
line in the middle of my finger.    I would either file it down to be
less raised  - OR - to make a slightly less Irritating version of it.

 I would prefer maybe 2 bars near the edges that were not as
raised as the current one.    Or maybe I would make a different
texture surface on that button alone.    If you ACTUALLY READ
WHAT I POSTED..  I WOULDNT HAVE TO RETYPE MYSELF. 


 Marky:   Theres a list of the songs (and more info) here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_Hero_II

  I also suggest checking out some Videos from Youtube.com...
as I think you may get a better idea of the song quality and
also the way it plays. 

 Finally,

 I dont need the Snobbery about being behind the times.  Not
everyone has the cash to dispose of so easily.  And btw- I get
to play the same game, for much less money.  Whos losing out?
Not to mention, that many games will never go out of style.  That
mostly why people have created emulation.

  And, GH is pretty forgiving to beat it...  so dont think your
bragging about how good you are lifts my skirt.   When you can get
5 stars on all the songs on all the levels..  OHHH wait... How
about getting all PERFECTS on all the songs on all the levels?..
Then maybe Ill give you a cookie.
 
 This guy is good.. and even he couldnt get a perfect on
Hanger 18.  Can you?

 
 
 
 I simply decided to review a good game for all that
may have missed it.  So there it is.  Im done with this
thread.

Jesus, you really go from 0 to ---smurfette--- in no time, don't ya?

No one was really being "snobby" it's just a fact that the game has been out for a while now.  I hear Super Mario Bros is a great game too, maybe I should write a review on it.

And as for your little dig about getting it cheaper... go ahead and try.  Guitars are still the same price, and the games have not dropped far from their original prices.  Even used gear will not net you much savings.

And maybe I missed it, but who was even bragging about how awesome they are? and why do you get so offended by it?

It's an internet forum... take it a bit less seriously. 

[RayB]

It doesn't sound off-key! That's the point of a whammy bar, to distort the sound. Yes, earning extra star power is linked to whammying long star notes, but it's primary use is to distort the sound like an actual whammy bar on a real guitar.

Yeah it does. Maybe you're tone deaf. It's dead-on when you're SUPPOSED to use it, and off most other times. That's why you DON'T get star power any other time than the glowing blue notes.

[KenToad]

Well, I think the thing that set off Xiaou was that he didn't say that he didn't want to have a bump on the middle fret button.  He just clearly stated in his review that he just didn't like the feel and that one option was to sand it down a bit or "off" and then to replace it with something else.

True, though, that he seemed to explode a bit in response.

I have to say that I liked the review a lot, since it had a good explanation of how the game and hardware works, but I can understand how, if I was already familiar with the game, I would probably find it a bit old hat and maybe skim the review.

[AtomSmasher]

It doesn't sound off-key! That's the point of a whammy bar, to distort the sound. Yes, earning extra star power is linked to whammying long star notes, but it's primary use is to distort the sound like an actual whammy bar on a real guitar.

Yeah it does. Maybe you're tone deaf. It's dead-on when you're SUPPOSED to use it, and off most other times. That's why you DON'T get star power any other time than the glowing blue notes.

That doesn't make sense because in some songs the exact same notes are highlighted in some parts and not in others.  For example, look at the beginning of Iron Man, every one of the the initial long notes are supposed to be played the same, but only a few are highlighted.

[Joystick Jerk]

It doesn't sound off-key! That's the point of a whammy bar, to distort the sound. Yes, earning extra star power is linked to whammying long star notes, but it's primary use is to distort the sound like an actual whammy bar on a real guitar.

Yeah it does. Maybe you're tone deaf. It's dead-on when you're SUPPOSED to use it, and off most other times. That's why you DON'T get star power any other time than the glowing blue notes.

Maybe it's the PS2 version. I have the 360 version, and you can whammy anything, and it sounds fine whether it's a long or short note, star-powered or not.

[Xiaou2]

First off, 

  Thanks Kentoad, Zeppo, and others who liked the review.
I highly appreciate the positive feedback.   

 
  Pointdablame,   Well, if you didnt realize it, much of
my reply was "SARCASM".    But, since you want to give it..
then youll get it too.

"Jesus, you really go from 0 to ---smurf--- in no time, don't ya?"

  Whats it too you?!  When someone gives me an attitude, I have
the choice to swallow it, or put it back in thier face.  Ive
spent most my life swallowing people sh*t... and Im tired of it.
From now on, I wont take it anymore.. not a single terd.   

 Next, there is the Use of a religious figure in the form
of a curse.  That is just plain sad.   Think about the
person you love the most in this world... and then when
you get angry at someone else... yell your loved ones
name out with an attitude.  Make sence?!  Grow up.

  "about getting it cheaper... go ahead and try"

 I did.  My new slim PS2 cost $130.  Not 300 to 600.
And yet of course, you are arguing my sarcasm remark,
but thats ok.... 

 "Super Mario Bros is a great game too, maybe I should write a review on it"

  Guitar Hero is not anywhere near as old Not as well known and
Popular as the Mario games.   And, sure, if you want to write a
review on it,  thats just fine.  Just as many games do not go out
of style... neither do the reviews.   A person born after a certain
time may never have played certain games.  Finding a review may
help them to discover this "new" game ***NEW TO THEM***.

 Are you so Anal that you cant even "SEE" a post that reviews
a game thats less that 10yrs old?   If so, then you have issues.

 Me personally, I dont put people down nor mock them because
they have not played every single new game...  nor seen every
new movie...  nor listened to every new song...   Ahh,  but thats
just me...


 RayB believes hes some kind of Superior Super Authority.
Has that "holier than Thou" attitude.   Firstly
coming into a thread that has Nothing to do with
him.  Reading only PART of what was written, and searching
for the flaws so he could get his Jollies off from
feeling like he was again "Superior"  by 'correcting'
others.   This my friend, is a SAD person indeed.

 No, I dont mind being corrected on a detail.. But dont
think Im gone take the bad attitude when you do so.
Especially since he "Cared SO MUCH"  that he didnt
even bother to FULLY READ my posts.  That says a lot.

 And furthermore... He is Also wrong about the Whammy
getting Out of key when used for notes that are not
glowing.

 There are plenty of places you can use the Whammy
that are not glowing... that will sound great.

 I believe Rayb, unlike me, has never actually played a
guitar.  He seems to have no clue how a whammy
is supposed to be used.  (yet is a self proclaimed
expert) 

 The game does expect you to whammy like a jack-hammer
on the glowing notes for the most points.  The tighter
the 'wave' you make... the more star power you will
pick up.  However.. if you do that... if will sound
like --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--.  The game does not Penalize you for making
a monstrosity of the sound.

 To use a whammy properly (as in playing a real guitar,
and or in game to make nice sounds that are not
out of tune..)  you do not always want to push it all
the way down.  Just a slight wiggle.  Sometimes slowly,
and sometimes quickly.  Sometimes one wiggle is fine...
but other times you can do a few in a row. 

 The depth of each should depend on the note range
you have to work with.. and or also depends on the
speed at which you do it. 

 In a real guitar, its the same.  A whammy by nature,
changes the note values (de-tunes) as well as can
create a 'vibrato' effect.  This is usually
fine, and desired... UNLESS you dip too deep, or
vibrate too much.  Drop down a few notes to one
scale might be fine in some places.  Drop down more,
and it might sound awful.

 It truly is an artistic thing.  There are no "rules"
that I know of for use of the Whammy

 Maybe Mr. Rayb  might be best to ask his mother
for some Humble pie?

 And Point,  maybe you should point your nose in someone
elses business.


 Im rock'n Outa here.

 
 

[SirPoonga]

Just let it go.  It was a good review.

[Xiaou2]

 
SirPoonga,  Im over it.  Dont worry.  These clowns dont
effect my day.   

 Thanks though, I appreciate the positivity.

 

[RayB]

Blah BLAH BLAh blah... 

Joystick Jerk: yeah, I have the PS2 version, so that explains the disconnect over the whammy sound.

[pointdablame]

Blah BLAH BLAh blah... 

Joystick Jerk: yeah, I have the PS2 version, so that explains the disconnect over the whammy sound.

I have both versions and the whammy is fine.  You can whammy any long note, and its fine.  Its not "out of tune" it just changes the tone... its what its supposed to do.

[slycrel]

I played this for the first time two weeks ago.  Initial gameplay reminded me of the later levels of klax in that you were concerned with "dropping colors".  Much funner tie together though, especially linked with music.

Thanks for the review.

[loadman]

I love this game too 

I am tempted to build a custom guitar

We need a new Forum  Build Your Own Guitar Forum  

Check this out:   
http://forum.guitarherogame.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=588

[Crowquill]

Definitely a good write-up. I'm with some of the people here snickering a bit about how "new and amazing" it is when the first Guitar Hero came out a year-and-a-half ago. But that's cool. I'm all for finding new games and getting obsessed immersed in them. I've even started building a custom guitar for Guitar Hero II. Electronically the guitar is pretty much just a standard PS1 Dual Shock pad with the left directional shorted out. Most of what I learned was from the Elmo guitar hack.

Now that you have a PS2, here's a few other games to check out for quick arcade action and a good dose of originality:

Amplitude or Frequency -- same developer as Guitar Hero and at it's core it has similar gameplay. The biggest difference (besides using the DualShock) is that you play one instrument for a short time and then once you get it going you switch to a different one. It becomes a "spinning plate trick" in a way trying to get all the parts of the song going at once.

Katamari Damacy or We Love Katamari -- Namco's game series of rolling a ball around the world while things stick to it. Watch the ball grow from level-to-level until you can pick up clouds and islands. Simple and highly addicting.

Burnout 3 or Burnout Revenge -- straight-up fast-paced arcade racing. The twist being that you can run cars off the road and watch giant slow-motion crashes with your own car. Some game modes focus purely on causing crashes, destruction, and pure havoc.

Sly Cooper 1-3 -- Sure it's 3D, but it's a straight-up action platformer full of well-written humor and unusual characters. The first Ratchet and Clank fall into this category too. Unfortunately, as the R&C series went on they became less platformer and more shooter.

Psychonauts -- A platform / adventure game, but not really that long and drawn out. Amazing humerous writing and unbelievably imaginative gameplay. One level has you racing and bouncing on a ball, in another you're a 50-foot monster destroying a town full of talking lungfishes, the final level is called "The Meat Circus".

Soul Calibur III -- beautiful fighting game that has an insane amount of depth.

Not EVERY game on the PS2 and XBOX has a military, crime/gangsta, horror, or sports theme.

[loadman]

I was inspired   



Check out the post I made here:

http://forum.guitarherogame.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=23386

[Crowquill]

Now that's W1k3d!!! 

It's actually a really good example of how simple the electronics and switches are for these controllers. Mine is coming along EXTREMELY slowly. I have the body mostly cut out.

[NightGod]

Guitar Hero has become a recent obsession of mine (I never really played it until about two weeks ago, picked it up when I saw the wireless PS2 guitars at Gamestop for $40 each-was too good to pass up).

For those who don't follow the console scene closely, Guitar Hero 2, Encore: Rock the 80s (full of 80s hits, lots of hair band stuff) is coming out for PS2 exclusively in a few weeks. Guitar Hero 3 will be out for PS3 and X-box 360 in October and then the next step in the evolution of the genre, Rock Band (which allows for playing Lead, Bass, Drums and vocals (a'la Karaoke Revolution) drops in November. The bullet points there are (other than the obvious coolness of adding in drums), you get a new guitar, with narrower fret buttons near the body of the guitar that allow for non-strumming soloing for the really insanely fast parts of songs (seems likely that it will only work during the actual solos) and on-line play that will allow any combination of local and remote players to do songs together. $200 will get you the new guitar, the game, drums and the microphone-seems like an insane deal to me, my pre-order is already in.

[brandon]

I just play GH for the first time this weekend.. GH2 to be exact.  I've been playing guitar for about 15 years and when I first heard of GH I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever seen (2nd only to DDR)  BUT after playing it this weekend I gotta admit its a very fun and addictive game!  It is a little counter intuitive to somebody that already plays guitar though.  I would suggest that if you play guitar you should sort of ignore the actually guitar track that you hear and focus on the on-screen action.  I played GH2 and the song Possum Kingdom seemed to have the drum beat mapped to the guitar in a few cases.  Maybe it was only on the lower difficult settings where it does that since the drum beat is simplistic...    either way its still fun, especially after a few drinks

[NightGod]

Funny you mention about thinking it was ridiculous at first-a friend of mine played it for the first time tonight and he started off laughing nervously and kinda making fun of the idea, but after his second run through "Hate Myself For Loving You", he was hooked. He was also curious about how someone who has played a real guitar felt about translating their skills to the game, now I can give him an example.

[lanman31337]

Gentlemen, for those without a console, there's Frets on Fire for the pc!!!
http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net/

[pointdablame]

It seems to me that anyone who plays guitar or has a real musical ear actually has more trouble on Easy (and some Medium) songs than Hard or Expert.

You hit the nail on the head as to why NightGod.  On the lower difficulty settings, the on screen playing will often change from guitar track to bass to drum to whatever is easiest at any given point in a song.  They will also just completely ignore notes on solos so that you're there hitting "1....2.....3......4...." while a crazy solo is playing on your tv.

It's very odd for anyone who can really notice what is going on.  Myself, I don't play guitar and play bass guitar VERY POORLY, but it still really annoys me.  It's not that you won't be able to play the songs, but you will definitely do double takes if you are trying to follow the rhythm.  It gets a lot better (but not perfect) on Hard and Expert.