Guitar Hero - A Guide For Parents

Guitar Hero is a rhythm-based game where players use a guitar-shaped controller (or a regular console controller). Their goal is to match the sequence of red, green, yellow, blue (and orange) colored cues that scroll down the screen by pressing the corresponding buttons on their controllers, playing to cover versions of popular rock songs from the 60s up to the present.

Guitar Hero requires a basic sense of rhythm and patience as you get used to hitting the right button in time with the colored cues. You'll more than likely find a couple of songs that you're familiar with which makes it all the more fun. If you always find yourself playing air-guitar or drumming on your steering wheel along with your favorite songs, then Guitar Hero is just the game for you. However, don't let the simplicity of the game fool you. The difficult stages can seem like they're meant for octopusses with ludicrously nimble fingers. When you get the hang of it, playing Guitar Hero (for most of us mere mortals) is the closest we'll ever get to being a rock star!

Like other games, Guitar Hero caters to players of all abilities - from the easy stage, where you only have to contend with 3 colors, to the medium stage where it gets a bit tricky, but is probably the most enjoyable and the difficult (hard) stage for the true enthusiasts (or those who like to show off). At this stage, colored cues seems to come at you at the rate of a kazillion a second.

As you begin to play, you will notice a "Rock Meter" in the corner of your screen. This is kinda like your power bar. When you hit the correct buttons consecutively, you will be awarded with a x2, x3 and x4 multiplier. This means you're doing great and your points are multiplied by that factor. If you hit a wrong button, you'll hear either a squeek or cruddy sound (guitar players will know this sound) and your rock meter goes back to ZERO.

Guitar Hero provides a couple of play options :

Training. This is where most folks should start but they never do (like yours truly) until the make a fool of themselves by jumping straight into Dio's Holy Diver, and screw up almost all of the guitar solo and getting booed off stage. Oh... did I forget to mention that? Yeah, if you miss a enough notes, the song will stop and the crowd will boo you... not to mention the smart-ass remarks from your friends and family around you.

Quick Play. This play mode allows you to play any song which you have unlocked (you unlock more songs as you play in carreer mode) - kind of like a quickie snack where you don't have to go through the appetizer, main course, dessert thing. This mode is also great for Dads (Moms too) just before they head off to work or need a bit of stress relief while the kids are napping.

Career. This is where the action is. You get to play up to 35 songs across your choice of difficulty level. Every successful song leads you to cash, kudos and fame. Just like in real life, the cash sponsorship comes from notable music gear manufacturers - from Ernie Ball strings to Boss amplifiers. You can accumulate the cash and at when you complete each set of songs you increase your status. As you progess, you will "unlock" new venues and songs. After accumulating your virtual cash, you get to "buy" guitars, songs and even characters.

Multiplayer. If you've got 2 controllers plugged in, you can play in Multiplayer mode. Depending on which Guitar Hero game you're playing, there are different modes within the multiplayer mode. Face-off splits the song between the two players - meaning both players take turns to hit the notes. Pro Face-off lets both players play the complete song together, which is really fun. Co-op mode is a fun way for parents and children to play together because in co-op mode, both players' scores are combined into ONE single score, so the idea here is for BOTH players to help each other, hence the term co-op. Guitar Hero III also features a Battle mode, where you use "battle power" to try to make the other player fail the song.

Tutorial. This is the place for you to learn the simplest of notes outside of playing a full song. This mode introduces you to the basic principles of the game and allows you to build up your skill without the stress of hitting all the wrong notes in actual play.

Shakespeare said, "If music be the food of love; play on." Music touches our souls in deeper ways than we can understand.

Rock music is loud. It's emotional. It's energetic. You don't need to teach kids this. Little children instinctly move to its beat and energy. Growing into their teenage years, they begin appreciate the intricacies of Rock Music and identify with the lyrics of their favorite songs.

Teens are no different from adults in the way they NEED music. We adults have grown to appreciate the calmness of Vivaldi's soft strings and the intelectual busyness of Miles Davis. But, muddling through adolescence, kids find it difficult to understand themselves let alone express their feelings. When faced with pressure from their parents, siblings, peers and the world as a whole, Rock music provides a momentary escape from all that stress. Banging away at their imaginary drums, shredding their imaginary guitar, moving their feet and bodies to the beat, Rock music is raw stress relief and anger management.

To put it simply, allowing players to "jam" along with the songs, Guitar Hero is their chance to be a rock star, even if it's just make believe. And it's FUN.

1. Helps spark an interest in picking up an instrument.
Most kids remember grabbing a tennis racquet and playing air guitar to their favorite songs. Guitar Hero lets the player actually hold a guitar and play. At the very least, this would re-inforce the desire to learn to play a real guitar.

2. Gets your kids acquainted with your favorite songs and vice versa.
There are loads of rock songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's that your kids probably haven't heard of. And there are new stuff that you can learn to dig. Guitar Hero lets you and your kids enjoy the best of both worlds.

3. Keeps them head-banging indoors instead of banging heads outdoors.
I don't know about you, but I'd rather have my kids making a racket playing Guitar Hero at home than NOT knowing where they are or WHAT they're up to.

4. Can be a fun family activity.
My kids were amazed when I sang along to lots of the songs while we played Guitar Hero together. I'm not a wet-blanket Dad, and they've seen me playing guitar, but somehow, playing Guitar Hero brought us closer. Besides, it's fun and it's cheaper than going to the movies or a night at the mall.

5. Builds hand - eye coordination.
I'm no expert, but give this article on video games and hand-eye coordination a read.

6. It's non violent.
There are lots of violent video games out there. Guitar Hero is NOT one of them and I doubt you'll be hearing of kids who try to rob a liquor store armed with a guitar because he's totally into Guitar Hero. Your kids ARE going to play video games whether it's at home or at a friend's place or at the arcade. Parental participation in their choice of video games is important, so I'd rather play Guitar Hero with my kids and endure some songs that I don't dig than to have them unknowingly get trapped in the world of violent video games.

7. Teaches patience and rewards practice.
I believe you've got to be a savvy enough parent to use the simple, everyday stuff in your kids' life to teach them values that you want them to learn. When my kids get frustrated with that darn orange button that hits them out of the blue right in the middle of "Smoke on the water", I tell them that life's like that lots of time - you get smacked in the face with unexpected stuff. I also tell them that practice makes perfect. No, that doesn't mean I let them play Guitar Hero for as long as they like, but when I let them have time to get good at something that they enjoy, it helps me re-inforce the lesson that ALMOST EVERYTHING in life requires patience and practice.

8. Gives them something in common to talk about with their peers.
Although my kids have fairly decent friends, I can't control what video games their friends are going to play. I know they're going to talk about these (maybe violent) games and I don't want my kids to be labelled "nerds" just because they've never killed a thousand enemies and watched them laying in a pool of blood. Worse, I don't to take a risk that their friends will influence them to enter the world of violent video games. So, Guitar Hero is a cool video game that sort of bridges the "virtual" gap between them and their friends.

9. Video games make kids feel comfortable with technology.
Somehow, girls tend to be encouraged into the princess and fairy thing, where boys are all about fighting, racing, gadgets and gizmos even though both sexes have the same potential to excel in everything they're exposed to. So it's hardly surprising that many girls shy away from new technology (video games). Guitar Hero is a simple game that both boys and girls can play because they ALL love music - Rock music. It's a great way to get brothers and sisters playing together and in a broader sense while getting them (girls) comfortable with technology.

10. It's fun.
There's no way to explain it. Give it a try and you'll see that Guitar Hero is FUN - BIG TIME!

Guitar Hero

Guitar Hero
"At its core a simple rhythm game, Guitar Hero muscles it way above others of its ilk thanks to its awesome guitar-shaped controller, rocking song selection and tightly-honed difficulty curve which allows newbies to rock out almost immediately, while leaving plenty of challenge for the true aficionado. The game makes you feel like you're actually playing guitar -- so much so you'll probably unconsciously find yourself doing the pogo or helicopter and wishing you could still fit into some black stovepipe jeans.

Guitar Hero is, hands-down, the most fun we've had playing a rhythm game. Its rock solid song list and sweet difficulty make it a must have for anyone who's ever dreamed of rock stardom. We can't wait for the sequel! Now excuse us while we kiss the sky..."
CNet.com.au

Guitar Hero 2

Guitar Hero II
"While the song list might be bigger, it's not necessarily as memorable as the first game's was. There are some legitimate classics here to be sure, like every metal head's favorite love song, "Sweet Child O' Mine," or the Southern rock anthem "Free Bird."

The Good : Same superb gameplay you remember, but with an added splash of challenge, more multiplayer modes, including cooperative play, 64 total songs, 40 licensed from major bands plus the new practice mode is easy to use and wonderfully configurable.

The Bad : Track list may be bigger, but it's not quite as good as the first game's. Difficulty doesn't scale as masterfully this time around and some of the cooperative parts are highly dull, even on expert. "
Gamespot.com

Guitar Hero Encore:
Rocks the 80's

Guitar Hero Encore : Rocks the 80s
"Soundtrack consists of mostly great '80s tunes that are quite fun to play

Thirty songs for $50 is a lousy value any way you slice it made worse because a few real C- and D-list song choices are included. Presentation is a cheap '80s dress-up of Guitar Hero II. .."
Gamespot.com

Ultimately, Rocks the 80s is for Guitar Hero diehards only. There are some excellent songs in here, to be sure, and the gameplay is as fun as ever. But with such a decisive lack of content compared with other GH releases, not to mention the slightly insane price tag, Rocks the 80s feels like a quick-and-dirty cash-in. It's one you'll probably still have a good time with, but it's dirty all the same.."
CNet.com

Guitar Hero III:
Legends of Rock
PS2

Guitar Hero III : Legends of Rock
"The best tracklist of any Guitar Hero game to date with lots of master tracks from the original bands and artists. Online play is a fantastic addition. Higher difficulty level ensures experienced players won't get bored quickly.

Higher difficulty level ensures most people's arms will fall off halfway through the expert career. Battle mode and boss battles aren't interesting additions. A heavy dose of in-game advertising. Some frame-rate issues .

Once you start playing, you'll be hooked for hours at a time, both online and off. It might ultimately just be more Guitar Hero, but that's hardly a bad thing--in fact, it's a great thing."
Gamespot.com

Guitar Hero World Tour

Guitar Hero World Tour
"From Van Halen to Jimi Hendrix to Joe Satriani to Tool, the lineup of included tracks is mighty impressive. There are even a couple surprises on there, such as Willie Nelson's live rendition of "On the Road Again", which actually turned out to be one of the most fun tracks on the disc."
IGN.com

The most obvious difference between World Tour and previous Guitar Hero games is that you can now sing, play drums, play bass or play guitar. You can play one instrument alone, perform as a band with a few friends, or even hop online and rock head-to-head or as some sort of Internet super group. The long-awaited ability to play as a "real" band in a Guitar Hero game improves what was previously an experience shared by one or two people on guitar and bass. GH World Tour is available as an instrument bundle or as a standalone disc."
CNet.com.au

Guitar Hero Aerosmith Playstation 2

Guitar Hero Aerosmith
"The Good : Includes Run DMC's version of "Walk This Way" and not the one with Britney Spears. Most people will appreciate the kinder difficulty. Motion-captured Steven Tyler that Aerosmith fans will surely love.

The Bad : Too much Joe Perry solo music. Not enough content to justify full price. Ultraskilled players might find the game too easy. Not much here for people who don't like Aerosmith.

For those of you who are pressed for time--or simply hate to read--here's an abridged review of the latest Guitar Hero: If you like Aerosmith, you'll like this game. If you don't like Aerosmith, you will not like this game. Even dedicated fans of the group may have trouble rationalizing paying full price for just 41 songs, but while GH: Aerosmith is a little short on content, it's plenty of fun."
Gamespot.com

Guitar Hero Metallica

Guitar Hero Metallica
"the game delivers in many of the ways that we had hoped for. The track list is stellar, the presentation is top-notch, the band is very well represented, and, perhaps most surprising of all, there's a ton of stuff for fans of the band to check out. While the game isn't as immense as the franchise's yearly big update, and while it generally sticks to the same tried and true formula of past releases, there's just a feeling of care taken with the experience that makes it a must-play for fans of the band and metal in general.

Guitar Hero: Metallica is a great music game, one that has a track list that almost seems like it was written expressly for the purpose of this title. A lot of care was put into the production to ensure that it is both true to the band and its music, while also offering fans cool insight into the group's on-goings. It certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's been a while since I've had this much fun with a music game."
IGN.com

Guitar Hero:
On Tour

Guitar Hero On Tour (for Nintendo DS)
"The Good : Most of the songs are master tracks Multiplayer modes are pretty good.

The Bad : Grip attachment can be extremely uncomfortable Music fidelity is poor A total of 26 songs won't last you very long Guitar Hero without a larger, fake guitar isn't much fun.

Guitar Hero: On Tour (for Nintendo DS) lacks many of the characteristics of the console versions of Guitar Hero, but the main ingredient that's missing is fun. It's simply not enjoyable to contort your hand around the DS and listen to 26 low-fi songs while you strum the touch screen and fight the pain in your hand."
Gamespot.com

Guitar Hero On Tour:
Decades

Guitar Hero On Tour Decades (for Nintendo DS)
"The Good : Every single song is a master track. Multiplayer song sharing makes previous game's tracklist available.

The Bad : Mechanical and ergonomic issues remain. Sound quality is still tinny.

A few months ago, Activision did the seemingly impossible and brought Guitar Hero to the Nintendo DS. With its unique Guitar Grip peripheral and touch-screen strumming, Guitar Hero: On Tour was a competent representation of the fretting and picking experience found on the consoles. However, mechanical and ergonomic issues hampered the game from being as fun as it could have been. Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades, the newest Guitar Hero game for the Nintendo DS, adds song sharing in multiplayer mode--but ultimately leads to the same disappointing, hand-crippling experience as before. "
Gamespot.com

Judy Nails

Johnny Napalm

Axel Steel

Pandora

Izzy Sparks

Clive Winston

Xavier Stone

Casey Lynch

Eddie Knox

Lars Umlaut

Midori

God of Rock

Elroy Budvis

Metalhead

Lou

Memphis Rose

Slash

Billy Corgan

Jimi Hendrix

Ozzy Osbourne

Ted Nugent

Travis Barker

Sting

Tom Hamilton

Brad Whitford

Bret Michaels

DMC

Gunner Jaxon

Zakk Wylde

Joe Perry

Kirk Hammet

Robert Trujillo

James Shetfield

Lars Ulrich

Before I go into this, I'd like you to take a moment to remember what it was like when you were a teenager listening to the Rolling Stones, The Beatles or Deep Purple. Remember when your parents would cringe and then holler to turn down the volume? Well, now that I'm a parent, I'm surprised that there are things that my kids consider really cool but seem downright stupid and rub me the wrong way.

These are my views. I don't proclaim to be the best parent nor is this a lecture on morality. Having said that, here are some areas that I feel uncomfortable with when it comes to Guitar Hero.

1. Occult Symbolism
They're everywhere these days. I figure there are two ways I can deal with this. I can either choose to stick my head in the sand, play like a puritanical Dad (I'm not) and just say "NO, you can't play that game because there are symbols that I don't want you to see" OR I can share their experience with Guitar Hero and explain why I object to specifics within Guitar Hero. I believe my kids appreciate that and I can see that they make an effort to understand my views. Although many avid Guitar Hero players will tell you that they're usually so engrossed in hitting the right buttons they don't bother to look at the occult symbols in the background, I'm more concerned about what happens in the subconscious. Kids' are a whole lot more alert and they absord EVERYTHING they see like a sponge. I don't like having these symbols and images in Guitar Hero, but they're there and I prefer to deal with the issue head on with my kids.

2. Questionable Lyrics
Whatever your "moral" standards, there are going to be some songs in Guitar Hero with "questionable" lyrics. Remember when there was a buzz decades ago about a famous song by the Eagles containing satanic phrases when played backwards and all that? Well, no need to play songs backwards these days. Truth be told (and applied with a huge dose of reality), the songs in Guitar Hero are pretty mild compared with a lot of the straight-in-your-face obsceneties of today's songs. Again, I take this as an opportunity to be open with my kids and when they ask me what a specific phrase in a Guitar Hero song means or if I find them singing a tune, I like to engage them in conversation and share feelings.

3. "Colorful" Characters
Going by today's standards, the characters (most of them are fictitious by the way) in Guitar Hero are your basic everyday rockers with a healthy dose of ego and idiosynchracies. My kids and I talk about what characters we like to choose when we play Guitar Hero. Personally, they can't understand why I like to play as Judy Nails or Pandora (neither do I) but once again, it's a great opportunity to share your views with your kids. HOWEVER, there ARE characters that I take exception to in Guitar Hero and thank goodness they have a limited presence in the game - Lou and Grim Reaper. I understand the developers creating these characters to cater to metal and dark metal fans, but personally, I feel Guitar Hero would be just as realistic and fun without them - and a whole lot family-friendlier.

Remember... "Life is one big grey area", "One man's meat may be another man's poison" and all that, so your view of Guitar Hero may vary.

Guitar Praise By Digital Praise