As a die-hard enthusiast of rhythm action games, the resurgence of both Guitar Hero and Rock Band on PS4 was a monumental event. For those looking to shred on PlayStation 4, deciding between Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 can be a tough choice. Both titles arrived in 2015 with unique approaches to the genre, making the decision even more compelling for PS4 guitar rock band fans.
Understanding that most PS4 gamers might only invest in one guitar-based music game, this in-depth comparison dives into Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 on PS4. Having personally played both extensively on PS4 since their release, I offer an unbiased and detailed breakdown to help you decide which game deserves a spot in your PS4 collection. Let’s rock out on PS4!
Round 1: PS4 Backwards Compatibility for Guitar Controllers
For long-time fans of guitar rock band games, the question of instrument compatibility is crucial, especially when upgrading to PS4. Many gamers have invested in plastic guitars from previous console generations. A game that supports legacy controllers on PS4 is a significant advantage, saving players from buying new peripherals.
Sleep well, sweet prince of plastic video game instrumentsSleep well, sweet prince of plastic video game instruments
Rock Band 4 on PS4 makes backwards compatibility a core feature, largely succeeding in supporting older Rock Band and Guitar Hero instruments. Good news for PS4 players with previous-gen wireless guitars: many should work seamlessly with Rock Band 4 on PS4. For instance, wireless Guitar Hero 3 controllers designed for PS3 are generally compatible with the PS4 version of Rock Band 4.
However, PS4 compatibility isn’t flawless. Due to technical restrictions, wired controllers are not supported. This means classic wired guitars like the Guitar Hero II Xplorer, a favorite for many PS3 Guitar Hero and Rock Band players, are unfortunately incompatible with Rock Band 4 on PS4. While a niche case, it’s a point to consider for dedicated players with specific legacy setups. Generally, most wireless last-gen controllers should function with Rock Band 4 on PS4 without major issues.
Conversely, Guitar Hero Live on PS4 takes a different path. Its completely redesigned guitar controller, featuring a new six-button layout, means that the traditional five-button guitar controllers are incompatible. Consequently, no previous Guitar Hero or Rock Band controllers, including those for PS3, will work with Guitar Hero Live on PS4. This necessitates purchasing the new Guitar Hero Live guitar controller to play on PS4.
Winner – Rock Band 4 (for PS4 players valuing backwards compatibility with older wireless guitar controllers)
Round 2: Guitar Gameplay on PS4
While Rock Band 4 expanded to include drums, vocals, and bass, guitar remains the iconic instrument for many fans of guitar rock band games on PS4.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 retains the classic five-color lane highway system. PS4 gamers familiar with previous Guitar Hero or Rock Band titles will instantly feel at home. The core gameplay is largely unchanged, providing a comfortable and familiar experience for returning players on PS4. The main addition to guitar gameplay is the freestyle guitar solo sections.
Rock Band 4Rock Band 4’s guitar solo mode in all its… well, yellow linedness
These freestyle solos allow players to improvise within designated sections, with the game attempting to create coherent solos from player input. While these are reminiscent of freestyle sections from Harmonix’s Fantasia: Music Evolved, opinions are divided. Some PS4 players might find these freestyle solos a bit hit-or-miss in terms of musicality, often sounding slightly off-key. Fortunately, Rock Band 4 on PS4 provides the option to disable these freestyle sections for players who prefer traditional solos.
In contrast, Guitar Hero Live on PS4 represents a significant departure in guitar gameplay. It abandons the five-color button system entirely, introducing a new guitar controller with two rows of three buttons. This new six-button layout aims to simulate a more realistic guitar playing experience. On higher difficulty settings in Guitar Hero Live for PS4, players encounter complex chord shapes spanning both rows of buttons. Mastering these chords and developing the muscle memory to execute them feels rewarding and offers a fresh challenge for rhythm game veterans on PS4.
This bold redesign was a risk, but developer Freestyle Games, known for DJ Hero, had a track record of innovative peripherals. After an initial adjustment period, the Guitar Hero Live guitar system proves to be a genuine evolution of the genre, offering a more engaging and guitar-like feel compared to the established five-button standard. For pure guitar playing feel on PS4, Guitar Hero Live takes the edge.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live (for innovative and more realistic guitar gameplay on PS4)
Round 3: Instruments Beyond Guitar on PS4
This round is decisively one-sided, as only one game fully embraces the band experience on PS4. The titles themselves hint at the core difference.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 remains centered around the band dynamic. It includes drums, bass guitar, and vocals alongside guitar, maintaining the full band setup. Similar to guitars, most wireless legacy controllers for these instruments should be compatible with Rock Band 4 on PS4, enhancing its appeal for players with existing PS3 peripherals.
However, Rock Band 4 on PS4 does omit keyboard support, a feature present in Rock Band 3. This means PS4 gamers hoping to utilize their Rock Band 3 keyboard controllers will be disappointed, as this instrument is not supported in Rock Band 4.
I suppose you can sleep well too, though IHmm. well, I suppose you can sleep well too, though I’m not as fussed about you
Guitar Hero Live on PS4, in contrast, focuses solely on the guitar experience. It deliberately returns to basics, prioritizing the lead guitar role. Consequently, Guitar Hero Live on PS4 lacks any drum or bass guitar gameplay.
While Guitar Hero Live on PS4 does offer a vocals mode using a compatible microphone or a companion app, the primary focus is undeniably on mastering the guitar. Other instruments are simply not part of the Guitar Hero Live experience on PS4.
Winner – Rock Band 4 (for offering a full band experience including drums, bass, and vocals on PS4)
Round 4: Visual Design on PS4
Visual preference is subjective, but the distinct art styles of Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 on PS4 are worth comparing.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 maintains a visual style consistent with previous Rock Band games. While offering expected graphical improvements for PS4, the overall aesthetic remains familiar. Character creation and band customization options are similar to past Rock Band titles, featuring stylized polygonal characters. For PS4 Rock Band veterans, the visual presentation will feel like a natural continuation of the series.
LetLet’s face it: if I told you this was Rock Band 3 and not Rock Band 4, you’d maybe believe me
This consistent engine design is advantageous for downloadable content (DLC). Rock Band 4 on PS4 seamlessly integrates a vast library of DLC songs, with character animations and lip-syncing adapting well to diverse musical styles.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 adopts a drastically different visual approach, centered around full-motion video. This is a key differentiator and the game features two primary modes with distinct visual styles.
Guitar Hero TV (GHTV) mode uses official music videos as backgrounds, creating a streaming music channel experience. This is effective for music discovery, exposing PS4 players to new artists within the game.
The GH Live mode features first-person live concert footage where the crowd and band reactions dynamically change based on player performance.
While technically impressive, the GH Live mode visuals can be divisive. The live-action footage, while aiming for realism, can sometimes feel artificial or even cringeworthy, with overly polished and attractive characters. For some PS4 players, this aesthetic might detract from the immersion, feeling less like a genuine rock band experience and more like a stylized advertisement.
Get off my fucking telly, you complete and utter immaculate moronGet off my fucking telly, you complete and utter immaculate moron
Despite the GH Live mode’s mixed reception, the GHTV mode’s music video integration is a strong point, giving Guitar Hero Live a visual edge with its constantly refreshed content.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live (for innovative and visually dynamic GHTV mode on PS4, despite divisive GH Live mode)
Round 5: On-Disc and Free Content on PS4
For PS4 gamers mindful of initial content without additional purchases, the out-of-the-box song selection and free content offerings are important factors.
Rock Band 4 provides 65 on-disc songs, spanning classic tracks to contemporary hits. Expanding this initial song library requires purchasing downloadable content (DLC), with only occasional free songs available online. Even importing Rock Band 3 songs to Rock Band 4 on PS4 necessitates a purchase, highlighting the focus on paid DLC for content expansion.
Guitar Hero Live offers a smaller set of 42 songs in its GH Live concert mode. However, its GHTV mode launched with a substantial library of around 200 playable music videos, accessible at no additional cost. This library has expanded significantly since launch, with over 90 songs added in the following months, providing a continuous stream of free content.
The GHTV mode in all its glory. This is Guitar Hero LiveThe GHTV mode in all its glory. This is Guitar Hero Live’s secret weapon
While GHTV’s streaming nature means songs are played on rotation, players can use “play tokens” to access specific songs on demand. These tokens can be purchased with real money or earned through in-game play. For PS4 players prioritizing initial content volume and free updates, Guitar Hero Live offers significantly more content for the initial purchase price due to its expanding GHTV library.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live (for a larger library of initial and continuously updated free content on PS4 via GHTV)
Round 6: Downloadable Content (DLC) on PS4
For PS4 players willing to invest in downloadable content to expand their music libraries, the DLC models of Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 differ significantly.
Guitar Hero Live becomes less appealing for dedicated DLC buyers. While GHTV boasts a large library, players don’t truly own these songs. On-demand song access requires tokens, limiting replayability of specific tracks without repeated token expenditure. Obsessive replay of favorite songs becomes costly in GHTV.
Furthermore, the GH Live mode’s full-motion video format, with bespoke videos for each song and actors, makes adding new DLC songs prohibitively expensive. Consequently, GH Live mode is unlikely to receive any further DLC beyond its initial 42 songs.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 adopts a traditional DLC model. Its engine is designed for easy DLC integration, and it has extensively leveraged this capability. A vast majority of Rock Band 3 DLC has been ported to Rock Band 4 on PS4, resulting in a massive library of over 1500 songs available for purchase.
You can even buy Audioslave stuff if you want to pretend itYou can even buy Audioslave stuff if you want to pretend it’s still ten years ago
Crucially, purchased Rock Band 4 DLC songs are permanently owned and playable unlimited times. For PS4 gamers planning to regularly purchase DLC to build a large and personalized song library, Rock Band 4 is the superior choice due to its extensive and traditional DLC system.
Winner – Rock Band 4 (for a vast and traditional DLC library where songs are permanently owned on PS4)
Round 7: Single-Player Experience on PS4
The appeal of rhythm games varies for solo players versus multiplayer enthusiasts. Let’s examine the single-player modes in Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 on PS4.
Guitar Hero Live, with its focus on lead guitar, first-person perspective, and streamlined instrument set, is clearly designed with single-player gaming in mind.
YouYou’re all gorgeous wankers. All of you. Go home and mutilate your own faces to make me feel better
The GHTV mode emphasizes single-player progression. Players create profiles, earn experience points, level up, and unlock rewards like highway styles and profile icons. Each song in GHTV also features specific challenges, adding replayability and goals for solo players on PS4.
Rock Band 4 offers a less extensive single-player experience. Its Career mode is relatively short compared to previous Rock Band titles. Beyond Career mode, single players primarily engage in Quick Play mode, selecting individual songs. While enjoyable, Rock Band 4 on PS4 lacks the same sense of progression and structured single-player content found in Guitar Hero Live. For PS4 gamers seeking a single-player rhythm game with a strong sense of progression and unlockables, Guitar Hero Live provides a more compelling solo experience.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live (for a more engaging and progression-focused single-player mode on PS4)
Round 8: Local Multiplayer on PS4
Local multiplayer is a defining aspect of the plastic instrument genre for many. Let’s compare the local multiplayer capabilities of Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 on PS4.
Guitar Hero Live falls significantly short in local multiplayer. It only supports a second guitar in GHTV mode, and even then, both players play the same guitar part. This results in competitive, score-based gameplay rather than cooperative band play. Given the typical skill disparity in local multiplayer scenarios, this competitive approach can be less enjoyable for players of varying skill levels on PS4.
Not even Weezer can make local multiplayer better in Guitar Hero LiveNot even Weezer can make local multiplayer better in Guitar Hero Live
This limited multiplayer is consistent with Guitar Hero Live‘s single-player focus. Rock Band 4, however, is inherently designed for multiplayer. It retains the classic Rock Band band experience, supporting up to four players locally with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. While not revolutionary, Rock Band 4 on PS4 delivers the familiar and fantastic cooperative multiplayer experience that defined the genre. Playing as a full band with friends or family on PS4, building multipliers and nailing songs together, remains a highlight of Rock Band 4. For PS4 gamers prioritizing local multiplayer, Rock Band 4 is unequivocally the superior choice.
Winner – Rock Band 4 (for far superior and fully featured local multiplayer band gameplay on PS4)
Round 9: Ongoing Updates for PS4 Games
Both Harmonix and Activision positioned Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live as platforms for ongoing updates rather than sequels. Let’s examine the post-launch support for both games on PS4.
Both games have received updates since their release. Rock Band 4 has added social score challenge features, new character customization options, and a “Brutal” difficulty mode for experienced players seeking greater challenge on PS4.
Guitar Hero Live has also been updated with new content. GHTV mode has seen a steady influx of new songs, expanding its already large library. New customization options, such as themed note highways, have also been added. An online multiplayer mode was introduced where players are matched against similarly skilled opponents in GHTV, competing for XP and in-game currency.
Guitar Hero Live Rivals mode
Both Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live have demonstrated commitment to ongoing support and updates, adding new content and features beyond initial release. Both games continue to evolve and improve over time on PS4.
Winner – Draw (Both games offer ongoing updates and support on PS4)
The Verdict: Which Guitar Rock Band Game Reigns on PS4?
After a detailed comparison, the ultimate recommendation depends on your priorities as a PS4 gamer. If you primarily play solo and value single-player progression, Guitar Hero Live is the stronger choice for PS4.
Yes, even despite these beautiful arseholesYes, even despite these beautiful arseholes
Despite the sometimes-questionable live-action visuals, GHTV mode’s constantly expanding library and level progression system offer a compelling single-player experience. The innovative six-button guitar controller also provides a fresh challenge for rhythm game veterans on PS4. For solo PS4 guitarists seeking a new experience, Guitar Hero Live is a compelling option.
However, if you prioritize social gaming and local multiplayer sessions with friends and family on PS4, Rock Band 4 is the clear winner.
Rock Band 4 pic 2
While lacking in single-player depth compared to Guitar Hero Live, Rock Band 4 excels in multiplayer entertainment. If you have a library of previous Rock Band DLC, especially from PS3, porting it to Rock Band 4 on PS4 adds significant value.
Price is also a factor. The standalone guitar bundle for Guitar Hero Live is often more affordable than Rock Band 4‘s guitar bundle. However, Rock Band 4 offers a cheaper entry point if you intend to use legacy wireless instruments.
Ultimately, for PS4 guitar rock band enthusiasts, both Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 offer unique and enjoyable experiences. Choose Guitar Hero Live for innovative guitar gameplay and single-player focus, or Rock Band 4 for the classic band experience and superior local multiplayer on PS4. Both games bring the rock to your PlayStation 4!
