The rhythm game genre experienced a seismic shift with the arrival of Guitar Hero in 2005, long before music streaming services like Spotify dominated and smartphones became ubiquitous. For a decade, Guitar Hero shaped music consumption and gaming habits. Guitar Hero Live sought to mirror this evolution, introducing a streaming-centric approach reminiscent of Pandora or curated TV music channels, offering endless streams of over 200 songs categorized into themed programs lasting from half an hour to an hour. While the Wii U iteration faced some technical difficulties, Guitar Hero Live presented a wealth of potential, delivering a promising reboot characterized by an innovative guitar controller and a diverse music library. This review delves into the specifics of Guitar Hero Wii U, exploring its highs and lows for fans considering revisiting or experiencing it for the first time.
The Revolutionary Guitar Hero Live Controller on Wii U
The redesigned guitar controller is arguably the most striking innovation in Guitar Hero Live on Wii U. Abandoning the traditional single row of five buttons, it adopts a more complex configuration featuring two rows of three buttons positioned adjacent to each other. For seasoned Guitar Hero and Rock Band players, this new layout demands a period of adaptation. However, it ultimately provides a rewarding and fresh challenge, more closely emulating the tactile experience of playing an actual guitar by requiring chord-like finger placements. This controller innovation is central to the Guitar Hero Wii U experience.
Unfortunately, the initial production quality of these controllers was inconsistent. Reports of buttons sticking or even controllers arriving broken straight out of the box were widespread. Thankfully, Activision demonstrated a responsive approach to customer service, reportedly replacing faulty controllers efficiently. Prospective buyers of Guitar Hero Wii U should be aware of potential controller issues, especially when purchasing used copies, and verify controller functionality if possible.
GHTV: The Heart of Guitar Hero Live on Wii U
Beyond the revamped instrument, GHTV (Guitar Hero TV) stands as the undeniable centerpiece of Guitar Hero Live on Wii U. It constitutes the core gameplay experience. At launch, GHTV offered two distinct channels broadcasting different curated music content. Furthermore, by progressing through songs and leveling up within the game, players earned “Plays,” which acted as in-game currency to access and play any song from the extensive library on demand. It’s crucial to note that GHTV operates on a streaming model; players don’t own individual songs. Instead, “Plays” are consumed to access content, and additional Plays can be acquired through in-game progression or microtransactions using real currency. Alternatively, players could opt for temporary unlimited access passes purchasable with real money.
During extensive playtesting exceeding 10 hours, it was observed that the game’s economy was reasonably balanced. Consistent players could earn enough “Plays” through regular gameplay without feeling pressured to spend real money. However, GHTV’s appeal is contingent on a player’s openness to music discovery. While the song library encompasses classic Guitar Hero staples from iconic bands like Queen and Boston, it also incorporates tracks from pop artists such as Katy Perry and Hilary Duff, and country musicians like Luke Bryan. The eclectic mix aims for broad appeal, and crucially, the majority of songs are genuinely enjoyable to play from a gameplay perspective, which is paramount in a rhythm game. The diverse song selection within GHTV makes Guitar Hero Wii U a compelling platform for music game enthusiasts.
Complementing the substantial base song library, GHTV featured Premium Content, accessible by completing specific in-game challenges or through premium currency purchases. This premium content at launch included live performance tracks from bands like Avenged Sevenfold, and upcoming releases from artists such as Queen. This system presented an engaging concept for ongoing content delivery, but its long-term viability was inherently reliant on sustained post-launch support and content updates from Activision – a factor to consider when evaluating the current value proposition of Guitar Hero Wii U.
Competitive Spirit in Guitar Hero Live Wii U: Online Multiplayer
A particularly engaging element of GHTV on Guitar Hero Wii U is its integrated online multiplayer component. Every song played within GHTV, whether on a channel or on-demand, places the player in a live competition against nine other players. A real-time leaderboard displayed on the screen ranks players from first to tenth based on their performance accuracy and score. While not a fundamentally groundbreaking feature, this competitive element injects an extra layer of motivation to improve and strive for higher scores.
Beyond purely experiential improvement, Guitar Hero Live on Wii U incorporates a progression system. Players level up by playing songs, unlocking in-game currency that can be used to upgrade their virtual guitar. These upgrades offer performance enhancements, such as increased points per note hit or a higher maximum score multiplier. While some rhythm game purists might find these upgrades diluting the core skill-based gameplay, they provide a tangible sense of progression and an additional incentive to engage with the game and its song library to earn upgrade credits. Leveling up also unlocks a dedicated versus mode and cosmetic customization options, including different note highways, adding further depth to the Guitar Hero Wii U experience.
Technical Setbacks on Wii U: Performance Issues
Unfortunately, the online streaming and connectivity underpinning GHTV on Guitar Hero Wii U came at a technical cost. During gameplay, instances of slowdown and frame rate drops occurred with noticeable regularity. Furthermore, some graphical glitches were observed, including instances where the music video backgrounds would temporarily disappear. These technical issues were reportedly more prevalent on specific console versions of Guitar Hero Live, and regrettably, the Wii U version was among those most affected. These performance problems detract from the otherwise polished presentation of Guitar Hero Wii U.
Live Mode: A Novel but Underdeveloped Feature on Wii U
In addition to GHTV, Guitar Hero Live on Wii U included a “Live” mode. This mode offered a first-person perspective, placing the player on stage as a guitarist performing in front of a live-action band and crowd. The novelty of this mode stemmed from the dynamic reactions of the virtual bandmates and audience, who would visually respond to the player’s performance, exhibiting positive or negative reactions based on gameplay accuracy.
However, the Live mode felt ultimately underdeveloped. Its primary function seemed to be unlocking additional songs for GHTV, rather than providing a compelling gameplay experience in itself. During gameplay in Live mode, the focus shifted away from the song’s audio and note chart, and instead emphasized the visual spectacle of the stage environment and crowd reactions. In some instances, the song’s music was even difficult to clearly discern amidst the in-game sound mix. As a result, the Live mode in Guitar Hero Wii U felt more like a supplementary feature than a core component of the game.
Conclusion: Guitar Hero Live on Wii U – A Promising Start Marred by Technical Issues
Despite the shortcomings of the Live mode and, more significantly, the technical performance issues on the Wii U platform, Guitar Hero Live represents a refreshing and innovative evolution within the controller-based rhythm game genre. The streaming-centric GHTV mode functions remarkably well in concept, and despite the technical hiccups on Guitar Hero Wii U, it offers a compelling and constantly evolving music gaming experience. Crucially, the long-term appeal of Guitar Hero Wii U hinges on Activision’s commitment to ongoing content updates and song library expansion within GHTV. Assuming continued support, Guitar Hero Live on Wii U has the potential to be a rhythm game that players will return to regularly for extended periods. Despite its flaws, it marks a promising and exciting beginning for a new chapter in the Guitar Hero franchise, particularly for rhythm game enthusiasts seeking a fresh experience on the Wii U console.
