The landscape of music consumption dramatically shifted since the original Guitar Hero burst onto the scene in 2005, long before Spotify and the ubiquity of smartphones. As streaming services replaced song and album ownership for many, rhythm games also evolved. Guitar Hero Live embraced this change, introducing a streaming, channel-based approach to song discovery, reminiscent of Pandora or curated TV music channels. Offering a vast library of over 200 songs within themed programs, Guitar Hero Live, despite some initial technical hiccups on certain platforms, presented a promising evolution for the franchise, marked by an innovative guitar controller and a diverse soundtrack.
One of the most significant changes in Guitar Hero Live was the redesigned guitar controller. Moving away from the linear five-button layout, the new controller featured two rows of three buttons. This fresh configuration offered a more guitar-like experience, challenging veterans of Guitar Hero and Rock Band to adapt to a system that simulated chord playing. While the concept was innovative and engaging, the initial build quality of these controllers faced criticism. Reports of sticky buttons and controllers arriving broken were widespread. However, it was noted that Activision appeared responsive in replacing faulty units.
The core of Guitar Hero Live’s experience resided in GHTV, its streaming music video network. At launch, GHTV provided two channels with distinct musical themes. Beyond these channels, players earned “Plays” by progressing through songs and leveling up. These Plays allowed access to any song on demand, a crucial element as GHTV operated on a streaming basis; players didn’t own the songs. Additional Plays, or limited-time unlimited access, could be purchased with in-game or real-world currency. During extensive play, it was observed that earning Plays through gameplay was sufficient, negating the need for real-money transactions, especially for players open to musical exploration. However, GHTV’s song selection adopted a broad approach, encompassing classic Guitar Hero anthems from bands like Queen and Boston alongside pop tunes from artists such as Katy Perry, Hilary Duff, and country tracks from Luke Bryan. Crucially, the majority of the songs were enjoyable to play, which remained the paramount aspect of the Guitar Hero experience.
Alt text: Guitar Hero Live GHTV gameplay screen showcasing note highway and player rankings, emphasizing competitive music game experience on PS4.
GHTV also expanded its content with Premium Shows, accessible by completing specific in-game challenges or purchasing access. At launch, this Premium content included live performances from bands like Avenged Sevenfold and upcoming releases from Queen, promising future content updates. While an interesting addition, the long-term value of Premium Content hinged on continued support and content releases.
A unique and engaging feature of GHTV was its integrated online competition. Every song played, whether on channels or on-demand, placed players in a live competition against nine others. A real-time leaderboard displayed on the screen fueled a sense of rivalry and encouraged players to strive for better performances. Beyond experiential improvement, the game offered a progression system where leveling up unlocked guitar upgrades. These upgrades provided in-game advantages, such as increased points per note or higher score multipliers. While potentially controversial among rhythm game purists, this system added a layer of progression and incentive to replay songs and earn upgrade credits. Leveling up also unlocked a versus mode and cosmetic customizations, including new note highways.
However, the online streaming nature of GHTV came with technical drawbacks. Players experienced slowdowns and occasional glitches, such as disappearing music video backgrounds. These issues were reported to be more prevalent on certain console versions, including the Wii U.
In contrast to GHTV, the “Live” mode of Guitar Hero Live presented a different experience. This mode immersed players in a first-person perspective as the guitarist on stage, performing in front of a live-action band and crowd. The reactions of bandmates and the audience dynamically shifted based on player performance, creating a novel sense of live performance. However, the Live mode primarily served as a method to unlock additional songs. During gameplay, the focus shifted more towards the visual spectacle and surrounding stage environment, sometimes at the expense of the song itself, making it challenging to fully appreciate the music in certain moments.
Despite the shortcomings of the Live mode and initial technical concerns, Guitar Hero Live delivered a refreshing evolution for controller-based rhythm games. The streaming model of GHTV proved to be a compelling concept, offering a vast and evolving library of songs for PS4 players to explore. Provided that Activision maintained a consistent stream of new music content, Guitar Hero Live promised to be a game with lasting appeal, marking a strong beginning for a new chapter in the Guitar Hero franchise and offering a diverse setlist for any aspiring guitar hero on PS4.
