The music landscape dramatically shifted between the debut of the original Guitar Hero in 2005 and today. Streaming services now dominate how we listen to music, replacing the era of owning individual songs and albums. Guitar Hero Live cleverly reflects this evolution, bringing a streaming-centric approach to rhythm games with GHTV (Guitar Hero TV). Imagine music channels, similar to Pandora stations or curated TV channels, offering an endless stream of over 200 songs, categorized into themed half-hour or hour-long shows. Despite some initial technical hiccups on certain platforms, Guitar Hero Live presents a promising and innovative experience, highlighted by its fresh guitar controller and a diverse library of songs accessible through GHTV.
One of the most significant changes is the redesigned guitar controller. Moving away from the single row of five buttons, it now features two rows of three buttons positioned side-by-side. For seasoned Guitar Hero and Rock Band players, this new layout demands an adjustment period, but it ultimately delivers a more engaging and guitar-like feel, simulating chord shapes with your finger placements. However, the initial build quality of these controllers has been inconsistent. Reports of sticky buttons and controllers arriving broken straight out of the box have surfaced, though thankfully, Activision appears to be responsive in replacing faulty units.
The heart of Guitar Hero Live is undoubtedly GHTV, the core of the entire game experience. At launch, GHTV offers two distinct channels providing varied musical content. As players progress through songs and level up, they earn “Plays,” which act as in-game currency to access any song on demand. It’s important to note that GHTV operates on a streaming model; you don’t own the songs. Instead, you utilize Plays, earned in-game or purchased with real currency, to access the extensive song library. Subscription options for unlimited access for limited periods are also available. However, through extensive playtime exceeding 10 hours, it’s possible to enjoy GHTV without spending additional money, consistently earning enough Plays through regular gameplay. If you appreciate musical exploration and discovering new tracks, GHTV will likely resonate with you. The song selection within GHTV aims for broad appeal, encompassing classic Guitar Hero anthems from bands like Queen and Boston alongside pop hits from artists like Katy Perry and Hilary Duff, and even country tunes from Luke Bryan. Crucially, the vast majority of songs are enjoyable to play, which is paramount in a rhythm game.
Beyond the readily available song channels, GHTV features Premium Content, unlocked by completing specific in-game challenges or through premium currency purchases. At launch, this Premium Content included live performance tracks from artists such as Avenged Sevenfold and upcoming releases from Queen, showcasing potential for ongoing content expansion. The success of this Premium Content model hinges on continued support and updates to keep the content fresh and engaging.
Image alt text: A player skillfully uses the redesigned Guitar Hero Live controller, featuring two rows of buttons, to navigate the song charts on screen during a GHTV session.
A compelling feature of GHTV is the integrated online competition. Each song played, whether on a channel or on-demand, places you in a live competition against nine other players. A leaderboard displayed on the side of the screen dynamically ranks you from first to tenth place based on your performance in real-time. While not revolutionary, this competitive element adds a layer of engagement and encourages players to refine their skills and strive for higher scores. Progression in GHTV is both experiential and tangible. As you level up through gameplay, you unlock upgrades for your virtual guitar, allowing you to earn more points per note or increase your maximum score multiplier. While purists might find these upgrades detract from the pure rhythm game experience, they provide an added incentive to play through a wider variety of songs and earn in-game currency for enhancements. Leveling up also unlocks a versus mode and customization options, such as different note highway designs.
However, the reliance on streaming and online connectivity in GHTV isn’t without its drawbacks. During gameplay, occasional slowdowns occurred, and in some instances, music video backgrounds would disappear entirely. These technical issues seem to be more prevalent on specific console versions, with the Wii U version unfortunately being among those affected.
In contrast to the streaming focus of GHTV, Guitar Hero Live also includes a traditional “Live” mode. This mode immerses you in a first-person perspective as the guitarist on stage, performing in front of a live-action band and crowd. The bandmates and audience react dynamically to your performance, displaying positive or negative reactions based on your accuracy and timing. While this concept is novel and visually interesting, its appeal is somewhat limited. The primary motivation for engaging with the Live mode often becomes unlocking additional songs for GHTV. During on-stage performances in Live mode, the emphasis shifts more towards the visual spectacle and surrounding stage environment, sometimes at the expense of the song itself. In certain sections, it can even become challenging to clearly hear the music amidst the simulated stage ambiance.
Despite the shortcomings of the Live mode and initial technical concerns, Guitar Hero Live successfully revitalizes the controller-based rhythm game genre. The streaming model at the heart of GHTV functions remarkably well, offering a vast and diverse song catalog, even with occasional technical glitches. Provided Activision continues to expand the GHTV song library with fresh content, Guitar Hero Live has the potential to be a game that players will return to regularly for extended periods. This iteration of Guitar Hero marks a strong and promising beginning for a new era of music gaming.
