Guitar Hero on PS5: Reigniting Your Rock Star Dreams

Remember the days of shredding on a plastic guitar, becoming a living room legend? For many, Guitar Hero was more than just a game; it was a cultural phenomenon. If you’re a PlayStation 5 owner itching to relive those glory days, you’re likely wondering: Can you play Guitar Hero on PS5? And if so, how can you get the ultimate guitar-rocking experience on your next-gen console?

Like many dedicated fans, I dove headfirst into the Guitar Hero world with Guitar Hero 2 back in 2006. Starting on medium difficulty, I relentlessly practiced until I conquered expert mode, earning bragging rights as one of the top players among my friends. The thrill of nailing a complex solo and the roar of the crowd – even if it was just my dog looking at me funny – was intoxicating.

As the Guitar Hero franchise expanded, I eagerly snapped up each new release, and even ventured into the world of Rock Band when it arrived in 2009. While I remained a Guitar Hero devotee at heart, both franchises provided countless hours of entertainment. Then, in 2015, Guitar Hero Live attempted to reinvent the wheel, and for many longtime fans, it marked a sour note. The drastic change in button layout, aiming for realism, alienated players like myself who had invested years mastering the classic five-button system. My PS4 copy of Live gathered dust, and I wasn’t alone in abandoning the series. Ironically, Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 were the only rhythm games released during the PS4/Xbox One generation, leaving a void for guitar game enthusiasts on newer consoles.

This brings us back to the PS5. The quest to recapture that guitar game magic isn’t straightforward. Finding compatible guitars is a hurdle in itself. Older Guitar Hero and Rock Band controllers are becoming scarce, often overpriced, in poor condition, or missing essential USB dongles. The recent release of the PDP Riffmaster guitar controller offered a glimmer of hope, but even securing one of those at a reasonable price proved challenging due to scalpers. I finally managed to snag a Riffmaster at its retail price of around $140 after tax, adding another $10 for Rock Band 4 software. While not cheap, it was a necessary investment to dive back into rhythm gaming.

PDP Riffmaster: https://pdp.com/collections/riffmaster-wireless-guitar-controller

The PDP Riffmaster is impressively well-built and seamlessly connects to my PS5. Crucially for many users, the PlayStation version also boasts excellent compatibility with Macs, whereas the Xbox version is limited to Xbox and PC, excluding Mac support. As a PlayStation and Mac user, the PlayStation Riffmaster was the perfect choice.

Currently, Rock Band 4 stands as the primary rhythm game option on PS5 that fully supports the PDP Riffmaster. While Fortnite Festival also offers guitar controller compatibility, it doesn’t quite scratch the same itch for classic Guitar Hero fans. Disappointingly, there are no official Guitar Hero titles on PS4 or PS5 that are compatible with the Riffmaster or any modern guitar controllers.

Accepting Rock Band 4 as my sole avenue for PS5 guitar gaming, I stumbled upon a game-changer during my research: Clone Hero. This community-created marvel essentially emulates the entire Guitar Hero library, and even expands beyond it. Imagine accessing nearly every Guitar Hero game ever released, complete with downloadable content (DLC), plus an endless stream of custom songs crafted by a passionate community. And the best part? Clone Hero is completely free. It’s astounding that I hadn’t discovered this gem sooner. Clone Hero breathes new life into older Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars too, making it accessible to a wide range of players.

Clone Hero Download: https://clonehero.net/

I dove into Clone Hero, downloading over 1,000 songs, encompassing every official Guitar Hero setlist, DLC tracks, and a healthy dose of my favorite metal anthems from my headbanging youth.

Between Rock Band 4 on PS5 and the boundless library of Clone Hero on my Mac (which can be connected to a larger display for a console-like experience), I’ve rediscovered the rhythm game paradise of my childhood. While my fingers and forearms are still adjusting to the expert-level demands, my skills are rapidly returning. Some expert-level tracks remain a challenge, but I can confidently conquer any song on hard difficulty and see improvement with each play session. I had forgotten just how intense of a forearm workout these games provide – I’ll be back in peak plastic-guitar shape in no time!

My only minor gripe with the PDP Riffmaster is that the tilt sensor for Star Power activation isn’t yet functional within Clone Hero. Tilt Star Power works flawlessly in Rock Band 4, so hopefully, a future Clone Hero update will address this. Beyond that, compatibility is excellent.

Expect to see the Riffmaster in my hands frequently in the near future. I wholeheartedly recommend this guitar controller. If the Riffmaster’s price tag is too steep, exploring the used market for older Guitar Hero or Rock Band guitars paired with Clone Hero is an outstanding and budget-friendly alternative. Clone Hero is an absolute must-play for any Guitar Hero enthusiast. It even boasts offline co-op and online multiplayer, offering endless hours of rocking fun.

Let me leave you with a few shots of me wielding the PDP Riffmaster. Fair warning: it’s a fingerprint magnet! But otherwise, admit it, this thing is undeniably sleek. The guitar, I mean.