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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Music Developer: Vicarious Visions Publisher: Activision |
Decades” came a little too soon. With such a short amount of time between releases, it is obvious that the only thing good about this
game is that there will be a lot of new track list of songs while using the same rhythm engine. Beyond the few tweaks and a handful of
changes, like new characters and background venues, “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” is exactly the same game as before. For those
who weren’t impressed with the game the first time around, this update isn’t going to change their mind. However, for those who loved
rocking out with the handheld version of the game, the update offers more than two dozen new full length songs spanning four decades
of rock music.
The console guitar rhythm game works extremely well on the handheld Nintendo DS thanks to the ingenious Guitar Grip peripheral, a
device that plugs into the GameBoy slot of the Nintendo DS and places the fret bar of the guitar of the full sized “Guitar Hero” guitar
peripheral. As the song plays and the notes flow down the screen to indicate which fret buttons to press, much like in the original
game, players will need to strum the guitar on the touch screen at the same time. While is doesn’t feel like playing a guitar as much as
it does with the original console release of “Guitar Hero,” it is as close as players will be able to get with a handheld. The whole point
of going to a handheld is so players can play on the road, and it would be impossible to carry around a guitar to hook up to the Nintendo
DS.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” was obviously pushed out the door and onto the shelves as quickly as possible to ride the wave of
popularity that the “Guitar Hero” franchise. The original Nintendo DS title has turned into one of the top games released to the
handheld system from a third-party. It is obvious that in order to get the game as soon as possible, the original game’s engine was
simply recycled so players get the exact same good sound quality and touch screen response, but players will also get the
awkwardness of the band members that can’t move to a beat of the song they’re playing. It is a minor flaw considering the player’s
eyes are focused on the row of notes that are streaming down on top of the flaw filled visuals.
The majority of the changes in the game are in the song list and the venues that surround them. “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” is
broken into four decades of music: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Activision wanted to get in some contemporary music as well, so
it opens with a modern venue, but it is awkward to consider it as its own decade. Each venue has four songs and a fifth venue that is
able to be unlocked, just like in the original “Guitar Hero: On Tour.” The song list in a rhythm and music game is the most important
aspect of the game, but it is also the most subjective element of the game. The saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,”
comes to mind. Some of the songs on the set list start out bad but starts to get better as players begin to unlock earlier decades.
Again, some may think the exact opposite; it all depends on each individual’s own interest in music.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” does make a few changes to the previous game with a few obvious improvements. For those who
take on the challenge to play through a song on the Hard difficulty, they earn credit for the Easy and Medium difficulties as well, there is
no need to play through each song on every difficulty in order to complete the entire game. There are also three songs to unlock this
time around which become available when players beat the three different modes in the game, Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar and Guitar
Duel.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” unlocks a feature that was dormant in the original “Guitar Hero: On Tour” Nintendo DS game. Both
versions, and probably future versions, link seamlessly in the wireless game play and stream the track list in cooperative and
competitive two player modes with friends. It is a great feature that makes it well worth getting the “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” with
the Guitar Grip peripheral. Players can hold on to their extra peripheral Guitar Grip for quick multiplayer games with friends who don’t
own a copy of the game.
For those gamers who have already made up their mind about the original Nintendo DS version of “Guitar Hero: On Tour,” “Guitar Hero:
On Tour Decades” isn’t going to change their mind since it is the same game design with a new set list. For those who loved the first
game, players will love the newest copy of the game. For those who didn’t like the first one, they will probably hate this one, since it is
the same thing over again. Overall, “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” is a very appealing portable product that gamers on the go will
enjoy. This is the perfect game for those who want to rock out between gigs.
game is that there will be a lot of new track list of songs while using the same rhythm engine. Beyond the few tweaks and a handful of
changes, like new characters and background venues, “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” is exactly the same game as before. For those
who weren’t impressed with the game the first time around, this update isn’t going to change their mind. However, for those who loved
rocking out with the handheld version of the game, the update offers more than two dozen new full length songs spanning four decades
of rock music.
The console guitar rhythm game works extremely well on the handheld Nintendo DS thanks to the ingenious Guitar Grip peripheral, a
device that plugs into the GameBoy slot of the Nintendo DS and places the fret bar of the guitar of the full sized “Guitar Hero” guitar
peripheral. As the song plays and the notes flow down the screen to indicate which fret buttons to press, much like in the original
game, players will need to strum the guitar on the touch screen at the same time. While is doesn’t feel like playing a guitar as much as
it does with the original console release of “Guitar Hero,” it is as close as players will be able to get with a handheld. The whole point
of going to a handheld is so players can play on the road, and it would be impossible to carry around a guitar to hook up to the Nintendo
DS.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” was obviously pushed out the door and onto the shelves as quickly as possible to ride the wave of
popularity that the “Guitar Hero” franchise. The original Nintendo DS title has turned into one of the top games released to the
handheld system from a third-party. It is obvious that in order to get the game as soon as possible, the original game’s engine was
simply recycled so players get the exact same good sound quality and touch screen response, but players will also get the
awkwardness of the band members that can’t move to a beat of the song they’re playing. It is a minor flaw considering the player’s
eyes are focused on the row of notes that are streaming down on top of the flaw filled visuals.
The majority of the changes in the game are in the song list and the venues that surround them. “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” is
broken into four decades of music: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Activision wanted to get in some contemporary music as well, so
it opens with a modern venue, but it is awkward to consider it as its own decade. Each venue has four songs and a fifth venue that is
able to be unlocked, just like in the original “Guitar Hero: On Tour.” The song list in a rhythm and music game is the most important
aspect of the game, but it is also the most subjective element of the game. The saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,”
comes to mind. Some of the songs on the set list start out bad but starts to get better as players begin to unlock earlier decades.
Again, some may think the exact opposite; it all depends on each individual’s own interest in music.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” does make a few changes to the previous game with a few obvious improvements. For those who
take on the challenge to play through a song on the Hard difficulty, they earn credit for the Easy and Medium difficulties as well, there is
no need to play through each song on every difficulty in order to complete the entire game. There are also three songs to unlock this
time around which become available when players beat the three different modes in the game, Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar and Guitar
Duel.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” unlocks a feature that was dormant in the original “Guitar Hero: On Tour” Nintendo DS game. Both
versions, and probably future versions, link seamlessly in the wireless game play and stream the track list in cooperative and
competitive two player modes with friends. It is a great feature that makes it well worth getting the “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” with
the Guitar Grip peripheral. Players can hold on to their extra peripheral Guitar Grip for quick multiplayer games with friends who don’t
own a copy of the game.
For those gamers who have already made up their mind about the original Nintendo DS version of “Guitar Hero: On Tour,” “Guitar Hero:
On Tour Decades” isn’t going to change their mind since it is the same game design with a new set list. For those who loved the first
game, players will love the newest copy of the game. For those who didn’t like the first one, they will probably hate this one, since it is
the same thing over again. Overall, “Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades” is a very appealing portable product that gamers on the go will
enjoy. This is the perfect game for those who want to rock out between gigs.
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