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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Music Developer: Underground Development Publisher: Activision |
It is very obvious in the music scene that there are some rock stars that just don’t know when they should unplug the microphone and
retire. Sadly, all too often days pass and eventually the offer of easy money from a reunion tour can’t be passed up. All the band has to
do it go through the motions and the millions of dollars come pouring in for band. The same can be said about the latest release in the
Guitar Hero genre, “Guitar Hero: Van Halen,” a game starring a band that has seen its better days inserted into a franchise that has
already seen three previous releases this year. The result is a disaster, leaving the game simply going through the motions which isn’t
enough for a band or a videogame.
It would be tough to pick a major band that is more unknown to popular culture today than Van Halen. The band that wowed arenas
filled with screaming fans in the 1980s through the guitar work of Eddie Van Halen and on-stage antics of David Lee Roth is best known
by the youth of today through references in Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow films. The majority of Van Halen's catalog has fallen into
obscurity by all but the most passionate fans of the band.
However, for those that are still big fans of Van Halen, they might think that this is the perfect game for them, a videogame dream come
true. Unfortunately fans of the bad will be wrong. Of the 45 tracks included on this disc, nearly half aren't even from the title band. The
supporting acts, as they're called, feel like rejects from other Guitar Hero games. Players be left wondering what Weezer, Blink-182 and
Fountains of Wayne have to do with Van Halen. These non-Van Halen tracks are pure filler and a terrible way to round out a set list.
Sadly, things continue to get worse from the set list. It isn’t not like Van Halen doesn’t have enough material to support an entire game
in the same way that “Guitar Hero: Metallica” did earlier in the year.
However, Activision never bothered to secure the rights to any Van Halen songs created after David Lee Roth left the band. Many claim
those years to not be the real Van Halen, but even those purists would have to admit that having some Hagar songs in there would be
better than Lenny Kravitz, Third Eye Blind or Jimmy Eat World.
The Van Halen songs themselves are a lot of fun, particularly for those that like a challenge. The last set of tunes will challenge all but
the extreme pros. There aren't enough of them for a full game though. “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” begs the question as to why this
wasn't simply a downloadable add-on for another Guitar Hero game rather than a standalone game instead.
The failings of the game aren't limited to the set list. Guitar Hero games are supposed to be about living the rock star dream. Van Halen
was the embodiment of that ideal, in the early 1980s, so naturally “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” puts the current aging line-up on stage to
dance around awkwardly, showing off their wrinkles and short hair and pudgy young Wolfgang Van Halen. While Van Halen in concert
today is an exercise in nostalgia, the Van Halen of today in a video game is just sad. Players will have to work through the entire Career
before they are able to see classic Van Halen in the game. Even then, they still move like they are an old band. Players shouldn’t
expect to ever see any classic stage antics in the game though. The band doesn't even look interested most of the time.
Of course, the Career mode was only named out of tradition only. There is no real career in the game. Players don't play at classic Van
Halen venues or follow their rise to stardom, instead they just work their way through a list of tunes earning stars. All of the bells and
whistles added for “Guitar Hero 5” are not available here. There are no song challenges or interesting gigs. There aren't even any
behind the scenes videos or interviews with the band like there were in “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” or “Guitar Hero: Metallica.” Some
tracks have extra facts that can be read while listening to the songs, but not all of them.
The rest of the game is a similar disappointment. There is no support for downloadable content other than the GH Studio tunes. No
option to import these songs into “Guitar Hero 5.” No Party Play mode. However, players can grab a few buddies and play with a full
band or hop online to rock out with distant friends or strangers. Also, if this is the only Guitar Hero game players decide to own, the GH
Studio is included as well so they are free to try their hand at creating their own rock songs and then share them with the world.
Anybody who picked up “Guitar Hero 5” shortly after release had the chance to get “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” for free through a
promotion. They got what they paid for. For everybody else that might be looking to “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” in stores, this is a game to
stay away from. No effort was put into making it any good. It’s a step backwards for the franchise and a totally unnecessary release,
released only to bring in some extra money for the franchise.
retire. Sadly, all too often days pass and eventually the offer of easy money from a reunion tour can’t be passed up. All the band has to
do it go through the motions and the millions of dollars come pouring in for band. The same can be said about the latest release in the
Guitar Hero genre, “Guitar Hero: Van Halen,” a game starring a band that has seen its better days inserted into a franchise that has
already seen three previous releases this year. The result is a disaster, leaving the game simply going through the motions which isn’t
enough for a band or a videogame.
It would be tough to pick a major band that is more unknown to popular culture today than Van Halen. The band that wowed arenas
filled with screaming fans in the 1980s through the guitar work of Eddie Van Halen and on-stage antics of David Lee Roth is best known
by the youth of today through references in Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow films. The majority of Van Halen's catalog has fallen into
obscurity by all but the most passionate fans of the band.
However, for those that are still big fans of Van Halen, they might think that this is the perfect game for them, a videogame dream come
true. Unfortunately fans of the bad will be wrong. Of the 45 tracks included on this disc, nearly half aren't even from the title band. The
supporting acts, as they're called, feel like rejects from other Guitar Hero games. Players be left wondering what Weezer, Blink-182 and
Fountains of Wayne have to do with Van Halen. These non-Van Halen tracks are pure filler and a terrible way to round out a set list.
Sadly, things continue to get worse from the set list. It isn’t not like Van Halen doesn’t have enough material to support an entire game
in the same way that “Guitar Hero: Metallica” did earlier in the year.
However, Activision never bothered to secure the rights to any Van Halen songs created after David Lee Roth left the band. Many claim
those years to not be the real Van Halen, but even those purists would have to admit that having some Hagar songs in there would be
better than Lenny Kravitz, Third Eye Blind or Jimmy Eat World.
The Van Halen songs themselves are a lot of fun, particularly for those that like a challenge. The last set of tunes will challenge all but
the extreme pros. There aren't enough of them for a full game though. “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” begs the question as to why this
wasn't simply a downloadable add-on for another Guitar Hero game rather than a standalone game instead.
The failings of the game aren't limited to the set list. Guitar Hero games are supposed to be about living the rock star dream. Van Halen
was the embodiment of that ideal, in the early 1980s, so naturally “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” puts the current aging line-up on stage to
dance around awkwardly, showing off their wrinkles and short hair and pudgy young Wolfgang Van Halen. While Van Halen in concert
today is an exercise in nostalgia, the Van Halen of today in a video game is just sad. Players will have to work through the entire Career
before they are able to see classic Van Halen in the game. Even then, they still move like they are an old band. Players shouldn’t
expect to ever see any classic stage antics in the game though. The band doesn't even look interested most of the time.
Of course, the Career mode was only named out of tradition only. There is no real career in the game. Players don't play at classic Van
Halen venues or follow their rise to stardom, instead they just work their way through a list of tunes earning stars. All of the bells and
whistles added for “Guitar Hero 5” are not available here. There are no song challenges or interesting gigs. There aren't even any
behind the scenes videos or interviews with the band like there were in “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” or “Guitar Hero: Metallica.” Some
tracks have extra facts that can be read while listening to the songs, but not all of them.
The rest of the game is a similar disappointment. There is no support for downloadable content other than the GH Studio tunes. No
option to import these songs into “Guitar Hero 5.” No Party Play mode. However, players can grab a few buddies and play with a full
band or hop online to rock out with distant friends or strangers. Also, if this is the only Guitar Hero game players decide to own, the GH
Studio is included as well so they are free to try their hand at creating their own rock songs and then share them with the world.
Anybody who picked up “Guitar Hero 5” shortly after release had the chance to get “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” for free through a
promotion. They got what they paid for. For everybody else that might be looking to “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” in stores, this is a game to
stay away from. No effort was put into making it any good. It’s a step backwards for the franchise and a totally unnecessary release,
released only to bring in some extra money for the franchise.
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