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Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

See If You Can Lick Joe’s Licks

Everyone is bound to enjoy Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, although there are a few groups that will derive more pleasure out of it than others. These include fans of Aerosmith and newbies to Guitar Hero. This is the first venture of the series to focus on one particular band. But even though the focus is on Aerosmith, there are still plenty of other bands and cover songs included which should appease those indifferent to Aerosmith tune-age, and I’m pretty sure anyone who strives to play guitar will definitely find something to like about Aerosmith. If anything, the game will at least get you familiar with some of their older material, and let me tell you, it friggin’ rocks.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot

Sure, it’s a risky move putting most of your eggs in one basket, but Aerosmith does have mass appeal. They are revered by hard rockers, classic rockers, death-metal heads, and even teenage girls that fall under Tyler’s spell when he croons a power ballad. The tune selection here is great. It spans the band’s history from their days as a run-of-the-mill high-school band to their status as one of the most popular rock bands on the planet. Sure, Walk this Way is here, but how about classics like Toys in the Attic, Back in the Saddle, and Train Kept a Rolling? Man, those are rockers. Even if you’re not a devoted Aerosmith fan, by the end of this game you’re bound to be.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is part game and part documentary, tracing the band’s development over the years from humble beginnings to the present with interviews from the band members. It’s fascinating to be along for the journey if even just to learn about the music industry. Aerosmith have also hand-picked tunes from other bands that they cover in the game including the Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle” and Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes.” Other artists have been added to the mix to spice things up so you don’t O.D. on Aerosmith (they did that pretty well by themselves back in the day). Other artists on the roster include Joan Jett, Ted Nugent, Lenny Kravitz, The Clash, Cheap Trick, and Stone Temple Pilots. Of course, you’ll also get to unlock the Run DMC collaboration on Walk this Way.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot

As I mentioned, beginners are going to love this game simply because it’s not very difficult. Joe Perry’s riffs are big, fat, juicy, and straightforward. He doesn’t even do a lot of lead work, and when he does, he’s no showboat. Perry knows how to play for the song, so you won’t be in any danger of developing carpal tunnel trying to emulate his licks. You’ll have to wait for the Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen version. But seriously folks, there is a Metallica Hero in the works.

Control-wise the game offers nothing new. Icons travel down a conveyor-style ramp requiring you to press all the right buttons on your plastic guitar. It’s a blend of hand-eye coordination and rhythm. Timing is very important. The fewer mistakes you make, the more points you get. See if you can get a 400-note streak, but be warned that because of the garish stage show in the background, some colors such as the yellow icon can be difficult to see. Using the whammy bar at the appropriate time is also a point generator. Even though the name of the game is Guitar Hero, you’re not always playing the guitar part. You end up playing the most dominant part of the song including drum fills and bass lines. It may not be the authentic guitar parts, but it keeps things moving and makes you seem as important to the song as a conductor is to a symphony orchestra.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot

There’s only one boss and that’s Joe. He’s a seasoned vet to be sure, but he’s not really out to kick your butt. Joe’s a team player, he’s not a virtuoso trapped in an ensemble. Only in the later stages of the game will you experience some challenges. You have to unlock the songs in order, so there’s no picking and choosing. The tunes follow the storyline in a specific order. There are just a shade more than 40 songs, which makes for a relatively short game. There is a multiplayer component, but no co-op or online mode. It’s possible to jam your way through the single-player mode in a day. But like playing any instrument, practice makes perfect, and if you want to win first place in a local Guitar Hero competition, Aerosmith is a great training ground.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot

As you would expect, the graphics on the PS2 are inferior to those on the current-gen consoles, but you can still make out that it’s the Glimmer Twins, Steve, and Joe on stage. The band performs to all the tunes, and even though they sometimes look like sickly puppets, there are some moments when the Aerosmith vibe is unmistakable. At times, Tyler’s lips and jaw wrap themselves around the lyrics perfectly. Perry struts and strums like he’s still a teenager. Even drummer Joey Kramer appears to be keeping the beat under control; it helps that the graphics were developed using motion-capture technology of the band’s performance. Although it has nothing to do with the gameplay, you’ve just got to check it out on the PS3. It looks better and sounds better, but it plays the same.

Various guitars, costumes, skins, and other stage paraphernalia is unlockable. The more popular you become, the better the selection. You’ll start off in a high-school gym working your way up to opening up the show for Aerosmith. Eventually you will play with Aerosmith, and that’s when things really take off.

The game isn’t very challenging or long, so you can just rent it. But whatever you do, get your hands on it and start strumming!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 2.8 Graphics
Not nearly as good as the current-gen graphics, but the motion-captured animation is good. 4.8 Control
Plays just as good as any Guitar Hero, but easier. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The tunes rock, but the audio quality won’t win any awards. 3.5 Play Value
Relatively short game. Lots of fun with two players. 3.5 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first game built around the legendary music of America’s Greatest Rock ‘N Roll Band: Aerosmith.
  • This latest installment from the franchise with the #1 best-selling video game in 2007, puts players in the shoes of Perry (guitar), Whitford (guitar) and Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer.
  • Gamers will experience Aerosmith’s GRAMMY winning career, from their first gig to becoming rock royalty, in a way that no other entertainment vehicle offers.
  • As fans progress through their careers in the game, they can rock out to scores of Aerosmith’s greatest hits, as well as songs from celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way.
  • Venues from historical moments during the band’s illustrious career offer the experience of “sweet emotion” and further capture the essence of the band’s rise to fame.

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