Xbox 360 Review: Band Hero

Before I start the review, let me state that I do not have Guitar Hero 5. The last one I bought was World Tour, so if there are any features I say are new, but are actually in GH5, that is why. Another thing I will say is that I like the music on Band Hero. Many people prefer the more rocky music found on Guitar Hero, so this game is very dependant on your taste.

The reason that I was first interested in Band Hero was mainly for one reason, the song list. Though I am a fan of the Guitar Hero series, a lot of the songs haven’t really been my thing, and I have longed for an open set list of different music genres. Band Hero has provided just that. With music from Maroon 5, Lilly Allen, the Jackson 5, Nelly Furtado, Fall Out Boy, Angel and Airwaves, Evanescence and Taylor Swift (who I love might I add), its easy to see the huge diversity in song choice you have. So, for me, the song list is a big plus! You can also import songs which you have purchased from the Xbox Live Marketplace for Guitar Hero: World Tour and Guitar Hero 5.

I loves her...

The gameplay, well, it doesn’t really differ much from previous titles under the ‘Hero’ name. Ratings have been slightly changed, and there is a new star system. Money has also been abandoned. You now earn items by unlocking them from songs (which I think is a better idea myself). There are also bonus challenges within songs to complete with different instruments. If you don’t have all the band instruments, this can be annoying, but its called ‘Band Hero’ for a reason. Online play is pretty much as it has always been, as is character customisation. One thing that got brought in with Guitar Hero 5, and reappears in Band Hero is the avatar importation. This is done excellently, and even though its an avatar, it actually looks pretty realistic in its movements! Unlockable characters are easy to obtain as well. In fact, you get them all about half way through your first career play. The GH Studio makes a return so you can make your own tunes, or download and play songs other people have made.

Graphically the game has been improved from  its predecessors. It still won’t blow your socks off, but its an acceptable level to be viewed. The colours used blend well with the feel of the game too.

One of the few negatives I can find about the game is that the Star Power bar has been made smaller, and a lot harder to see. When you are in the middle of a mega solo, it can sometimes be difficult to check how much you have.

Band Hero is a great addition to the Hero franchise. It is probably my favourite in the series, mainly due to the avatar implementation and the song list. If you are a fan of the music genre,  I would say Band Hero is a must buy for you.

Final Score: 8/10