Welcome to GWAR into your home this October with Guitar Hero 5!

No tricks here folks just treats as Guitar Hero rolls out a fine month of DLC for Guitar Hero 5.

It all starts with a Queens Of The Stone Age Pack featuring three tracks from their debut album, with Dave Grohl being featured on Avon you know it’s going to be a blast on drums. The week after that we get three tracks from Billy Squier with “The Stroke” which funny enough was the first Guitar Hero custom ever! Coming up next is Mike Patton’s favourite band Wolfmother featuring three tracks from their forthcoming album  Cosmic Egg.

The second most exciting pack of DLC in October would have to be The Classic Rock 2 Track Pack featuring another epic from Peter Frampton with  “Show Me The Way (live)”. Canadian rockers Triumph make their debut on plastic instruments with their hit “Lay It On The Line” which is sure to give guitarists a run for their money. Finishing it all off is a track from The J. Geils Band “Freezeframe” which is sure to make you go “Oh YEAH! That song.”

The most exciting announcement however is The All Hallows’ Eve track pack with the debut of GWAR’s “GOR GOR” so make sure you don’t wear your Sunday’s best when you sit down to play with all the blood and umm “GWAR juice” coming out of your screen. Adding to the Halloween spirit Marilyn Manson submits his smash hit “The Beautiful People” and we finally get an authentic horror-punk band with The Misfits “Astro Zombies” (let’s hope it’s the original with Danzig).

Downloadable Content – October 1

Queens Of The Stone Age Track Pack

* “Mexicola”
* “Avon”
* “How to Handle a Rope”

Downloadable Content – October 8

Billy Squier Track Pack

* “The Stroke”
* “Everybody Wants You”
* “When She Comes To Me”

Downloadable Content – October 15

Wolfmother Track Pack

* “Pilgrim”
* “California Queen”
* “Cosmic Egg”

Downloadable Content – October 22

Classic Rock 2 Track Pack

* The J. Geils Band – “Freeze Frame”
* Peter Frampton – “Show Me The Way (Live)”
* Triumph – “Lay It On The Line”

Downloadable Content – October 29

All Hallows’ Eve Track Pack

* GWAR – “Gor Gor”
* Marilyn Manson – “Beautiful People”
* The Misfits – “Astro Zombies”

http://guitarhero.com

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PARTY ON!

In early 2006 Harmonix split ways with the Guitar Hero series and went off with MTV to create Rock Band leaving Activision to contract Neversoft to re-build the game that Harmonix arguably perfected. This move marked the day that split the plastic instrument community right down the middle.

While some people saw no problem with the direction that Guitar Hero went in there is a hardcore contingency of people that would like nothing more than to see Guitar Hero vanish into obscurity and let Harmonix’s Rock Band franchise rule supreme. It has been said that ever since Rock Band was released Guitar Hero has been scrambling to avoid doing just that by “ripping off” Rock Band any chance they get. Well if that’s the case then on September 1st, 2009 they finally caught up.

Guitar Hero 5 seems to have fixed everything “wrong” with Guitar Hero World Tour and thrown in all the improvements we have received from the side games that followed (Metallica, Smash Hits). What we have now is a sleek interface with incredible graphics which still retain the trademark over the top Guitar Hero style mixed with a bit of Rock Band’s low frame rate use to give the illusion of a music video. Guitar Hero 5 also boasts a different take on some of Rock Band’s innovations: the ability to “save” your band mate once they fail through maintaining a long enough streak of notes hit, individual star-power for each member of the band which if maxed out will overflow to other members, and band moments which work much like Rock Band’s “Unison Bonuses” however focused on band multipliers rather than added star-power/overdrive.

The really big feature however is Party Play mode which combined with the fact Guitar Hero 5 allows any instrument to join allows you to have just that- a party. As soon as the game loads up the music starts playing and all you need to do is press Yellow (Y Button on your controller) and you are able to join instantly! Pick your instrument (Guitar/Bass) your difficulty and off you go! Same thing applies to vocalists and people with drums, I especially liked how it remembered my hyper-speed settings dependent on the slot my instrument was connected to (Player 1, Player 2) and yes Hyper-speed is now in the options of quickplay- it’s no longer under cheats!

Another nifty feature in party play is making playlists of up to 125 songs and you don’t even need to play them you can just sit back and watch the animations and join at anytime! If your group of friends has a fondness for the music Guitar Hero licenses this will no doubt be a hit at parties- I mean come on… Who doesn’t like a bit of Rammstein followed by Stevie Wonder.

Contraversial digi-Kurt, an in-game character.

Track lists are of course subjective by nature but I really feel that the setlist for Guitar Hero 5 while not having the most insanely difficult “ow my hand hurts please make it stop mommy” songs it still has some fairly challenging Guitar songs (Scatterbrain by Jeff Beck, Done with Everything Die for Nothing by Children of Bodom) it does have a 14 minute song by Peter Frampton after all complete with Talkbox solo and an outro solo that may take you by surprise. If I had to guess though that as we go forward with these games the focus seems to becoming more about drummers and vocalists because with Guitar Hero 5 it surely delivers on that front. 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson and Brianstorm by Arctic Monkeys will give any expert drummer a run for their money- or hard difficulty drummer even. Another plus is that the Rock Band drum kit which is 4 pads as opposed to Guitar Hero’s which is 5 has been modified so that the orange crash note is now on green- which allows more a much better feel while playing the reduced charts.

As vocals are primarily my main instrument there are some real interesting picks here, who would’ve thought singing Bush’s 90s hit “Come Down” would be so fun! There’s quite the challenge in store for you as well if you play expert vocals as vocal phrases are now scored by how much of each phrase you hit. Singers with high lung capacities and accurate pitches are rewarded with higher scores and Neversoft has finally given us a visual feedback meter to help us determine how much of the phrase we are hitting akin to Rock Band’s pie meter.

Everyone should know by now that Kurt Cobain is in the game as a playable character and unlike Hendrix (in Guitar Hero: World Tour) you can play other songs with him! Of course if you choose to do that Kurt won’t be left handed anymore and you wouldn’t want to do that, now would you? It’s great to play Lithium and Smells Like Teen Spirit with his character however and it’s an experience only had in the career mode of the game, which can be played with any combination of instruments and online!

Use your Xbox Live avatar as an in game rock god? SCORE!

To add to the replay value each song in career mode has a challenge associated with it I won’t list them all but to get some of these diamond challenges you are either going to have become really good at expert guitar or find someone online to play with you and that goes for any challenge (vocals, drums, bass) as long as they are in your band you get the challenge unlocked.

Another great thing about Guitar Hero 5 is the ability to import my World Tour DLC into the game which feels brand new in comparison, and additionally a portion of songs (which is rumoured to expand eventually) from World Tour and Smash Hits for a small fee of $3.50 US for each game (approximately on Xbox Live). However you must actually have the manual from the game in your possession, and with the way people are I could see the code being copied at stores and people being unhappy when they buy it and have their code show up as invalid. It’s nice to see my song list up to 195 songs though.

The online mode has also been revamped with new competitive modes that while still are about hitting all the notes provide an added challenge through modes such as Momentum, Do or Die, Perfectionist, and Streakers. I’ve played them and they were a blast and a nice change from who can use starpower at the better opportunity while hitting every solo ever.

In short while Guitar Hero 5 doesn’t have the level of expert difficulty Dragonforce gives us or Guitar Hero: Metallica it’s still a great game with tons of replay value especially if you are willing to play different instruments. This game is great for parties I can’t stress it enough- being able to join instantly in the middle of a song may be the best idea ever for these games. Plus the game has King Crimson – 21st Century Schizoid Man if that won’t sell the copies I don’t know what will.

Gameplay: 5/5

Graphics: 5/5

Sound: 4/5

Replay Value: 5/5

Related posts:

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2. Guitar Hero 5 Brings Even More Versatility, Obsession to Fans
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In a move sure to delight and anger plastic instrument enthusiasts everywhere Kurt Cobain has been included in Guitar Hero 5 alongside living rockers Santana, Matt Bellamy, Shirley Manson and deceased Johnny Cash.

The addition of Kurt Cobain gives us two never before used Nirvana tracks in a Guitar Hero or Rock Band video game, “Lithium (live)” and the holy grail *drum roll* “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.

One has to wonder how much money Courtney Love made off this little foray but in any event I’m excited to take my flannel jacket out of the closet and rock out come September 1st.

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1. Game Review: Guitar Hero 5
2. Guitar Hero Smash Hits and Guitar Hero on Tour Modern Hits in Stores Now
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Finally the last 15 songs have been revealed for Guitar Hero 5, and September 1st is fast approaching. Included in the list is the coveted “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that Rock Band couldn’t seem to get for their Nevermind DLC, Dire Strait’s “Sultan’s of Swing” a highly requested classic song with an amazing call and response guitar solo sure to delight people everywhere, a Muse song which isn’t just fast strumming the majority of the time, and a Megadeth song which has a relatively tame solo.

Of course this game isn’t just about guitar anymore so vocalists get ready to be destroyed by Queen & David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” along with Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and drummers prepare to fail Arctic Monkey’s “Brianstorm” over and over.

One thing is for sure September is going to be a big month for carpal tunnel and future arthritis.

Final Released Tracks:

3 Doors Down – “Kryptonite”

Arctic Monkeys – “Brianstorm”

Blink-182 – “The Rock Show”

Dire Straits – “Sultans Of Swing”

Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American”

Johnny Cash – “Ring Of Fire”

Megadeth – “Sweating Bullets”

Mötley Crüe – “Looks That Kill”

Muse – “Plug In Baby”

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Queen & David Bowie – “Under Pressure”

Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”

The Killers – “All The Pretty Faces”

The Raconteurs – “Steady As She Goes”

TV On The Radio – “Wolf Like Me”

Previously announced tracks include:

A Perfect Circle – “Judith”
AFI – “Medicate”
Attack! Attack! UK – “You And Me”
Band Of Horses – “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands”
Beastie Boys – “Gratitude”
Beck – “Gamma Ray”
Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
Billy Squier – “Lonely Is The Night”
Blur – “Song 2”
Bob Dylan – “All Along The Watchtower”
Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name”
Brand New – “Sowing Season (Yeah)”
The Bronx – “Six Days A Week”
Bush – “Comedown”
Children Of Bodom – “Done With Everything, Die For Nothing”
Coldplay – “In My Place”
Darker My Love – “Blue Day”
Darkest Hour – “Demon(s)”
David Bowie – “Fame”
Deep Purple – “Woman From Tokyo (‘99 Remix)”
The Derek Trucks Band – “Younk Funk”
The Duke Spirit – “Send A Little Love Token”
Duran Duran – “Hungry Like The Wolf”
Eagles Of Death Metal – “Wannabe In L.A.”
Elliott Smith – “L.A.”
Elton John – “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”
Face To Face – “Disconnected”
Garbage – “Only Happy When It Rains”
Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
Gov’t Mule – “Streamline Woman”
Grand Funk Railroad – “We’re An American Band”
Iggy Pop – “Lust For Life (Live)”
Iron Maiden – “2 Minutes To Midnight”
Jeff Beck – “Scatterbrain (Live)”
John Mellencamp – “Hurts So Good”
Kaiser Chiefs – “Never Miss A Beat”
King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man”
Kings Of Leon – “Sex On Fire”
Kiss – “Shout It Out Loud”
Love and Rockets – “Mirror People”
My Morning Jacket – “One Big Holiday”
Nirvana – “Lithium (Live)”
No Doubt – “Ex-Girlfriend”
Peter Frampton – “Do You Feel Like We Do? (Live)”
The Police – “So Lonely”
Public Enemy Featuring Zakk Wylde – “Bring the Noise 20XX”
Queens Of The Stone Age – “Make It Wit Chu”
Rammstein – “Du Hast”
The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy For The Devil”
Rose Hill Drive – “Sneak Out”
Rush – “The Spirit Of Radio (Live)”
Santana – “No One To Depend On (Live)”
Scars On Broadway – “They Say”
Screaming Trees – “Nearly Lost You”
Smashing Pumpkins – “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”
Sonic Youth – “Incinerate”
Spacehog – “In The Meantime”
Sublime – “What I Got”
Sunny Day Real Estate – “Seven”
T. Rex – “20th Century Boy”
The Sword – “Maiden, Mother & Crone”
Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”
Thrice – “Deadbolt”
Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down A Dream”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl”
Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”
Weezer – “Why Bother?”
The White Stripes – “Blue Orchid”
Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music”
Wolfmother – “Back Round”

Guitar Hero 5 releases on September 1st for Xbox360, Playstation2, Playstation3, and Nintendo Wii.

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Unveiling 24 more songs to Guitar Hero 5’s massive 85 song list (not including new songs added for download in the future) Activision gives a taste of their variety in this upcoming title by announcing such hits as Iron Maiden’s “2 minutes to midnight”, Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio” (an exclusive live recording), No Doubt’s “Ex-Girlfriend” and much much more.

That’s not the big news that excites me however as not only will GH5 feature the unreleased single “Medicate” from AFI’s upcoming album Crash Love (available in game before the album’s release) but also Two legendary acts will join forces for the greater good of the global gaming… group.

Public enemy and Zakk Wylde have teamed up for an exclusive re-recording of Public Enemy’s rap anthem “Bring the noise 20xx”. You will love it, and you will only be able to enjoy it on Guitar Hero 5.

On top of all this GH5 goodness, a number of bands will pop their proverbial game cherry such as A perfect circle, Brand new, Eagles of death metal, Gorillaz, Gov’t Mule, Grand Funk Railroad, King Crimson, Peter Frampton, Spacehog (wow, that’s a band name I haven’t heard in a LONG time), Sunny day, Real estate, and the Derek trucks band.

I’m not sure what I’m more excited for with Guitar Hero 5’s release on September 1st, all these new bands that have never been in a game before, or the Zakk Wylde / Public Enemy collaboration. No wait… I’m definitely more excited for more Zakk Wylde!

and hey! here’s a list of all the songs that have been announced for GH5 so far!

* AFI – “Medicate”

* A Perfect Circle – “Judith”

* Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”

* Brand New – “Sowing Season (Yeah)”

* Bush – “Comedown”

* The Derek Trucks Band – “Younk Funk”

* Duran Duran – “Hungry Like The Wolf”

* Eagles Of Death Metal – “Wannabe In L.A.”

* Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”

* Gov’t Mule – “Streamline Woman”

* Grand Funk Railroad – “We’re An American Band”

* Iron Maiden – “2 Minutes To Midnight”

* King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man”

* No Doubt – “Ex-Girlfriend”

* Peter Frampton – “Do You Feel Like We Do? (Live)”

* Public Enemy Featuring Zakk Wylde – “Bring the Noise 20XX”

* Rush – “The Spirit Of Radio (Live)”

* Scars On Broadway – “They Say”

* Smashing Pumpkins – “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”

* Spacehog – “In The Meantime”

* Sunny Day Real Estate – “Seven”

* T. Rex – “20th Century Boy”

* Weezer – “Why Bother?”

* Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music”

Previously announced tracks include:

* Attack! Attack! UK – “You And Me”

* Band Of Horses – “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands”

* Beastie Boys – “Gratitude”

* Beck – “Gamma Ray”

* Billy Squier – “Lonely Is The Night”

* Blur – “Song 2″

* Bob Dylan – “All Along The Watchtower”

* Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name”

* The Bronx – “Six Days A Week”

* Children Of Bodom – “Done With Everything, Die For Nothing”

* Coldplay – “In My Place”

* Darker My Love – “Blue Day”

* Darkest Hour – “Demon(s)”

* David Bowie – “Fame”

* Deep Purple – “Woman From Tokyo (‘99 Remix)”

* The Duke Spirit – “Send A Little Love Token”

* Elliott Smith – “L.A.”

* Elton John – “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”

* Face To Face – “Disconnected”

* Garbage – “Only Happy When It Rains”

* Iggy Pop – “Lust For Life (Live)”

* Jeff Beck – “Scatterbrain (Live)”

* John Mellencamp – “Hurts So Good”

* Kaiser Chiefs – “Never Miss A Beat”

* Kings Of Leon – “Sex On Fire”

* Kiss – “Shout It Out Loud”

* Love and Rockets – “Mirror People”

* My Morning Jacket – “One Big Holiday”

* Nirvana – “Lithium (Live)”

* The Police – “So Lonely”

* Queens Of The Stone Age – “Make It Wit Chu”

* Rammstein – “Du Hast”

* The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy For The Devil”

* Rose Hill Drive – “Sneak Out”

* Santana – “No One To Depend On (Live)”

* Screaming Trees – “Nearly Lost You”

* Sonic Youth – “Incinerate”

* Sublime – “What I Got”

* The Sword – “Maiden, Mother & Crone”

* Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”

* Thrice – “Deadbolt”

* Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down A Dream”

* Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl”

* Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”

* The White Stripes – “Blue Orchid”

* Wolfmother – “Back Round”

Related posts:

1. Grunge Rock Pioneer and Icon Kurt Cobain to make his Video Game debut in Guitar Hero 5 this September!
2. Activision unveils entire Guitar Hero 5 Setlist!
3. Guitar Hero Smash Hits and Guitar Hero on Tour Modern Hits in Stores Now