Guitar Hero World Tour finally has found its way to the Nintendo Wii. A long-time fan of the Guitar Hero games, as well recently exposed to Wii, my opinions for both Guitar Hero World Tour Wii are positive. I’m excited to see a full band set of equipment specifically for the Guitar Hero line and was most interested by the possibilities that the Nintendo Wii can provide.
Guitar Hero World Tour places you or your band on the path to rock stardom, working your way up through various performances to gain fame and fortune, all the while unlocking different, more challenging songs you will need to perform. Your rock skills are shown depending on the instrument you use, either proper “chords” for the guitar or “beats” for the drums, as shown by the correctly colored keys struck during each song. The microphone picks up tones rather than words during a performance. As you hit the correct keys or sing the proper tones correctly, the score is tallied, and your “star power” increases; star power can be utilized to multiple your score during the song.
The first feature of the Guitar Hero for Wii I noticed was the set-up of the wireless equipment itself, which connects directly to the Wii-mote. The equipment includes a guitar, microphone and drum set. The controllers use a color-coded feature, in which particular “chords” or “beats” are played by pressing different colored keys during a particular song. The guitar itself has a unique feature of a touch-sensitive slide bar, which is a great way to slide through various notes without having to do additional strums, similar to a real guitar, as well as previous Guitar Hero games. The microphone attaches to a Wii-mote, which is used to active additional scoring features during a song. My personal favorite instrument to rock out on is the drum, set which has a total of six colors parts, three “drums” and two “cymbals,” as well as a base pedal. To activate “star power” and increase your score during your performance, each instrument varies. The guitar can be tilted, the microphone can be tapped on or the “A” button pushed on the Wii-mote, and the cymbals on the drums can be hit at the same time. The better your performance, the higher your score will be, and the more money you earn. This money can be used to purchase items such as different equipment, outfits and songs during your career.
The sound quality and number of songs was most impressive, especially seeing bands such as Tool and System of a Down now available. A nice feature to song selection is that after a bit of play, you can advance to just about any level of play in the game, so if there is a band you are hoping to perform, it’s easy to obtain. There also are additional songs, including Metallica and The Eagles, that can be purchased using Wii points. The level of customization of just about every part of the game is extensive, including the characters, instruments and performance background. There is even a song-writing feature that uses the guitar and drums and allows you to create your own songs to perform. Examples of some of these would-be rock creations are available on the Guitar Hero online community. If you find yourself alone in your rock career efforts, Guitar Hero World Tour utilizes your Internet connection to allow you to join and perform with other players online. There also is an exclusive Mii Freestyle game mode available just for the Wii. In the Freestyle game, you can challenge your various Mii characters on your Nintendo Wii. The tutorials are helpful in providing assistance to understanding the game better, especially in using the instruments.
Guitar Hero World Tour is an amazing new addition to the music style of gameplay. Although there were times I thought some instruments were extremely challenging and difficult to play, I still had fun playing the game. Just like any game that requires a lot of moving, I recommend taking frequent breaks and playing in a well-lighted room. The microphone seems to not be very sensitive and requires you to be extremely close to pick of the tones, while the words scrolling on the screen can be difficult to see on a small television, even up close. The drums also are nearly too compact to play comfortably, and the cymbals have a tendency to move a bit. And that whole issue that is a part of the Wii, with battery powered remotes, can reduce the length of continuous play.
Despite these challenges, I completely enjoyed rocking out with my friends, as well as attempting solo play, with can start quickly into the game. The level of customization is amazing, and the song-writing feature is extremely entertaining. The variety of songs available to perform help to target a full range of age groups, so just about anyone would find a song or two of interest. If you enjoy rocking out to some of your favorite musicians by yourself or with a group a friends, Guitar Hero World Tour can make that happen!
