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Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: June 22, 2008
System: Nintendo DS
ESRB Rating: E10+
Official Web site
0:00 I was a big
Guitar Hero fan who turned into a bigger
Rock Band fan when Harmonix moved on to their new series. The idea of a version that I can play anywhere is intriguing, even as I worry about the Guitar Grip and the lack of Harmonix involvement.
0:01 This minute was spent opening and setting up the ridiculous the Guitar Grip controller attachment, which bulges almost obscenely out of the GBA slot on my DS Lite. The pick-shaped stylus that's included is a nice touch.
0:02 The introductory screen warns me to take frequent breaks to avoid cramps. This is not encouraging.
0:03 The screen seems upside-down until I realize I'm supposed to hold the guitar grip in my left hand. Feels a bit awkward, but no more awkward than the regular
Guitar Hero controllers.
0:04 I start a new Career and choose my favorite frontman, Axel Steel, partly because of his ridiculous name and partly because "he shreds his guitar like it's cheese," according to his bio. Add in a Flying V guitar and we're ready to rock!
0:05 "Before you become a rock legend, you need to master the basics." Indeed I do, although I can't imagine it's too different from the hold-a-fret-button-and-strum-according-to-the-on-screen-notes gameplay of the original.
0:06 "To strum, stroke quickly anywhere in any direction on the touch-screen." This is interesting --
Jam Sessions had a single string in the middle of the touch-screen. Here, it seems you can strum anywhere on the screen.
0:07 The game seem to detect even the slightest movement of the stylus as a strum. The only way to prevent this seems to be lifting the stylus off the screen between notes.
0:09 The tutorial covers "hold notes," chords and the rock meter. I know yawning isn't very rock and roll, but, YAWN!
0:10 You activate the whammy bar by wiggling the stylus during hold notes. I'm a fan.
0:11 "To activate star power, yell anything into the DS microphone, like 'Rock Out!'" I am decidedly NOT a fan. "If you're too much of a square to yell out in public..." you can tap a face button or the control pad instead. Thank God.
0:13 Finally, on to the game. I can usually manage most Hard level songs on a TV, but there are only four frets on this guitar grip, so I boldly choose Expert difficulty.
0:14 I choose to play a live show and already I'm sponsored by guitar string maker Decibel Hound. I didn't even do anything yet!
0:15 I know three of the first four songs, but I start with the unknown, OK Go's "Do What You Want." I'll let you know what I think when I'm done.
0:18 I hit 92 percent of the notes for a "three-star" performance. The tapping sound of the stylus against the screen is a little annoying, but no worse than clicking of the bigger guitar controller. It's hard to see which notes allow the strum-free hammer-ons on the tiny screen, and it's even harder looking over to the second screen for my multiplier/score/star power info. I find my knuckles keep bumping the touch-screen, causing unintentional notes. Grumble.