Guitar Hero Live is a music game that served as a reboot of the Guitar Hero franchise, being the first new entry in the series since Warriors of Rock in 2010. Guitar Hero Live introduced major changes to the core gameplay and experience of the Guitar Hero franchise, including a revamped guitar controller with a new, 6-button layout, a new in-game presentation style that utilizes full motion video, simulating a real-world concert setting from the perspective of the guitarist, and a new Guitar Hero TV mode to encompass multiplayer and curated playlists in the style of television music channels.
In theory it sounds terrible, but Guitar Hero: Live's approximation of old-school music TV programming, coupled with the excellent hardware, makes it a winner.
After seeing what Freestyle Games has done, Rock Band's enormous library, and the promise of making it available across releases feels like a crutch by comparison, tying that franchise to its established model. I'll still hop back to Rock Band to play drums, but right now, Guitar Hero Live is where you'll find me clanking away, waiting for the next...
Guitar Hero Live rejuvenates a tired franchise from top to bottom, making broad changes to its gameplay and presentation that largely work for the better.
A smartly redesigned controller and addictive song streaming makes Guitar Hero Live a largely enjoyable music game.
If you own a Wii U and like to rock, Guitar Hero Live is your best bet. Not because it's the only game in town, but because it's actually a wonderfully addictive rhythm title with plenty to offer. With GH TV and a snazzy new controller players will find themselves happily diving head first into the best solo guitar experience since the series' inception....
