If last year’s “Guitar Hero III” is any indication, this mode should perform just fine in the days to come as users make their way online. While the competitive guitar and bass modes worked without a hitch, I was unable to test the online band mode due to reviewing an early retail copy of the game. Rounding out the improved gameplay is the online multiplayer and head-to-head instrument modes. A calibration utility is included for sets with any problems, but I was surprised that I never had to use it. While "Rock Band" often requires significant finagling to synchronize on-screen notes with audible music, "World Tour" did this with no calibration whatsoever on two different HDTVs of mine. Setup is also quicker on "World Tour," thanks to auto calibration with flat screen TVs. "World Tour" uses a convenient countdown timer on a paused resume, so you can take a potty break without being penalized for it. There are other welcome innovations and improvements in the latest "Guitar Hero.” One annoyance with "Rock Band" has been that after you restart a paused game, you're immediately kicked back into the song you left, which means that you’re likely to miss those first few notes. Better still, singing has a cleaner sound in "World Tour" than in "Rock Band," which distorts vocals more than it should. And oft-forgotten bass players have something to be excited about too: Activision has added a new open-strum bass note, which adds another layer of dynamics to those already familiar with the series - and is another improvement over “Rock Band.”Ī wired USB mic is also included in the "complete band" version of the "World Tour," and it too does its job. It's a demanding but convincing effect that's sure to encourage a greater level of mastery from aspiring face-melters.Īs with previous "Guitar Hero" games, note detection is more lenient in "World Tour," making you feel like a better player than you really are when compared to "Rock Band," which is more of a stickler. The guitar controllers also feature a nifty touch pad high on the neck for stringing together solos during designated parts of a song. While "World Tour" guitars are uglier than the Fender replicas used in "Rock Band," they are heavier and more tactile than the latter, making you feel better prepared when hitting incoming notes. It's a great feature for real drummers who were frustrated by the inconsistent drum notes in "Rock Band." I tried it on a song I already knew in real-life and was thrilled to find that it worked. In addition, "World Tour" drums can be played on expert mode without having to look at the screen, thanks to more authentic tabulature. The kick pedal is also more responsive and is less taxing after long periods of play, resulting in a more realistic experience over "Rock Band" drumming. The drums deliver a noticeable improvement over "Rock Band" gear in that they are quieter, feel more like authentic drums and feature two raised cymbal pads for greater awesomeness. Then there are the instruments, which are wireless this time around. Plus, "World Tour" snagged Paul McCartney, the first Beatle ever to appear in a rhythm game (although before you get “Revolution” on the brain, it’s Paul McCartney from his Wings phase). The list goes on and on, but includes the likes of the Beastie Boys, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Idol, Coldplay, Bon Jovi, Interpol and a whole lot of scary-sounding metal bands. My favorite songs to play include “Hot for Teacher,” by Van Halen, “Beautiful Disaster” by 311 and “Are you Gonna Go My Way,” by Lenny Kravitz, but there's a ton of other original recordings from a ton of other artists. (Stay tuned for our head-to-head comparison of "World Tour" and "Rock Band 2" next month.)įirst things first, though: A music game is only as good as its set list, and in this regard, "World Tour" does not disappoint. “Potential” because the pre-release version we played didn’t have the critical mass of online players to test a lot of the community content Activision has touted so loudly. And while ”Rock Band” still has some things it does better, “World Tour” has the potential to become our new favorite live performance game. "World Tour" is the direct competitor to "Rock Band," which upped the ante on the "Guitar Hero" series last year by adding singing and drumming to the existing guitar and bass roles. If this concept sounds familiar, it should.
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