Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 65 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 144 Ratings

  • Summary: Strap on your Guitar Hero SG controller, plug-in, and CRANK IT UP. Guitar Hero creates all the sensations of being a rock star, as you rock out to 30 of the greatest rock anthems of all time and more. Soundtrack includes songs as made famous by such legendary artists as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Bowie, Boston, Sum 41, Ozzy Osbourne, Audioslave, White Zombie, Franz Ferdinand, and The Ramones. So kiss that air guitar goodbye and get ready to rock. Features over 30 of the greatest rock songs of all-time. 4 difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert). 6 venues that range from basement parties to sold out stadiums. 8 different characters that each offer their own look and unique style of playing, from metal head to classic rocker. Two-player mode that offers tons of multiplayer fun. [Red Octane] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. The single best addiction you can play on the PS2 this year... perhaps ever. [Actual score = 11 (or 110), a la "Sinal Tap", but our scale only goes up to 100, so if you need that extra little push over the cliff, just get the game.]
  2. I'm beyond impressed with this game. It retains a lot of guitar technique and doesn't cater to the attention-span challenged, dance-game crowd.
  3. 100
    Truth be told, 1UP recently held a group "review" session that lasted late into the night. After a few beers, some leaps off the couch, about 8 renditions of Boston, countless moments of faux-rockstar posturing, and actually stomping so hard that we broke the disc during the thundering finale of "Take Me Out," everyone seemed to agree on a score for Guitar Hero... But our scale only goes up to 10.
  4. The game is what it is, and nothing I could say in this review will effectively capture the sensation of holding the guitar controller straight up in the air and slamming through an insane series of notes on reflex, not really understanding how I did it - and not really caring.

See all 65 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 81
  2. Negative: 5 out of 81
  1. CaioK.
    10
    Very creative and very fun to play! No matter if you are a real guitar player or someone who never touched an musical instrument before, you going to love this game! The song selection is awesome! The kind of game that brings anyone Expand
  2. This game is pretty good. I am reviewing this at a time where guitar hero has been bankrupted. The venues in this game are maybe the best ever. The music has great picks but then you have all covers where on Killer Queen its off key, Take Me Out the guy sounds creepy at times and Steller has a weird starting. This game is worth a buy. Expand
  3. JerradN.
    7
    The interface is all right and the songs are decent, but this is by no means a new game concept. Guitar Freaks has been out in Japan since the late 1990s. This game just adds a few buttons, making the button area too wide for easy use, and gives an awkward note perspective for reading fret patterns. All right; nothing spectacular. Expand
  4. MikeDoobiedoobiedoo
    0
    My vote is not for the game, but for the lack of skill shown by the preceding two reviewers in determining when sarcasm is evident in a review. Guys, Dan R. says he's being sarcastic in the last sentence of his review. Damn fools! BTW I have no idea about this game, but I doubt it's bad. Expand

See all 81 User Reviews