Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

 PlayStation 2
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s Image
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 50 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 34 Ratings

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  • Summary: Fans can once again whip out their Gibson-shaped SG guitar controllers and shred to their favorite rock tracks. PS2-exclusive Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s features retro rock venues and hipster characters, unlockable guitars, intense game play modes, and most importantly 30 awesome new songsFans can once again whip out their Gibson-shaped SG guitar controllers and shred to their favorite rock tracks. PS2-exclusive Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s features retro rock venues and hipster characters, unlockable guitars, intense game play modes, and most importantly 30 awesome new songs to experience the ultimate rock star fantasy. The list of finger-melting tracks includes: I Wanna Rock (by Twisted Sister), I Ran (by Flock of Seagulls), Round and Round (by Ratt), I Want Candy (by Bow Wow Wow), Metal Health (by Quiet Riot) Holy Diver (by Ronnie James Dio) and Heat Of The Moment (by Asia). [Activision]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 50
  3. Negative: 4 out of 50
  1. GotNext
    90
    It's a lot of (very familiar) fun, but like an overpriced concert t-shirt, there's no escaping the feeling that it's not quite the value it looked when enthusiasm had free reign over your wallet.
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    80
    Has maybe the most entertaining song list yet in any Guitar Hero game, but unfortunately they are all too easy to play even on the hardest difficulty setting. The price tag for only a 30 song upgrade is a bit hefty, too. Still, it is fun for a sudden bout of 80s nostalgia. [Sept 2007]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. GamesRadar+
    80
    In spite of all these shortcomings, this is still Guitar Hero and the formula still works - this remains one of the best games ever for anyone who has ever thought even for one second that it would be cool to be a rock star (i.e.: everyone). Just be sure to check out the song list if you weren't around to hear this stuff the first time.
  4. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    70
    The unavoidable truth is that this tracklist simply isn't as strong as those in the previous games. [Oct 2007, p.106]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. GameSpot
    70
    There are certainly some bona fide '80s showstoppers on this expansion, but all told, this is Guitar Hero II with a coat of neon paint and half as much content.
  6. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    64
    With Harmonix moving on to the extremely ambitious Rock Band and Neversoft taking over the Guitar Hero reigns, it’s sad to see the series’ creators bow out of their own creation with such a purposefully half-arsed effort.
  7. TotalPlayStation
    30
    Here's a dumb idea: rushing an expansion by regurgitating nearly all of the original game and delivering minimal compelling content. Here's a dumber one: charing $10 more than normal so unsuspecting consumers will pad your fiscal third quarter.

See all 50 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 21
  3. Negative: 8 out of 21
  1. Zooker
    Jul 3, 2013
    10
    What the is this?? This game is REALLY contagious WHEN I PLAYED!! AND HAS SEVERAL NEGATIVE? Really I am speechless. It's amazing how peopleWhat the is this?? This game is REALLY contagious WHEN I PLAYED!! AND HAS SEVERAL NEGATIVE? Really I am speechless. It's amazing how people do not like this game, I'm wordless now.… Expand
  2. NickW.
    Jul 25, 2007
    8
    Despite only having 30 songs, this is still a pretty darn good game. All the songs are fun to play, some more so than others.
  4. KevinR.
    Jul 31, 2007
    8
    Is it too expensive and far too short? Yes. But it's still Guitar Hero, and most of the songs, while not great, are solid and fun to Is it too expensive and far too short? Yes. But it's still Guitar Hero, and most of the songs, while not great, are solid and fun to play, if not all that hard. If you can, wait for it to drop to $29.99 or less and you'll have a great deal. If you just hate the 80s, wait for Guitar Hero III and Rock Band.… Expand
  5. MattT.
    Jul 28, 2007
    6
    I am a huge fan of the guitar hero series, but this game is pretty bad. The songs are not nearly as epic or fun as the first two games. Some I am a huge fan of the guitar hero series, but this game is pretty bad. The songs are not nearly as epic or fun as the first two games. Some of them don't even have a good guitar part at all. The difficulty is also way off - it took me months to pass all the songs on guitar hero 2, and I still have a couple left to five star. I beat this game in 12 hours, and less than a week after release I only have three songs left to five star on expert. Bottom line, unless you are a hardcore fan of the series wait a month until its price drops like a rock, then you will not be disappointed.… Expand
  6. MichaelS.
    Jul 25, 2007
    5
    This playlist is really dissapointing. for the most part its just the same glam rock thats on the other games. doesn't seem any more 80s This playlist is really dissapointing. for the most part its just the same glam rock thats on the other games. doesn't seem any more 80s then the other games. where the men at work, toto, clash, dexy's midnight runners, joan jett, prince, wang chung, cutting crew, new order, simple minds, tears for fears, human league, blondie, robert palmer, huey lewis, eddie money, david bowie, B52s, duran duran, pixies, michael jackson, tommy tutone, ramones, gary numan, corey hart, hall and oates, the cars, u2, devo, haricut 100, oingo boingo, bananarma, a-ha, the buggles? the list of ridiculous names could and should go on forever.… Expand
  7. D.B.
    Jul 24, 2007
    4
    (Encore should have been the predecessor to Guitar Hero I.) It's completely disappointing and not worth your money if you've (Encore should have been the predecessor to Guitar Hero I.) It's completely disappointing and not worth your money if you've already got Guitar Hero I or II. We are die-hard Guitar Hero fans (and kids of the 80s!), but we don't know any of the songs except 3 of them, at most. Save your money.… Expand
  8. T.K.
    Jul 29, 2007
    2
    This game was HIGHLY disappointing. Enjoyed the first and second GH games... But this one truly bites it. Really too bad. Could have been This game was HIGHLY disappointing. Enjoyed the first and second GH games... But this one truly bites it. Really too bad. Could have been much better.… Expand

See all 21 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best PS2 Game of 2007
6
#6 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
24
#24 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007