Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

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

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

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 45 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: 7 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 25
  3. Negative: 10 out of 25
  1. mathcristian
    Jul 14, 2020
    10
    Um dos melhores spin-off da série Guitar Hero. As músicas fazem referência direta aos anos 80 pois a seleção de música do jogo é compostaUm dos melhores spin-off da série Guitar Hero. As músicas fazem referência direta aos anos 80 pois a seleção de música do jogo é composta pelos melhores rocks daquela época. Gostei bastante; o melhor Guitar Hero na minha opinião.… 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. Ardho
    Aug 29, 2021
    8
    The gameplay is the same as GH2, only the character skins are different, in fact many things are reduced, but I like the song
  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. neojotic
    Aug 29, 2020
    4
    The playlist was weak and the game felt like guitar hero on auto pilot.

    Didn't live up to the first two games
  7. JeremyR.
    Aug 12, 2007
    3
    I sat down with this game in the afternoon, and halfway through the evening I'd beaten it on expert with everything unlocked - thats not I sat down with this game in the afternoon, and halfway through the evening I'd beaten it on expert with everything unlocked - thats not saying much btw, theres only 30 songs and a few unlockable guitars and skins. No unlockable tracks. Once it was done I had no intention of playing it again. I kinda liked how they were experimenting with the 3-finger chords and tried to make things more difficult, and they got a bit more creative with the solos as well. But the end result was a bunch of really long, repetitive tracks with a crazy solo at the last minute to frustrate you. 25/30 songs I've never heard of and are totally forgettable, and the only 2 I enjoyed playing were I Ran (So far away) and Turning Japanese. At 70 bucks AUD I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.… Expand
  8. fuyuyuki
    Sep 7, 2020
    1
    guitar hero 2 with an ugly, lazy coat of paint. this game just leaves so much to be desired

See all 25 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best PS2 Game of 2007
6
#6 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
25
#25 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007