Band Hero
© 2009 Activision, Inc.
Activision's answer to Rock Band Beatles? Band Hero (think Guitar Hero, only for a quartet). For $200, you get the game, a five-pad drum kit with pedal, a guitar and a microphone (not bad). This well-rounded kit comes with a diverse collection of rock music, going back to the '60s (Jackson five and the Turtles), to present (Taylor Swift). Those familiar with last year's Guitar Hero World Tour will find a more refined, easier to play experience with a better selection of music, in the form of Band Hero. Our testers, including first-timers, were able to succeed on the first try, thanks to an easy mode where you can succeed by hitting any key, pitch or drum pad as long as it is in rhythm. The hard levels are incredibly challenging, leaving plenty of room to grow into this game. Other nice features include the ability to jump in or out of a song at anytime, just in case one of your band members needs a break, or some friends drop in. There's also an open-ended mode where you can record your own songs. Because you can play any instrument at any level, you have a lot of options. For example, you could create a setup where you have four drummers in a rhythm corner in your classroom or PE class. For the Wii version (which we tested), the controllers are wireless, made possible by the ability to snap the Wii Remote into the body of the instrument, but keep in mind that you'll need to have a Wii Remote for each player. One minor but annoying drawback -- getting your Wii Remote out of the drum kit can be frustrating, because it fits in so tightly. Open ended features include the ability to create your own show, including the ability to turn a Nintendo DS into a control pad. The Party Play Mode allows you to jump in/jump out of a song at any time, and the new sing-along Mode lets you sing along karaoke style on any song you choose. There is also a Roadie Battle Mode that allows you to team up with a partner on a Nintendo DS for a new level of competition. Prices are $200 for the game bundled with one drum, one guitar and a microphone; or $60 for the standalone game. The game is compatible with all Guitar Hero controllers, listed at http://www.guitarhero.com/compatibility. It will not work with Rock band controllers or peripherals. The PS2 software only version is $40. This title was developed by Neversoft Entertainment for Xbox 360 and PS3, by Vicarious Visions for the Wii, and by Budcat for the PS2. Besides the suggestive themes of a rock concert environment and the lyrics in some of the songs, there is no worrisome content.
$200, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS
Teaches: music, fine and gross motor coordination, singing, rhythm
CTR Rating: 96%