Guitar Hero Live

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 110 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • monetization
Guitar Hero Live Game Cover
It's good to have this franchise back and Guitar Hero Live successfully tweaks the gameplay by giving gamers a more fulfilling experience
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Guitar Hero Live is a music game rebooting the Guitar Hero franchise, with gameplay changes including a new 6-button guitar controller and a full motion video concert setting from the guitarist's perspective. A new Guitar Hero TV mode presents multiplayer and curated playlists in a television music channel style. This game aims to provide a fresh and innovative experience for Guitar Hero fans.

  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews
music11 positive mentions
monetization3 negative mentions
  • The new guitar controller offers a fresh and challenging experience, making it feel more like playing a real guitar.
  • Guitar Hero TV provides a vast selection of songs and allows for continuous gameplay, keeping the experience engaging.
  • The game has a strong tracklist with a variety of genres, appealing to both new players and long-time fans of the franchise.
  • The game suffers from microtransaction issues, requiring players to purchase plays to access many songs, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • The new button layout can be difficult to adapt to, especially for players familiar with previous Guitar Hero games, leading to frustration.
  • Many players have reported issues with the guitar's build quality, including unresponsive buttons and connectivity problems, impacting gameplay.
  • music79 mentions

    The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the extensive song library and the innovative Guitar Hero TV (GHTV) feature that allows players to enjoy a variety of music videos and live performances. However, criticism arises from the limited song availability in career mode, the removal of downloadable content, and the reliance on a play token system that restricts access to songs, leading to frustration among players. Overall, while the game offers a broad selection of tracks, it struggles to meet the expectations of long-time fans of the franchise.

    • “This is a quality game for any music lovers and gamers who are fans of this franchise.”
    • “There are two music channels where music videos play 24/7.”
    • “Guitar Hero TV is the main reason to buy this game, constantly adding new and current songs and you can play them on the radio for free or with the use of plays.”
    • “Was an incredible game but since they shut down the HTV services it's really boring because it's really limited... (no new songs, no new material).”
    • “Terrible game, first of all you buy it and go through a tutorial, then you have to unlock the songs on the disc you paid money for; furthermore, if you want to play other songs you can no longer just buy them.”
    • “Big downside are microtransactions and the plays system that cut you off from 80% of the songs if you don't have play tokens.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with players spending significant time in the main mode but expressing concerns about its value for the price. While some users encountered technical issues like fret sticking and strumming inconsistencies, others appreciated the refreshed controls and overall experience, indicating a successful return for the franchise.

    • “This game mode is where the majority of my gameplay time has been spent.”
    • “Took a little while to get used to the new gameplay and controls, but it's a great game nonetheless.”
    • “Summary: It's good to have this franchise back, and Guitar Hero Live successfully tweaks the gameplay by giving gamers a more fulfilling experience.”
    • “Despite the negatives, I have so far got around twenty hours of gameplay, but for the cost (nearly £70 when it was released), I don't feel it is worth it.”
    • “Googling this, a large number of people seem to have the same issue with the down strum double strumming, with the up strum still functioning okay. A couple of the frets would also stick and squeak after mere hours of gameplay.”
    • “The last point is on the gameplay itself.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization in Guitar Hero Live has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the reliance on microtransactions and a play token system that restricts access to a significant portion of the song library. While some appreciate the new gameplay features and controller, the necessity of in-game purchases to enjoy the full experience has been a major downside for many users.

    • “In-game purchases were necessary to play songs on the TV side when you ran out of credits, which was disappointing.”
    • “A big downside is the microtransactions and play system that cuts you off from 80% of the songs if you don't have play tokens.”
    • “In-game purchases were also necessary to play songs on the TV side when you ran out of credits, which was also a disappointment.”
    • “A big downside is the microtransactions and play system that cut you off from 80% of the songs if you don't have play tokens.”
    • “Though Guitar Hero TV is an excellent addition to the series that really makes the game, the microtransactions ruin it for us.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players have expressed frustration with the grinding aspect, noting that a limited selection of enjoyable songs leads to boredom and tedious gameplay, making it feel like a chore to continue playing.

    • “There were very few songs that I liked or even enjoyed; I actually got bored and found some sets so tedious that I had to force myself to play them!”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I spent hours grinding for rewards, but it felt more like a chore than fun.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is highly praised, with elements like a dynamic crowd contributing significantly to the immersive experience.

    • “It's as good as ever, and the changing crowd really helps build an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly engaging, drawing you into its world with every detail.”
    • “The sound design and visuals combine perfectly to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that I expected.”
    • “Despite the visuals, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to engage the player.”
    • “The game world feels lifeless, with minimal interaction that detracts from the immersive experience.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor aspect in the reviews is characterized by a mix of childish and puerile attempts at being funny, often reflecting a personal sense of humor that may not resonate with everyone. Some users express frustration, indicating that their comedic style is sometimes overshadowed by their grievances. Overall, the humor is subjective and varies widely among reviewers.

  • graphics1 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their beauty and immersive quality, contributing significantly to the overall experience of the game.

    • “The graphics are absolutely beautiful and very immersive, which is why I gave it a high rating.”
    • “The visual design is stunning, creating an incredibly immersive experience.”
    • “The attention to detail in the graphics is remarkable, making the game world feel alive.”
  • story1 mentions

    Users express dissatisfaction with the story, indicating that if it remains unchanged with the replacement, they would prefer to seek a refund.

    • “If it's the same story with the replacement, then I'm just going to get my money back.”
    • “The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Guitar Hero Live offers superior track variety and replayability compared to Rock Band 4, though it falls short in terms of the social and party experience that Rock Band 4 delivers.

    • “Guitar Hero Live surpasses Rock Band 4 in terms of track list and replayability, but sadly lacks the party appeal that Harmonix's latest provides.”
    • “After completing the main story, there isn't much incentive to play again; the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
    • “The game offers a few different modes, but they don't significantly change the experience, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Play time

1hMedian play time
1hAverage play time
1-1hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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