Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

"Bummer Deal Dood!"

Well, first off let me say that I was very excited for this game to come out. I had been anticipating it ever since the release date was made available, as I am a fan of this genre of music. I was very excited all the way up until last night that is...

Graphics 5/10
I rate the graphics lower than I usually would only because we have seen them all before. It's not neccessarily that they are "bad" per say, but these are the same exact graphics, for the most part same exact characters, and the same exact venues as before. Nothing new. Nothing untapped. Nothing breakthough, which I guess is to be expected out of a "hold over" game to break the daunting wait for GH3. In fact, in all honesty, the only new addition to the graphics that were in GH2 is obviously some new hair, a couple new outfits, and some hot pink, green and light blue. Thats it. I must even venture to say that it's obvious that when you complete a venue and you "travel" to the next one via the "bus-on-the-map" graphic, well, they are the same "bus-on-the-map" graphics we have all seen before, complimented well with the same, man made tire squealing auditory snippets.

Gameplay 10/10
This game, being a pink and blue duplicate of GH2, also comes with the same awesome gameplay that made the whole franchise popular. The hammer-ons and the pull-offs, being advertised as easier this time, are. Well, they are easier than the ones in GH1. The only reason the game says that they are easier is because only half of the "loading" phrases you see when your song is coming up are, you guessed it, recycled!

Songlist 5/10
For what is there is, I guess the song list is ok. First off, let me address the main issue I have with the music in this game. 30 songs. Thats it. 30 songs. No unlockable, no bonus, no secrets. The core game of Gh2 consisting of 40 liscensed songs, with 24 unlockables, this is a severe, major let down. I was actually very let down after finding that I had the entire game beat in a matter of a couple hours on medium, and there was no song left for me to try out. Out of this gargantuan assortment of songs, I agree with about 20 of them. This is obviously an area of personal opinion and will vary with everyone, but it seemed like the production on the songs may have been a bit rushed or something, and I think there may have been "covers of covers" in the game as well, which I seriously disagree with.

Extras 0/10
What extras? No new songs. Less characters. No videos. I hate to be the bearer of ridiculous news, but after beating the different difficulties and 5 starring them, you win the same...old.....guitars. Yes, the coffin. The fish. The axe. They all make an unwelcome, recycled, sloppy feeling reappearance as your "winnings" for putting your all into this game.

Value 3/10
This game is being sold at full price. That being 50 dollars most places, give or take on what store your at, this seems like a whole-hearted slap in the face to all of the GH fans out there. The developers have put not half of the time or work into this game as the others, and yet they are getting full price for it. Adding color, calling the band in for a few more songs, and making a new costume or two, and you are left paying full price for what feels like an "expansion pack" of a game, at best! I dont know of any expansion packs that even added so little, and took so much away, and got away with it! There are a lot of people out there who do not want to look up the song lists or the encore songs so as not to spoil the surprise, myself included, and this is a mistake. Expecting, while shelling out 50 dollars, to bring home a new GH game, I was dissapointed almost to the point of trying to devise a way to take the game back. Unless you have to have it (and belive me, I thought I had to have it, but even my "butt-rock" appetite was lamely satiated) dont pay them 50 dollars for a rehashed, rushed, propaganda ridden throw together of a game.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 07/26/07