Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

"Great game, just not what has come to be expected in the GH series"

Well, how do I start....So, this game is the "expansion pak" to Guitar Hero II, the best music game on the planet, replacing 30 (and losing 34) songs with 80s songs that are, for the most part, recognizable.

Game-play: 10/10

No Different than Guitar Hero II. The Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs have not changed at all. They still work like a dream. The guitar controller still works great, even though you don't get a new one. There's a bunch of great songs to rock out to. No flaws here.

Sound: 8/10

Well, being a music game, I guess sound is KIND OF important. Well, the sound QUALITY is great, but one of the problems with this series is that the company usually performs songs themselves. Therefore, occasionally, the songs lose the charm that the original artists blessed them with. (And in the case of "I Wanna Rock", are butchered by the original artists.) That's one of the things that is, how do you say, lame, about GHE.

Songs: 6/10

Well, this game took a hit as far as songs go. There is a whopping THIRTY-SIX song spaces sacrificed in this game for no apparent reason. Being that there is only thirty songs in the game. Less than half are worth replaying. Fortunately, 5 out of the 14 that are repeatable are ridiculously awesome. I never thought I could have this much fun with my clothes on. Play With Me, Caught in a Mosh, Electric Eye, Wrathchild, and Balls to the Wall never lose their replay value. It makes you not want to stop. (Until you realize that you're going to need some Advil to survive the night)

Control: 9/10

Speaking of which, the price you pay for constant rocking is shooting pains up your wrist. This game is no exception. After playing for unprecedented lengths, you WILL be hurting. It's inevitable. (Unless you're Eddie Van Halen)

Final Verdict: 7/10
It may seem insane to spend $50 for 5 ridiculously awesome songs, but, If you like metal, it is SO worth it. Let's face it, most of us could never rock Play With Me without this game.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/27/07