"The DDR rocked harder than this."

Well it's been a few months since the release of Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and I still can get the horrendous taste out of my mouth and it's not that the 80's was a horrible decade and can't be used as a premise for Guitar Hero actually it's quite the opposite it could have been one of the best GH games since the series was created but poor development and song list keep this game form achieving it's true greatness.

Graphics/Design 7/10
The graphics are not horrible but they are a a little sub pare for this late in PS2 life and the only noticeable change between GHII and GH80's is some minor 80's tweak like your characters looking more 80's i.e. Glam metal, new wave, 80's punk, etc. (Izzy Sparks looks about the same but he was Glam form the start) but your lead singer and every one else look like they came back from the future to see you jam 80's style which is rather disappointing. You would think that they would go crazy with the 80's theme (they did with the Grim reaper who know looks like Flavor Flave circa 2007) by using a David Lee Roth like singer (High Kick jumps, Neon Spandex and what not). The venues are also very disappointing they are literaly riped form GHII and have some bright neon lights added accompanied a beta max and Atari 2600 in the corner. Why not make them more drastically 80's instead, you know maybe play a gig at the Berlin Wall or at the Moscow Peace Festival (hell that was in 1989).

Song List 2/10
This is were the game falls flat on it's face (well to me any ways) the pitiful 30 tracks they try and pass of as a sound track but I digress enough people have discussed how it's lacking compared to the previous installments and how it's technically and expansion so will leave that their. But the song choices are inexcusable, why is RATT's Round and Round in hear? Where are the Scorpions (I know GHII by their form the 80's), Judas Priest, OZZY, hell I'll take Try to Find Me by Gorky Park over RATT's Round and Round. I mean their is a veritable cornucopia of 80's metal tracks they could have chosen from and they picked the weakest links but the worst offense as far as songs goes is NEW WAVE why is I Ran( so far away) in a GUITAR HERO game it's neither rock, metal, glam, or punk so whats it doing hear?

Replay Value 1/10
The replay value of this game is extremely low for the main reason that their is no unlock able material making it pointless to play past medium (since you've unlocked all the songs by then and it really doesn't get much harder after that any ways).

Closing Comments
I was hopping for a great game when I GH80's was announced but upon seeing what we the fans were given I lost all respect for Harmonix because if they had taken the time to really develop new characters and levels and a stronger song list (not necessarily larger but more solid) then I think this could have been a real contender but as it is its an over priced ($50) expansion that promises a lot but delivers very little. I would rather spend a 5 hours behind the Berlin Wall than waste my time on this travesty.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 01/03/08

Game Release: Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (US, 07/24/07)