Guitar Hero: Van Halen video sample and review
Here’s a sample video of someone playing “Unchained”:
Here’s a review from Blast Magazine:
By Stephen Greenwell
Guitar Hero: Van Halen Review
8.7 out of 10 - Superb
Hey, don’t walk, “jump” and buy Guitar Hero: Van Halen! Ha ha ha! Man, I’m so witty – Around the Blast offices, if we had such a thing that I hung around, they would say I’m the funniest guy in there. Wooooo!
Anyway, don’t let my horribly corny jokes dissuade you from checking out Van Halen’s edition of Guitar Hero. It offers much more depth than you’d expect from an installment of Guitar Hero that is more of a side project, and it totally shames the Rock Band offering of The Beatles, at least in this humble reviewer’s opinion. While it clearly isn’t as polished or as much of a value as Guitar Hero 5, if you love Van Halen or need more Guitar Hero fun, it is a clear “must buy” for you.
Developer: Neversoft
Release date: Dec. 22, 2009
As you can imagine from the premise of the title, Guitar Hero: Van Halen focuses primarily on the band. Almost every significant single is included, from the pure arena rock nature of “Jump” to the… uh, other arena rock songs, like “Hot For Teacher” and “Jamie’s Crying.” Happily though, some deeper tracks are included, such as the ultimate shredding song, “Eruption,” which is as ridiculously difficult as you would expect.
A note right up front about the song selection – The game only features songs and avatars of the current lineup of Van Halen. Given the band’s notoriously challenged relationship with past contributors, this probably isn’t shocking to most of you reading that actually enjoy Van Halen. Almost every David Lee Roth song of significance is included in the 25 Van Halen tracks, and the avatars are of Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen.
When it comes to the other 19 tracks, they were picked out by the 18-year-old Wolfgang, the son of Eddie, and it shows. Weezer, Foo Fighters, Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World and Fountains of Wayne are artists you would normally associate more with modern rock, but I’d argue that they have more in common with Van Halen than, say, Twisted Sister, or some other hair band from Van Halen’s era. Case in point – While era contemporary The Clash have a song on the game, “Safe European Home” is more gritty punk than the refined, arena rock sound of Van Halen.
The difficulty of Guitar Hero: Van Halen is definitely a tick up from the most recent rhythm game releases, Guitar Hero 5 and Rock Band: The Beatles. Then again, that is probably to be expected with the tracks featured. The guitar and bass portions feature lots and lots of notes, especially if you’re trying to segue from The Beatles, who feature fairly simple transitions and chords.
However, while the game is incredible at its core goal – Roth-era Van Halen excellence – it doesn’t incorporate some of the features from Guitar Hero 5. I suspect that development on this game began far before the completion of Guitar Hero 5, which might explain why some of the new tweaks weren’t incorporated. (It might also explain why there is a Foo Fighters song present, even though Dave Grohl got pissed that his former band mate was a playable character in Guitar Hero 5.) For example, there is no drop-in play, and while you can chose or create an avatar to play as, you can’t swap out other members of the band. On the plus side, the crowd sings along during certain choruses.
One other sticking point is the price – $50 for the Wii edition. Eech. For practically the same amount, Guitar Hero 5 is a much better bargain, since it provides almost double the amount of songs: 85 to 45. Although Guitar Hero: Van Halen was a throw-in for purchasing Guitar Hero 5 early and features half the songs, this is not reflected in the price at all.
Blast Factor: Your enjoyment of this game though, as with any of these band-specific rhythm games, hinges on your enjoyment of the track list. I love Van Halen, so I loved this game. If you love Van Halen, the higher price tag will probably not dissuade. In addition, if you love modern rock and alternative, this is definitely the best track list next to Guitar Hero: Modern Hits for the Nintendo DS.
Guitar Hero: Van Halen is available on the Wii, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 systems, at a cost of $49.99 and $59.99 respectively. This review concerns the Wii version. A copy of this game was redeemed via the Guitar Hero 5 offer for review purposes; the official retail version is not available until December 22.
Stephen Greenwell combines the classic style of a 1950s robot with the dynamic flair of a 1970s street pimp. In his spare time, he plays video games, writes and thinks way too much about sports. E-mail him at sgre6768@gmail.com .
Filed under: Merchandise, Van Halen
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October 26th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Come on Dave, gimme a break … lol.
Cool for those that are into this sort of thing. It should inject some interest in Van Halen music to a whole new demographic, and that is great. But I am Eddie’s age, so I would prefer a concert DVD or a new collection of music personally.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I’m with Bluesbro…I’m very happy for those of you that like this kind of thing, but new tunes or a DVD would nice. Still, let’s keep this positive…I’m very happy for those of you that have been looking forward to this.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I hope they put out a frankie guitar to play on. I would pay upwards of $100 for one.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
At least we’re now getting some good Rock Band/Guitar Hero titles. Aerosmith, Metallica, The Beatles, now Van Halen…I’m expecting something Micheal Jackson related to come out sooner or later.
Guitar Hero: 90s would be cool too. Later-Sammy era of VH combined with Grunge and the remnants of Guns N Roses and the rock bands that survived the late 80s.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
badass i know what i want for christmas. agreed canes if they come out with a frankie controller i would shell out big time! It would be the most bought controller easily, though they already have a classic looking kramer which im sure yu could stripe up!
October 26th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
One break, COMIN’ UUUUUUP!
October 26th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I just like the fact that it will expose a whole new
generation to Great VH tunes like “Unchained”. Cheers!
October 26th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
anyones else notice that Eddie and Wolfie’s guitars and bass’ in the game do not have guitar straps attached to them! when Eddie and Wolfie let go of the guitars/bass’, they are just floating in the air next to their bodies! it’s kind of funny to see! surprized Eddie didn’t notice that, cause his EVH guitar straps are not being promoted via this game!
October 26th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
There’s a pretty brutal review of the band and the game on IGN’s website (the site that has the video). The guy writing the review there must not be a fan of VH Mach IV.
October 26th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Did they really go back into the studio and have Wolfie re-record the bass parts?
October 26th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
TRIPLEB - on “Two & 1/2 Men”, did you notice the EVH Wolfgang poster behind Jake’s door, and that he now plays a Wolf?
October 26th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I did notice that Pete. Probably an agreement to appear in the show. Although the poster has been there since the peavey days. I noticed it a few seasons ago
October 26th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Funny how Wolfgang looks trim and cut in the game. Also, the crowd sings the parts in the chorus so it drowns out that Mike Anthony back Vocal. Wonder what other songs are like vocal wise. I dont think they would re record the bass. That would put too much effore into it. Who knows. Looks like a blast to play.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
The game seems okay. I hope it will be popular. I still don’t want one though.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Oh I get it now, this IS the NEW Van Halen release. Glad to hear they’re going to tour behind it.LOL. Geeez Ed, how hard can it be to give us some real VH news ??? What’s the big deal with all the secrecy ? And has anybody had a Dave sighting since the close of the tour ? Oh I get it. Drama, suspense. Whatever …
October 26th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I got the game in the mail the other day, I did get an email from Activision saying they had to pull the initial prints because of an art error, not sure what is was.
Ive been playing the game for the last couple days, here’s my first impressions. The game plays just like Metallica and other guitar hero’s and is a cool experience, but NOT nearly what is could or should have been. While the song selection is good, there are numerous missing tracks. I do believe if they could have brought in some of Sammy’s stuff and got him on board and threw in some tracks like “Aftershock”, “Summer Nights”, A.F.U.”, “Cabo Wabo”, “Judgement Day” it would have made the game so much better, plus they could have figured out a way to have a Dave vs. Sammy showdown.
Another bummer, the extras…they just suck.
Finally the songs from other artists, while there a few good ones, not nearly what could have been. Take out the Jimmy Eat World’s and throw in some Scorpions or Skynards. Like I said it’s fun but not what is should have been.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
This should’ve been a DVD of the 2007-2008 tour
October 26th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
bluesbro and rocko i’m with you,eddie does’nt give a shit about us “REAL” fans.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Oh yeah tripleb . Good eye! Would have been a good opportunity
to promote the EVH straps. Cheers!
October 27th, 2009 at 7:22 am
I just got a bootleg DVD of the last tour(NYC)&one from 1984(CAN).
GREAT SHOWS!!Decent Quality!!
Some of you”REAL”fans might want to try
“ebay”instead of cryin`bout ed not giving you enough love
just sayin`…
October 27th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Teaching youngsters how NOT to play a musical instrument.
Chalk another one up for rap music I guess.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Keith says:
October 26th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Oh I get it now, this IS the NEW Van Halen release
LOL…I think you may be on to something, Keith.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:40 am
My copy of the game came last Saturday. Now, I am a van Halen fan. So, needless to say; I was beyond stoked!!! Now I got it for the PS3. The straps are on the guitars in the version that I have. It is a fun game. The track list for Van Halen is excellent. It is all Roth era, but let’s face it. That was true Van Halen. This is no knock on Van Hagar. Completely different bad and excellent in their own right. Overall I thing the Van Halen part of the game is great. The other tracks, however, I could personally do without. Well, maybe The Clash can stay. It really would have been better if it was to include music from that era or bands that influenced Van Halen like Zepplin and Hendrix. I got this for free for buying GH5. And to be totally honest, I haven’t played GH5 yet. I only bought this in order to get GHVH early. Totally worth it and as a fan I would have paid the $59.99 price tag for the game itself. For all of those that are annoyed with the fact that there are no Van Hagar tunes in the game… Write to GH or VH and suggest they make a “Guitar Hero: Van Hagar” or “Guitar Hero: Van Halen II”. With enough demand I am sure that will be a possibility. Personaly I would love to see a GH:Slayer, GH: AC/DC and GH: NOFX.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Seadawg: “It is all Roth era, but let’s face it. That was true Van Halen.”
When are people going to realize that the “true” Van Halen is whatever Ed (and Al to a lesser degree) want it to be at the time. When Sammy was singing, that was the true VH, when Gary was singing that was the true VH.
In spite of what so many people on this site think, the fans don’t dictate who makes the group a band - Eddie does.
The Dave era might have been the true VH for *you* but that doesn’t mean it is for everyone. I suspect most people think that the true VH is whatever version was around when they were in their teens & early 20’s.
In the words of Chris Rock, “whatever music you were listening to when you started f**king, you’re going to love that sh*t forever.”
October 27th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Ron,
“In the words of Chris Rock, “whatever music you were listening to when you started f**king, you’re going to love that sh*t forever.”
Classic!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Greg - I agree. This is totally lame! Come on. For all the effort you could pick up a real guitar and figure out a couple VH tunes in no time.
October 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Nice to see Wolf worked out and dropped a few pounds for the game… oh, wait…
October 27th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
What Ricky Van Whalen says is totally true. I am 16 and have only been playing for three months but can already play all of Panama, Aint talkin bout love, Runnin with the devil. Judgement day, and half of Amsterdam. Oh and I can play mean steets (still trying to make it sound good though)
October 27th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Rock Band: AC/DC does exist SeaDawg, its a setlist of them live at Donnington in 1991. Effin’ brilliant concert.
I could care less about Guitar Hero. So what they don’t have Van Hagar tunes? That doesn’t stop me from going to my Strat and playing Black n Blue, Finish What Ya Started and Cabo Wabo (mostly sans solos, those are crazy hard for me right now!)
October 27th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Funniest quote of the week:
“Nice to see Wolf worked out and dropped a few pounds for the game… oh, wait…”
Here’s to you FRED…it’s good to see the occasional sense of humor on here…
October 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
should have included Mark Stone and Mammoth (the original Van Halen). Sorry Michael Anthony lovers, he wasn’t the original bass player.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I just got the game in the mail and it’s an absolute blast.
Listening to VH is one thing, but playing it makes you aware of nuances in the music that you may have overlooked.
I know, I know, it’s not a real guitar. But when you start increasing the difficulty to higher levels, it starts to feel like it as you’re playing most of the notes that Eddie hits.
It gives you a new apprecation for how difficult strong guitar playing is ( and how special and unique EVH is).
I’ve watched people play plastic guitars for a few years now and I never understood it. (I’m in my 40’s). But I bought GH5 to get GH-VH and it’s crazy how much fun it is.
Playing the guitar in “Everybody Wants Some!” with a great sound system (cranked loud of course) and the simualted crowd noise mixed in = FUN!
This is a great way to “rediscover” Van Halen music in a different way.
I don’t want to get into the Sammy/Dave thing (I love Dave and enjoy Sammy), but I will say that it seemed awkward seeing Wolfgang instead of Michael Anthony. I understand that there are marketing reasons for this (the band is recording, etc.) but it just feels wrong. And in a sense, it’s wrong to Michael to have him “erased” from a game that recalls music for which he did all the bass playing (and some writing).