Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

Un article de Vev.

Modèle:Infobox VG Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (titled Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s in Europe)<ref name="amazon uk"> Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s

. Amazon UK  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> is a music video game and the third installment in the popular Guitar Hero series. It was released in July 2007 in North America and Europe, and in August 2007 in Australia.

Players use a guitar-shaped controller purchased separately, to emulate playing rock by hitting notes as they scroll towards the player. Rocks the 80s is an incremental title in the Guitar Hero series, rather than a full sequel. No changes in gameplay from Guitar Hero II have been introduced to this game. As implied by the game's title, the game features a 1980s theme, consisting of songs from the decade and playable characters, fashions, and artwork that reflect the time period. The game was not as well-received as the prior two Guitar Hero games, due to the lack of new gameplay features and reduced soundtrack.

Rocks the 80s is the third and final title in the Guitar Hero series to be developed by Harmonix before they moved on to create Rock Band.<ref name="GameSpot Hands On"> Shoemaker , Brad

     (2007-05-24)
   
.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s Hands On 
. Gamespot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> The next major installment of the series, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, was developed by Activision's Neversoft division.<ref> Brightman , James

     (2007-01-16)
   
.    Guitar Hero Development Goes to Neversoft 
. Gamedaily 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref>

History

After the successful release of Guitar Hero II, RedOctane announced they were looking into genre-specific expansions to the series.<ref> Lindsey , Brendon

     (2006-10-25)
   
.    Preview: Guitar Hero Interview 
. Gamernode.com 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref><ref> Vore , Bryan

     (2006-03-07)
   
.    RedOctane CEO Spills The Beans On Guitar Hero 2 
. Game Informer 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s is the first of these genre-specific titles, though no others have presently been announced.

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s was initially announced by EGM in January 2007 as Guitar Hero: 1980s Edition.<ref> Snow , Blake

     (2007-01-12)
   
.    New EGM Reveals Guitar Hero 1980s Edition (PS2) 
. Joystiq 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> Orange Lounge Radio claimed that the game would be released in June 2007, based on an Activision announcement,<ref> LOKI

     (2007-03-19)
   
.    Activision announces to Guitar Hero 80's Edition for June 
. Orange Lounge Radio 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> though no other source has cited this announcement. Activision officially revealed the first details of the game May 11 2007, in addition to changing the game's title to Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s.<ref name="activision press release">Modèle:Cite press release</ref> Only a few weeks later, the game name was revised again as Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, as official artwork for the game was first released. Nevertheless, listings and artwork displayed on many UK-based online stores reveals that the word 'Encore' has been dropped from the title of the European releases.

Gameplay and design

Modèle:See also The mechanics of the game are nearly identical to that of its predecessor, Guitar Hero II;<ref> Cork , Jeff

     (2007-05-25)
   
.    Video of Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s 
. Game Informer 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> an early preview of the game described it as "more like an expansion pack for Guitar Hero II than a new game in its own right".<ref name="GameSpot Hands On"/> Major differences to Guitar Hero II are mostly aesthetic. Six characters from previous Guitar Hero games (Johnny Napalm, Judy Nails, Izzy Sparks, Pandora, Axel Steel, and Grim Ripper) return with character designs influenced by styles of the 1980s. Venues from Guitar Hero II (with the exception of RedOctane Club and Stonehenge, which do not appear, and the Vans Warped Tour, which has been rebranded as the Rock For Safety Tour) have been redesigned with an '80s influence, and the interface mimics Guitar Hero II's, only with color changes (no "new" graphics were developed as far as the interface).

Soundtrack

Main article: List of songs in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

All of the tracks, excluding "Because, It's Midnite", were released during the 1980s, as the game's title suggests; "Because, It's Midnite" is performed by the fictional "80s hair metal" band Limozeen from the internet cartoon Homestar Runner. The song list includes tracks such as "I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister, "I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls, "Round and Round" by Ratt, "Metal Health" by Quiet Riot, "Holy Diver" by Dio, "Heat of the Moment" by Asia and "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison. Five of the songs are master tracks (performed by the original artist): "I Ran (So Far Away)", "Because It's Midnite", Scandal's "The Warrior", "I Wanna Rock", and Judas Priest's "Electric Eye", while the rest are covers.

The final setlist was revealed by GameSpy on June 28, 2007 as listed here.<ref> Accardo , Sal

     (2007-06-28)
   
.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s Final Set List Announced 
. Gamespy 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> Unlike previous Guitar Hero games, there are no bonus tracks in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.<ref> Barr , Chris Scott

     (2007-06-03)
   
.    Confirmed - No bonus tracks for Guitar Hero 80s 
. Slashgear 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-07-03. </ref>

Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy" was originally announced for the game and appeared in many preview builds.<ref name="activision press release"/><ref name="1UP.com jam session"> Lee , Garnett

     (2007-05-28)
   
.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (PS2) 
. 1up 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref> However, RedOctane announced that it would no longer appear in the final version. No official comment in regards to the song's removal has been given.<ref name="1UP.com jam session"/><ref> Accardo , Sal

.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s Preview 
. Gamespy 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. </ref>

Reception

     (2007-07-20)
   
.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s PS2 Review 
. 1UP.com 
   

.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s review 
. Game Informer 
   

  . 
 "
   Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s for PlayStation 2 review 
     
 " , GameSpot
  , 2007-07-23
 
  . Retrieved on 2007-07-24
 . </ref>

     (2007-07-23)
   
.    Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s review 
. IGN 
   

. Game Rankings  
 

 

. Metacritic  
 

 

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s was released to generally lukewarm reviews and has received overall less praise than the first two games in the series. Most critics agreed that the game's $49.99 price point was too high, considering the reduced soundtrack. GameSpot criticized the amount of songs with regard to the game's price. The reviewer commented that "thirty songs for $50 is a lousy value any way you slice it" and the game "feels like a quick and dirty cash-in." The reviewer also commented that the soundtrack was "eclectic," but "solid."<ref name="GameSpot review"/> Other reviewers, including 1UP.com,<ref name="1UP.com review"/> IGN,<ref name="IGN review"/> and Electronic Gaming Monthly criticized the game for its musical selection. GameSetWatch compared the game to Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music, saying that the game is "totally Harmonix's contractual obligation game" due to the bare minimum of changes made from Guitar Hero II.<ref> simonc

     (2007-08-12)
   
.    Opinion: Guitar Hero '80s Is Harmonix's 'Metal Machine Music'? 
. GameSetWatch 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-12. </ref>

Controversy

On November 21, 2007, The Romantics filed a lawsuit against Activision, RedOctane, Harmonix, and Wavegroup Sound over the cover of the song "What I Like About You" used in Rocks the 80s. While the game developers did secure appropriate rights to cover the song in the game, The Romantics claim that the cover is "virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version" and thus would "[confuse] consumers into believing that the band actually recorded the music and endorsed the product". The lawsuit is requesting the cessation of sales of the game and monetary damage.<ref> Bulter , Susan

     (2007-11-21)
   
.    The Romantics Sue Activision Over 'Guitar Hero' 
. Billboard 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-22. </ref> On December 20, 2007, Activision was awarded a preliminary injunction to prevent blockage of sales of the game, though issues of damages are still yet to be determined.<ref> Faylor , Chris

     (2007-12-20)
   
.    Activision Wins First Round of Too-accurate Guitar Hero Cover Case 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-20. </ref>

References

External links

• Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, official site
• Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s at IGN
• Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s at Gaming.Wikia

Modèle:Guitar Hero series Modèle:Harmonix games

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