Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Preview

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Scheduled release date:

June 29, 2008

Publisher:

Red Octane/Activision

Developer:

Neversoft

Number Of Players:

1-2 Players

Genre:

Music

Release Date:

June 29, 2008

Screenshots

Aerosmith is a legendary rock band, so whether you like them or not, they certainly deserve their own video game. And while it's not restricted to Aerosmith songs, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith will prominently feature one of the most respected and popular bands in music history. It's coming hot on the heels of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and whatever you do, don't make the mistake in assuming that Aerosmith is an add-on or expansion for GHIII. No, this here is a fully realized standalone title with plenty of great songs, specially selected guitars by Joe Perry, and a more accessible difficulty level. There's absolutely no reason to pass on this one if you're a music/rhythm fan, and we're assuming your accessories for previous GH titles will be compatible with Aerosmith. And if that's the case, all you gotta do is pick up the game and jam away with all new tracks!

Now, while there are plenty of other songs, it would certainly help if you're an avid fan of Steven Tyler and Co. The premise of the game is intriguing: you will follow Aerosmith during their rise through the industry, starting at the very first venue they ever played and ending up on the big stage. To accompany the journey, the band members will talk a bit about each venue before you play, giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their storied past. Once you start, you'll begin by playing two songs from different opening acts, and then you'll work through three tracks from Aerosmith during the main part of the gig. IGN and other sources have already had a chance to play through the first two sets, and Activision has released 10 of the 40 songs that will be included in the game (only a few of which are covers, apparently). Here's the listing for the first two venues, and the five songs that go with each:

Nipmuc High

• "Dream Police" - Cheap Trick
• "All the Young Dudes" (cover) - Mott the Hoople
• "Make It" - Aerosmith
• "Uncle Salty" - Aerosmith
• "Draw the Line" - Aerosmith

Max's Kansas City

• "I Hate Myself for Loving You" - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
• "All Day and All of the Night" (Cover) - The Kinks
• "No Surprize" - Aerosmith
• "Sweet Emotion" - Aerosmith
• "Movin' Out" - Aerosmith

Die-hard Aerosmith fans will be interested to know which songs are re-recorded tracks (some are, some aren't), and which are master recordings. We don't have this information just yet, but we think it's great that the band took the effort of performing some of their best songs specifically for this game. As for the structure and presentation, some GH veterans may be happy to hear that the difficulty has been modified just a bit. Those of you skilled enough to approach the end of Guitar Hero III are probably very familiar with the extreme challenge you face, and Neversoft has worked to lessen the shock. Basically, you shouldn't have to kill yourself to complete Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which may offend all those purists out there, but will probably satisfy the vast majority of gamers. The developers have also knocked the number of boss battles down to just one this time around, and while they didn't confirm the boss...you could probably take a wild shot in the dark.

Last but not least, they're not including a cooperative career mode, but they are offering co-op play during a normal career. If you're one of the many who picked up GHIII as soon as it hit store shelves and have yet to put down the guitar, you're exactly the target audience for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. It's scheduled to arrive on June 29, and we expect to see the full list of 40 songs gradually revealed over the next few months, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, if for whatever reason you're bored of the songs in GHIII and you need an enhancement for your parties and social gatherings, Aerosmith has got ya covered come late June. Oh, and don't forget to check out the brand new debut trailer!