Guitar Hero. Worth it?

Everywhereasign

Or, how I came to lothe platform specific games.

I recently attended a Guitar Hero I and II party and really really enjoyed it. I going to a friend's house this friday to play again, this time with the Missus. Now I am left with a problem.

I own an X-box to which much time and effort has gone into purchasing and playing games.

vs

I really like Guitar Hero.

So, is it worth me dropping nearly $300 (CND) all told so that I can have a PS2 that's pretty much *just* going to be for Guitar Hero I and II.

If I can craft a good argument, I might beable to go 50/50 with my GF as an early holiday gift for each other. It all depends on how much she enjoys it this Friday.

So, convince me that the game rocks and it's worth the 300 clams.

Thanks everyone.

ROCK ON!

tony_important

the system can play other exciting games as well.

I say yes.

Doc

I did the same thing. I got a PS2 just for Guitar Hero. Then I found Shadow of the Colossus, God of War, and We Katamari.

There are some really great games out there for the PS2 for under $20. If you can wait another week, I'll bet you'll find lots of PS2s for sale used, since the PS3 is backwards compatible.

Everywhereasign

Doc wrote:

There are some really great games out there for the PS2 for under $20. If you can wait another week, I'll bet you'll find lots of PS2s for sale used, since the PS3 is backwards compatible.

Excellent point, I'm looking into used ones right now.

Jinnigan

Freebird is 15 minutes long.

Doc

Jinnigan wrote:

Freebird is 15 minutes long.

Is it really? I thought it was more like 10, but I was pretty engaged when I was playing it. That game is so awesome.

KalTorak

I lucked out when I decided to get a ps2 just for Guitar Hero; i found one on ebay that was just the system and cords - no bundled games or controllers or anything - for under $80 incl. shipping. I'd keep my eye out for something like that - like Doc said, the price will probably drop with the onset of the ps3. I had been planning on waiting until the ps3 dropped but... the lure of Guitar Hero was too great.

Edit: I think Freebird is just under ten minutes.

Thanatos

Jinnigan wrote:

Freebird is 15 minutes long.

One of the best guitar solos ever.

Fellhand

I'm in the hole right now but yesterday I was trying to find the $80 to get Guitar Hero II and the second control so my girlfriend and I can play.

It's that good of a game.

vonPoonBurGer

Everywhereasign wrote:

So, convince me that the game rocks and it's worth the 300 clams.

DO IT

Seriously, the words "must-have game" are a pretty tired cliche, but Guitar Hero 1 and 2 really, really are must-haves. And when you get tired of those, there's a whole raft of PS2-only titles that are worth checking out. I'd add Okami to Doc's list of exclusives that are potentially worth your time and money.

Fireflash

Doc wrote:

Jinnigan wrote:

Freebird is 15 minutes long.

Is it really? I thought it was more like 10, but I was pretty engaged when I was playing it. That game is so awesome.

It's somewhere between 9 and 10 minutes.

Brodo Faggins

I'm not even gonna read any of the thread, but my response to the title: fucking worth it.

Godfather

vonPoonBurGer wrote:

Everywhereasign wrote:

So, convince me that the game rocks and it's worth the 300 clams.

DO IT

Seriously, the words "must-have game" are a pretty tired cliche, but Guitar Hero 1 and 2 really, really are must-haves. And when you get tired of those, there's a whole raft of PS2-only titles that are worth checking out. I'd add Okami to Doc's list of exclusives that are potentially worth your time and money.

Not sure I agree with that one there chief. I've heard some hits and misses with that game, and I think it'd be safer for him to go with some Greatest Hits that he'll know will be worth his time.

Buy it used or rent it is all i'm sayin' here.

vonPoonBurGer

Godfather wrote:

vonPoonBurGer wrote:

I'd add Okami to Doc's list of exclusives that are potentially worth your time and money.

Not sure I agree with that one there chief. I've heard some hits and misses with that game, and I think it'd be safer for him to go with some Greatest Hits that he'll know will be worth his time.

Buy it used or rent it is all i'm sayin' here.

Fair enough. For me it's a definite hit, but then again I'm an old-school Zelda fan, and Okami is essentially Zelda in wolf's clothing (har har). And I did say "potentially"!

Kyougu

Do It. Apart from fps and rts, the ps2 has a quality game in almost every genre.
That and the Guitar Hero games are easy worth it.

Everywhereasign

I think I'm going to wait and see if the GF likes it, if she really does it'll cut the cost in half. Even though we'll have to buy I and II so we can both play.

If I do end up getting a used console and one game, it'll cost me about $230 (CDN) with tax. We both make decent scratch and can afford it.

As for playing before I buy, all the local places I called said that people have fucked up their Guitars, so they rent out only the game CD and you have to use the controller (which I'm told sucks out half the fun).

I'll bug my friend to let me play as much as possible so I can see if I'm one of the few that see it as a "miss".

Thanks for the help, let me know if anyone else has done the PS2 purchase *just* for this game.

Blake T

I'm tempted to do a similar thing.

Except I'm fairly sure I can steal my sister's PS2 as I'm fairly sure she's played it under ten times.

The problem is can I justify the purchase considering it is coming out for the 360 as well and I'll probably end up buying that too.

SkyGheNe

Also - ebay has a 10% off coupon every holiday season so be on the lookout for that. It's easy enough to find. Just google it.

DekuStick

I bought my PS2 in anticiaption for GH2. I bought some bad games and some good ones. I bought Guitar Hero for some rocking out fun to coast me until 2. Then they announced it for 360. I shrugged it off until I realized I could have bought the 360 for what I dropped on the PS2. I was pretty sad. Perhaps you would like to save a little extra while waiting for GH2 360 and get a next gen system?

Chop Logic

Couldn't you buy an actual guitar for 300 dollars?


I'd wait until the PS3 comes out and pick up a cheap PS2, and some other ps2 specific games, expesially we love katamari.

Doc

Chop Logic wrote:

Couldn't you buy an actual guitar for 300 dollars?

Absolutely. That's not the point, and analogs should not be drawn. :P

On a guitar, you can practice for four hours and learn to play hot cross buns.

On guitar hero, you can practice for half an hour and "play" Misirlou. Heh.

vonPoonBurGer

Doc wrote:

Chop Logic wrote:

Couldn't you buy an actual guitar for 300 dollars?

Absolutely. That's not the point, and analogs should not be drawn. :P

Truely. I had a guitar-playing friend who was very down on GH. After some convincing, we finally got him to try it. He still wasn't keen on it as something he'd play and enjoy, but he said "Ok, I get it now. It lets people with no musical talent feel like rock stars." And as a person with no musical talent, I'd say he was pretty right. Of course, if you have played guitar, it can help, but it takes some getting used to.

Reckless

Man, I put down Guitar Hero for a few months and now I suck at the sequel. Gotta buy myself a copy so I can get some practice in.

CptKemzik

vonPoonBurGer wrote:

Of course, if you have played guitar, it can help, but it takes some getting used to.

Not really. As a bassist/guitarist the physical aspects of playing a real guitar, and jamming on Guitar Hero are both different enough that you'd have to do quite a bit of adjustment if it is new to you. Likewise people who say playing Guitar Hero helps "prepare" you for playing actual guitar have no idea as to what they are talking about.

This is in no way dissing the game. It is awesome, and as said before, is great for people who do not have that talent or cannot invest such time in music. Indeed get a ps2 (probably best when PS3 launches because prices will surely drop), get Guitar Hero I and II, and rock on.

Doc

They both build dexterity in your fingers. That's where the similarities end.

Chop Logic

Yeah, I guess you guys are right. I dont know, when I was playing it at a freinds all I was thinking was, 'I could be playing a real guitar right now.', but I guess thats because I actually do play guitar.

It's still a pretty good game though, just not my scene.