Band Hero

Game Chronicles

Neversoft and Activision have built on the successful design of Guitar Hero 5 and given it a fresh new look and replaced all that aggressive rock and pounding metal with fun and energetic pop music and the smooth sounds of classic rock from the past three decades that will certainly appeal to younger gamers and their parents.

1UP

While some people might complain about being fatigued by the seemingly endless stream of similar music games, when they're tied to each other like Band Hero is tied to GH5, I see that as a positive direction for Activision's franchise. It's one of the strongest points of the Rock Band series, and is a very smart move for Hero as well.

ImpulseGamer

With sturdier instruments, a great track listing and some new tweaks and twists to the gameplay, Band Hero is a great game for solo or parties and with the inclusion of celebrity avatars and improved customization features, this game is everything you need to enjoy and start your own virtual band.

Extreme Gamer

Band Hero is simply Guitar Hero 5 repackaged, and this is fine, but gamers should be aware of this before they think Activision has brought something new to the genre.

GameSpy

If you're interested in even half the songs, I can almost guarantee you'll find at least a couple more surprisingly entertaining. And that pretty much sums up Band Hero for me: It's not a revolution for the genre, but it is a surprisingly solid, well thought-out, and just plain entertaining game.

Gamers' Temple

Overall Band Hero is a good game, as it's essentially Guitar Hero 5 with a different skin and track list.

PSX Extreme

Band Hero brings very little to the table, offering only a small number of minute features that add virtually nothing to the overall experience of the game.

3DJuegos

It's not a revolution for the genre, but it is a solid and entertaining game.

Games Master UK

A re-skinning Guitar Hero 5 with all the features but fewer great tunes. [Christmas 2009, p.72]

GamingTrend

This game is aimed for those that enjoy music and video games but maybe not as into the metal scene.

GameZone

If looked at as a music expansion disc (one that can be played entirely on its own), Band Hero is a solid deal. Just don’t think of it as an opportunity to expand on the Guitar Hero franchise with something fresh – that, it does not do.

PSM3 Magazine UK

Not for rockers, but still a lot of fun. [Jan 2010, p.92]

Cynamite

Fans of the Guitar Hero franchise should have a look at Band Hero.

TheSixthAxis

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with Band Hero – it is a good game – however ultimately it is a tweaked version of more of the same. If you’ve never liked the series, there is no reason to buy Band Hero. If you are a fan of earlier games and have a preference for pop, you’ll probably love it.

Vandal Online

Guitar Hero focuses on a loyal public, but limited to certain ranges. Band Hero broadens the public offering a repertory rich and varied enough to attract anyone.

ZTGameDomain

The Top 40 music game is actually long overdue and I don't think it would be any more sensible to make this entire thing DLC as it would require people only wanting these songs to purchase both the original game and an entirely new pack.

GameSpot

Band Hero makes fake plastic rock easy to pick up, family friendly, and a whole lot of fun.

RealGamer

Overall Band Hero is basically everything we’ve already seen from Guitar Hero 5, however the music featured in the game opens the franchise up to a whole new audience of wannabe pop stars.

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

We could debate endlessly whether there was any need for Activision to come up with the Band Hero moniker, but the end result is another solid Guitar Hero game. [Jan 2010, p.80]

Gamervision

Still clearly a Guitar Hero game, and it’s a little frustrating to see the second full-priced game in the series on store shelves within two months.

Gamer.nl

Band Hero is Guitar Hero 5's casual sister in almost every way. All the elements from her big brother can be found in this game, along with the new Sing Along-mode and Party Play. The new features, the casual style and matching tracklist have made this a game that can compete with SingStar on every party. Add the ability to import the songs from Guitar Hero 5 and World Tour into the game and Band Hero is a game that is truly for everyone.

IGN

Band Hero is a good game, but it lacks any kind of spark that makes it feel unique. In the end, this is one of the examples people will point to when they talk about Activision milking the Guitar Hero franchise for all it’s worth – even though this time the milk is quenching the thirst of every Taylor Swift fan out there with a plastic guitar.

Game Informer

It’s hard to take Band Hero out of the context of its recent music game brethren. Band Hero is the least innovative of the bunch, but that certainly doesn’t make it bad. For players who found previous releases too hard-edged for their tastes, Band Hero is exactly what they’ve been waiting for.

Cheat Code Central

If you've already played Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero is the exact same thing, just with brighter lights and an easier setting.

Digital Chumps

Unless you fall squarely within the niche targeted by Band Hero’s formula, you’ll likely find that, primarily thanks to the musical selections, the experience is lacking the same sense of authenticity and grandeur typical of its pedigree.

Worth Playing

The driving theme behind Band Hero seems to be an attempt to make it more marketable and friendly to a younger audience. This doesn't necessarily make it a worse game, but it does make it feel extremely different.

XGN

Although Band Hero is not a bad game, it misses lots of new possibility's. Don't expect a new game, it's more of a Guitar Hero Light.

PALGN

Band Hero is essentially just Guitar Hero 5 re-skinned and with a new track-list, but it's still an enjoyable game best enjoyed by its target teenage audience.

GameShark

If you are looking for a solid entry point into the rhythm game craze or have some youngsters running around that you don’t exactly want to expose to some of the more mature music in other rhythm games Band Hero is a solid choice.

InsideGamer.nl

Although the game is quite easy and The Spice Girls are present in the game, Band Hero is still a fine game within the Guitar Hero series. The game looks stunning, the set list has some really nice highlights and practically all the little annoyances are gone. Kudos!

PSFocus

Band Hero is a pretty nice game with the intention of reaching a more varied audience than Guitar Hero. It’s got a lot of fine and popular tracks. The game is also a little bit easier and the graphics are pretty colorful. A game for everyone, but die-hard Guitar Hero fans can better stick with the Guitar Hero franchise.

PS3bloggen.se

By taking the Hero franchise to pop songs Activision have managed to get one step closer to the SingStar concept, and the old rock songs are a distant memory. It's about time.

Eurogamer Portugal

Who already has the Guitar Hero 5, will not see here something of real value. The battery is certainly a great attraction, but don’t think it deserves to be bought just for that.

SpazioGames

Guitar Hero franchise is known for this concept and band Hero is a spin-off no different. This is a game you can take to parties and everyone can join in no matter how much experience they have. Pop music is nice but rock is better and developers have now shown that they have run out of ideas.

Eurogamer Italy

Band Hero is a product that doesn't add any relevant feature to the usual ones available in the Guitar Hero series, whose main difference is the audience it targets, less alternative and more oriented to radio hits or MTV’s videos. We must stress, however, that the game is sold at full price and that is released only two months after Guitar Hero 5, which make this product definitely less glamorous than expected.

GameDaily

If you haven't played the latest Guitar Hero or are looking for something that all ages of players can get into, it's a respectable choice. However, its mostly flat song list and almost complete lack of anything significantly new may have you feeling a sense of deja vu that can't be shaken.

VideoGamer

It's a game that comes across more as GH with a different musical focus, rather than as a new IP in its own right. Band Hero is far from being a bad game, but somewhere along the line it seems the new franchise's focus became a little confused.

GamingExcellence

If you’re not exactly keen on the songs contained within then there’s no reason to own this. But if there are enough songs that you like on the disc then there’s no harm in picking it up.

Play UK

The whole package feels like a full-price reskin and track pack. [Issue#187, p.73]

Giant Bomb

Band Hero is a product that feels like a commodity, something assembled by a marketing team concerned only with the market demands currently not met by the existing Guitar Hero brand. But that cold, calculated feeling doesn't make it a bad game.

Eurogamer

Where Guitar Hero 5 hauled the series up to a quality plateau, adding a load of features that fans of the series can really appreciate, Band Hero is nothing more or less than a reskin. And even though it's a reskin of a superb game, the lack of concern for the credibility of the music and presentation can't help but cheapen it.

Telegraph

It's just a pity that when compared to the franchise's most recent successes, Band Hero comes across as both a bit of a cash-in and more than a little soulless.

Playstation Official Magazine UK

Guitar Hero for kids. [Christmas 2009, p.106]

Gaming Age

The game is sound on the technical side, and if you were still a big fan of the stuff, then I'd say Band Hero would be right up your alley once again. However, if you're feeling more than a little burned out at this point, and hoping for something particularly awesome from this release, prepare to be disappointed.