Review- Guitar Hero

Hello Cleveland!
(PS2; MSRP $69.99; Rated T for Mild Lyrics; guitarherogame.com)

(five stars)

There are two gaming items to consider for gift purposes this season: the first, obviously, is the Xbox 360; the second is not Sony’s PSP, it’s not Nintendo’s DS…

It’s Guitar Hero.

This game rules on so many levels, it is difficult for me to write a review of it without wanting to plug it into my PS2 and rock my socks off right now. Thinking about this game gets me giddy, playing this game channels something that dwells deep inside me, triggering my inner-Hendrix and my need to make love to steel strings.

Though a rhythm-based game in the same vein as “Dance Dance Revolution” or “Donkey Konga,” “Guitar Hero” stomps on those games with a steel-toed boot as it lifts its axe on high before the Altar of Rock. “Hero” is played with the included Gibson-styled guitar controller. Players will select one of over 50 head-banging hits to strum color-coded chords on the frets of the controller matching the ones on screen.

Add the fact that the controller has a built-in whammy bar and tilt sensor to add style points to your song, and you’ll be rocking out to bands like The Ramones, Bad Religion, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Boston until your lame parents yell at you to turn that racket down.

And when you finally tire of leading guitar by your lonesome (you won’t), plugging in another guitar controller allows two players to solo off against each other in the awesome “Axe Battle” mode.

For those about to rock- I salute you.