Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Review for the Nintendo Wii

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Vicarious Visions	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Activision	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: June 29, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The percentage of Aerosmith tunes to other tunes is about a 60-40 split, which is a disappointment considering the majority of the opening band songs are way too easy in comparison. The difficulty and complexity of these songs is noticeably less than the headliner's cuts. My suspicion is this is something either done at the band's request or by the developers to ensure the band got proper rock star treatment. After all, folks tend to get pissed when they're outshined by the opening acts. You certainly won't find that here; everything was clearly done to ensure Aerosmith came out on top.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith screenshot

Career Mode follows the band's rise to stardom, beginning with their first gig at Mendon Nipmuc Regional High School in 1970 and progressing to other notable stops along the way to their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. A bevy of local and Wi-Fi multiplayer options stretches the rock further, which is a necessity in this case. The main game is unfortunately shorter than most players will like. It's an excellent supplement for Wii owners who already own Legends of Rock and are looking for more tunes to rip through, but only hardcore fans of the band will find it worthwhile to pick up the game and guitar peripheral for the first time. Even so, the smaller number of tracks makes the cost feel even steeper.

The Wii's meager graphical capabilities are not pushed much farther than they were with Legends of Rock. Some shots of the crowd are oddly pixelated, though the camera angles have improved. Otherwise, the game looks good and the band members appear surprisingly close to their actual likenesses. All other areas of the game are plastered with Aerosmith-themed menus and visual elements. The handful of goofy, cartoonish animations scattered around are over-the-top, but the behind the scenes interviews with the band that kick off each new venue make up for this. Players will learn some interesting and humorous tidbits about their history, but it all focuses on the group's positive aspects rather than on their other issues.

This is a game serious Aerosmith fans absolutely shouldn't do without, but I'd also argue it has plenty of appeal to the general gaming public - at least Wii owners who have more limited Guitar Hero options than other console owners. On higher difficulty settings, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is a blast to play. The group's music is a great fit for the gameplay. Most players will ultimately derive a good deal of enjoyment from bashing the band's tunes on a fake plastic guitar, even if it is a short-lived experience.

By Nathan Meunier
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.7

Graphics
A few visual quirks show the Wii's limitations, but the whole package looks pretty good.

4.8

Control
Playing Rock 'N Roll with a piece of plastic remains a solid and highly entertaining experience.

4.3

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
High-quality tracks and original recordings abound.

3.6

Play Value
A short set-list, but there's a lot of fun to be had with most of the tunes here. The lack of difficulty in the opening band tunes is shameful.

3.8

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first game built around the legendary music of America's Greatest Rock 'N Roll Band: Aerosmith.

This latest installment from the franchise with the #1 best-selling video game in 2007, puts players in the shoes of Perry (guitar), Whitford (guitar) and Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer.

Gamers will experience Aerosmith's GRAMMY winning career, from their first gig to becoming rock royalty, in a way that no other entertainment vehicle offers.

As fans progress through their careers in the game, they can rock out to scores of Aerosmith's greatest hits, as well as songs from celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way.

Venues from historical moments during the band's illustrious career offer the experience of "sweet emotion" and further capture the essence of the band's rise to fame.