Guitar Hero vs Rock Band
Avid music gamers are equally divided (and rightly so) in their battle for the best console rocker between Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The two are very impressive music games, and the basic functioning for both games is pretty similar, but there are a few elements you will find in one that are not available in the other. Both games include single player and multiplayer modes, as well as online play capability. How you choose between the two games may as well come down to your individual tastes for rock music and instruments. Guitar Hero was first released in 2005, originally by RedOctane. Rock Band is a product of Harmonix Music Systems, and was first released in November 2007.
You will firstly need to understand the game platforms on which the games are supported. Guitar Hero versions I, II and III are all supported by PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 ,Xbox 360,Wii, as well as by PC and Mac OS X. All versions are sold with a wired SG Gibson guitar, which is red for version I and black for versions II and III. A wireless Gibson Les Paul guitar controller may be purchased separately for Play Station 3 and Xbox 360. A Gibson X-Plorer guitar controller is also available for Guitar Hero II on Xbox 360 and Guitar Hero III – Legends of Rock for PC. For Rock Band, there are versions for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, as well as for PlayStation 2 and Wii, released on different dates in the US, and Canada. It is packaged with a Fender Stratocaster guitar controller, which can either be wired or wireless, a USB microphone, drum controller, and for the Xbox 360, a headset is provided too.
Basically, the game play for both games is to make a simulation of rock music using peripherals modeled like real rock music instruments. For Guitar Hero, a Gibson SG guitar controller is the main input for the game, and it simulates an actual guitar when you play the game. Although, instead of strings and frets, it uses fret buttons, usually five, and a strum bar. The game has undergone various series expansions, with some being band centric. Guitar Hero is usually a preference for purist guitarists and solo players, as it’s style and design perfectly suits solo play. For Rock Band, the Fender Stratocaster controller is used for lead and bass guitar game play. It’s features are very similar to the ones of Guitar Hero controllers, but the Stratocaster controller has got five smaller fret buttons near the guitar’s main body. The two games come with some of the biggest original recordings in rock music, by such bands as Nirvana, Muse, Metallica, and Aerosmith, among many others. However, for multiplayer game play, Rock Band is the ultimate choice, as you will get more of the game’s value when you play as a group.
Summary:
1. Guitar Hero was released by RedOctane well before Rock Band was ever made, in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
2. Guitar hero uses a Gibson SG guitar controller, while Rock Band uses a Fender Stratocaster rock band branded guitar controller.
3. Guitar Hero is best suited for a solo player guitarist, while Rock Band will give you better value when playing as a group.