Music games rise and fall based on their song lists. The better and longer the list, the better the game.
"Guitar Hero On Tour" offered just over two dozen songs when it hit the Nintendo DS handheld system last summer. So, it’s probably no surprise that Red Octane and Activision delivered a follow-up edition less than six months later.
The new song list contains almost 30 hits from the ‘70s through the present day, ranging from "We Are the Champions" by Queen to "Dirty Little Secret" by the All-American Rejects. The list includes some pretty good stuff, but hard-core "GH" fans are likely to turn up their noses since they can play more than 80 songs on "Guitar Hero World Tour" on their console systems.
The game uses a four-keyed attachment that slips into a slot in the side of the DS. You press the keys as indicated on the viewing screen while using a pick-shaped stylus to "strum" on the second pressure-sensitive screen. The attachment — known as the Guitar Hero Guitar Grip — hasn’t changed, so those who have the earlier game can save a few bucks by purchasing a software-only version.
Although the basic game play hasn’t changed, one little hint made the experience much more enjoyable this time around. The guitar grip includes a Velcro strap that most folks wrap around their hand. This time, the instruction manual mentioned that you might reduce hand cramping if you slip only your thumb through the strap. It worked wonderfully and made the game much less painful and much more fun.
Once again, you can play as lead or bass, use the wireless connection to play co-op or duel.
At its heart, "Guitar Hero On Tour" doesn’t offer much depth in its game play or song list when compared to the console version, so hard-core "GH" fans won’t be impressed. However, it’s still a unique and fun experience for those looking for something new to do on their DS.
Platform: Nintendo DSOn the Web: www.guitarhero.com/ghot/
