Guitar Rock Tour

The latest contender for the portable Guitar Hero crown adds drums, but it’s still a better opening act than a headliner

Words: on November 25, 2008

The box art for Guitar Rock Tour is deceptively informative. You see a dark-haired girl in a tie and miniskirt playing a guitar, and a nondescript dude banging on the drums. And guess what? You’ll be playing either drums or guitar in this rhythm action game, and that girl is the default character in Quick Play mode. Simple, no? Femophobes shouldn’t worry, though: there are five other characters you can use as well (they’re in career mode), and some of them are mens.

The question thus becomes, “are you a drummer or a guitarist”? That’s important too, because it’ll have a big impact on how you enjoy the game. Neither is instrument is perfect, but we did find one to be better realized than the other.

We’ll start with guitar. Have you played Guitar Hero on Tour for the DS, holding the DS sideways like a book and using the wild attachable buttons? Well, forget about that. Guitar Rock Tour keeps the DS horizontal as God intended, and draws you six buttons across the bottom screen to tap, swipe (for chords), or hold down with the stylus, depending upon what colored gems slide down the rails.

The top screen just shows your band playing, so you can ignore it. You may want to tap the d-pad left or right now and then, though – that’s how you trigger your bonus power (the usual score multiplier) or your special power: a wash of flame that streams up the note grid, burning away every note currently onscreen. It’s a nice way to get out of trouble if you’ve lost your place.

Related

Games:


Guitar Rock Tour (DS)

View Videos and Screenshots Hide Videos and Screenshots

Latest Videos

Latest Screenshots

Platforms:

DS

4 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
  • revrock

    revrock  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    Seems like music games are the new platformer. Every company trying to go up against the "biggies" Guitar Hero and Rock Band just like they went up against the "biggies" Sonic and Mario.... Looks like we are starting to see the Bubsy 3Ds and Aero the Acrobats of music games- Oh joy.
  • Corsair89

    Corsair89  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    The attack of the clones strikes again. Congradulations Guitar Hero, you just entered the elite hall of games with clone armies: Tetris, Mario, Sonic, Zelda, Tomb Raider, Halo, GTA, etc...
  • garyball

    garyball  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    This game is actually a lot of fun, probably the best rhythm game on the DS aside from Elite Beat Agents. Guitar is much more fluid and interesting than they make it out to be in the review, personally I think it is refreshing considering how stale Guitar Hero is becoming. Everything they say about the drums is true, Amplitude might be my all time favorite game so I was pleasantly reminded of that. The songs range from god awful (Nickelback for christ's sake!) to predictable (Smoke of the Water... again) to decent (Walk Idiot Walk, a few others). I had to turn the volume all the way down just to stomach getting through a few songs. With better songs, another button for drums, and a better presentation this would be a solid 8 or 9. If you're looking for a Guitar Hero alternative this is much better than Rock Revolution, that Hannah Montana game, or really any other lame rock-themed game on DS.
  • kanucksfan

    kanucksfan  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    those poor kids getting this for christmas...
Most Commented
Connect with GamesRadar