Guitar Hero: Van Halen :: Wii Game Review

25 Van Halen songs from the David Lee Roth era come out to play with 19 other bands in Guitar Hero: Van Halen! Play as a member of the band or a rocker of your own creation as you tackle over 45 songs on any instrument of your choosing.

Jump

As the game begins, players are able to jump right into a couple of Van Halen hits. But if you want to play anything else by Van Halen, players must play songs by other artists first. It seems a little odd that of some of these bands were included because they don’t have a lot to do with Van Halen . Bands like Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters and Weezer leave you really scratching your head.

Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love

If you know anything about Van Halen then you should recognize the stages you play in. Although you may recognize some of the stages you play in, the true 80's Van Halen rock out look becomes a little lost because the creators of the game decided to make the game look more current. Unfortunately this look often doesn't match up with the crazy custom characters you can use and it kills the Van Halen magic a little. On the plus side, the band’s avatars from the 1980’s make an appearance once you've finished the game, which truly is the greatest reward.

So This Is Love?

Anyone looking for more than the modest 45 songs to play on their Wii-instruments are best to look for some of the other Guitar Hero or Rock Band games to really get their music fix. This game is purely for Van Halen die-hards that want to imitate Eddie and all his gear. Unless you’re in love with Van Halen, spend your hard earned road cash elsewhere.

Rating:

Price: $49.99

ESRB Rating: T for Teen

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