I’m a metal head, a head banger, and I’m a geek… there was a time that combination was something to be frowned upon and we were made fun of, but not anymore. In this technological age we’re in now, geeks rule, there’s no doubt about it. If it wasn’t for us geeks we wouldn’t have the things we have now, we make the world go around. Geeks have become the new jocks, the new stars, the in-thing, people now are proud to wear the moniker of geek.

The Guitar Hero series is wildly popular, there’s no doubting that, it gives the user a chance to be a guitar god, or hero. The main reasons for the success of this series is because it’s fun and the of course the music, everyone loves music. Guitar Hero has evolved into something that everyone can enjoy, young and old alike, I’m old and I love it, there’s nothing like turning up the volume and jamming on the plastic axe. Sure it’s not a real guitar, it’s a game plain and simple, but it’s something that is immensely fun and enjoyable, a way of escaping the stress and rigors of daily life, a way to get away and relax.

The Guitar Hero series has spun off to feature music from specific bands, the first being Aerosmith, and now we have Metallica, arguably one of the greatest metal bands of all time. I find it amazing that they have become so popular, I remember a time when listening to music like this wasn’t the ‘in’ thing to do, if you listened to metal you were something of an outcast. Now though it’s basically mainstream, it’s become something that everyone listens to, it’s out in the open as it were.

Guitar Hero Metallica is the latest entry in the Guitar Hero series, and the best in my opinion, but I’m a bit biased as I’ve always been a Metallica fan. In fact as I write this I’ve got my Zune program open listening to Ride the Lightning. GH Metallica is an excellent game that really feels like Metallica had a hand in creating it, from the track list, the the graphics, it’s metal all around. The backgrounds are just awesome, in true metal style, and the music is a collection of tracks handpicked by Metallica, their own and music from other bands that they like and have influenced them.

The packaging for GH Metallica isn’t bad, though I would have went another way with it… The back does have a track list of the Metallica tracks and the others that are included.

For the most part I like the track list, though a few I might have not included, and I would have included more Metallica. It was nice to see Suicidal Tendencies on there though, that brings back quite a few memories of my errant youth.. it would have been nice to see more hardcore metal stuff on there though, I was expecting a bit more of a metal theme all over, but as is it works well.

There is a small story in the game as well, you’re ‘tallica Jr a metal band that’s trying to make it big time, but it doesn’t really get much involved with that.

Here’s the intro video for you to check out:

I love the graphics and features, you’ll find some cool stuff in the game including videos, lyrics and quite a few extras. You can go head to head on Xbox live, play around in the music studio, there’s a career mode and quickplay option as well. You can also select the backstage option to see all of the extras and of course you can customize or create your own character like other GH games. Backstage and concert footage is very cool to watch, and there’s many stills as well to be found in the extras.

Here’s a brief video of the menus:

Specifications:

Guitar Hero Metallica

Guitar Hero Metallica brings you 49 explosive hits from Metallica’s illustrious career and a wide variety of other legendary artists personally selected by the band.

Experience full on Metallica by playing as the band with their actual motion captured moves and likeness, representing the full presence and intensity of James, Lars, Kirk, and Robert. Take the stage in some of the world’s most amazing and epic venues featuring famous Metallica stages and iconic imagery. Of course, all tracks and content are “Metallica approved”. Featuring over 20 bands personally chosen by Metallica including Queen, Alice in Chains, Slayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Foo Fighters, Guitar Hero Metallica lets you jam to a wide variety of high energy rock for Guitar Hero. Go beyond the music of Metallica to bands they have collaborated with, as well, as music that inspires them

and here’s another video for you, it’s just gameplay, and yes it’s on easy, I don’t have time to practice for hours and hours to get to expert..

The point of the video is to show the gameplay, and the graphics. The renderings of Metallica are decent, they’re done is a comical style of course, but they’re not bad overall. The background vary from place to place, and most are very much Metallica themed and look cool

 

Playing GH Metallica is basically the same as the other Guitar Hero games, you’ve got the meter, star power, and stars to gauge your performance. As you play you unlock more venues, songs, features and characters, so no real surprises there. GH Metallica doesn’t bring anything new to the Guitar Hero franchise in terms of gameplay, the basis is the same. It’s basically just a re-skinned version of the other Guitar Hero games, but that’s not a bad thing, it brings something new and refreshing to the series. It’s a nice addition to the series, and it’s nice to see Metallica getting some good publicity here, overall it does have the Metallica feeling to it.

It does seem short though, there doesn’t seem to be as many songs as World Tour has, but it’s focused on Metallica so that’s the way it should be.

Conclusion:
Overall Guitar Hero Metallica is all that and more really, sure it’s just Guitar Hero, but it’s also Metallica, if you’re a metalhead you’ll love this version of Guitar Hero more than others I’m sure.

GH Metallica is a worthy addition to your collection of games.

Pros:
+Metallica
+Great graphics
+Lots of cool extras
+Good track list

Cons:
-Just a reskinned Guitar Hero game
-Brings nothing new to gameplay

Grades:
Overall
Design
Performance