
	Platform Xbox 360 Genre Music Publisher Activision Developer Neversoft ESRB T (Teen) Released March 29, 2009

- Metallica fans should be more than happy - Anyone who has played Guitar Hero should be able to jump right in

- The obvious: If you don’t like Metallica, you’ll be steering clear of this one

Review: Guitar Hero: World Tour (360) Review: Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS) Review: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (PS3)
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Guitar Hero: Metallica

Score: 8.0 / 10

When the review copy of Guitar Hero: Metallica arrived, I was puzzled as to why a drum pedal came in the same box. I was quickly to learn that this additional bass pedal was included for the hardest of the hardcore (or at least, serious) drummers, because anytime I sat down at the drums, I felt like I was trying to pat my head and rub my tummy with my hands, and tap out Morse code with my feet. I chalk it up to a complete and utter lack of rhythm and coordination on my part rather than a

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fault of the game because one cruise through Youtube shows that it’s possible.

That feeling of doing three very different motions simultaneously followed me throughout. Even on the mid-range difficulty, I found the game constantly kicking

me down, which I chalk up to being unfamiliar with Metallica. (It took many, many attempts to clear some of the

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songs thanks to this.) Though this is the case, in a group setting it’s still a lot of fun, even for non-Metallica fans (i.e. me) because it follows the general layout and premise of all the other Guitar Hero games: hit the right buttons as the “notes” cross the line, proceed through the “story”, etc. Like Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, this one is also packed with extras and a truncated “history” of the band. Personally, I didn’t care, but for the one friend I have who’s a Metallica fan really liked these features.

To mix-up the song list a little are some non-Metallica songs to play through including “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy, “Turn the Page” by Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Demon Cleaner” by Kyuss. They all sound great.

Though I’m sure Activision would never go for it, I propose that Guitar Hero undergo a name change. Rather than “Guitar Hero: Metallica” it should be labelled “Guitar Hero for Metallica Fans!” because that’s a more apt description of what you get with each of these showcase titles.

- D.D. Nunavut

(June 1, 2009)