Since launching in 2005, there have been over a dozen installments in the Guitar Hero series, which some have used as a prime example of Activision’s dedication to exploiting their most popular franchises. As one might expect, the numerous sequels and spinoffs affected the quality of the games, and the competition from Rock Band meant that Guitar Hero was no longer the only music game in town. The series came back strong this year with Guitar Hero 5, released just over two months ago, which was the best Guitar Hero game since GHII in 2006. Now Activision is trying to address a market that, until recently, had never been specifically addressed in the music genre: gamers too young to enjoy the Teen-rated lyrics of the regular Guitar Hero series. Band Hero, with an E10+ rating and songs that both teenyboppers and their parents will enjoy, is definitely a fun option for family-friendly gaming. However, the fact that the game is exactly like GH5 in almost every way makes it feel more like an expansion with a coat of paint, not a brand new series.