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true There’s a good chance that I was the first one in Gamestop this morning to pick up the new edition to the GH family, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s. I set up shop back at the GV compound with my root beer and cheesy neon colored-unicorn scarf. I do not take my 80s homage lightly. While I had fun that was worth thousands of scrunchies, I’m still a bit stuck on how hard I want to root for this game. The game runs for $50 new, and most likely not much lower than that used (if you can even get your hands on a used copy anytime soon). The value of the game is extremely subjective. <img src="/contributed/1185391921ReOFtXYN1T.jpg"> To start off, the intro-animation is the same, but with a psychedelic color scheme and the guy vs. girl guitarists dressed in an abundance of 80s accessories. Entertaining at the time? Yes. Uber impressive? Not really, I guess. So I start off my career. Brainstorming for a band name was in immediate effect with ideas involving “The Scorpions” and “Gorbachev” flying rampant. We agreed to settle for “Flock of East Berlin”. Yeah, we’re that cool. <img src="/contributed/1185391940VqYR7fxrKT.jpg"> So far, so good. Now at this point I had no other set expectations. I had heard plenty of rants and apprehensions from that there were no new characters and venues. Doesn’t mean either went ignored. The venues were the same, however with more colors and embellishments to fit the 80s theme. The characters were made over to look, in my opinion, pretty rockin’. Need I remind you, that’s coming from me, an 80s fashion aficionado who not only believes in such fashion, but enforces it! I chose Pandora, my always favorite, who was decked out in a blue mini skirt, ugly blazer and Flock of Seagulls hair. Who better to lead Flock of East Berlin to fame? <img src="/contributed/1185391928GJjkhYB7aQ.jpg"> As cute and quirky as the remodeled and embellished look of the characters and venues were, I was really bummed that the actual band had not changed at all. The individual fret-boards per character were the same, and even that I would have been able to let go. But the actual band? Come on. It just really leaves me feeling this game is not quite finished. The songs themselves were satisfying to me. Keep in mind that Guitar Hero II has gotten quite the amount of mileage from myself, having to unlock it on many XBoxes for what it seems like for everyone and their mother, so perhaps out of excitement for anything new, and not just new but 80s, I’m trying harder to justify it. Personally I find the songs a blast to play. Songs like Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran”, and The Vapors’ “Turning Japanese” are just so damn fun to play! Whether it’s the mechanics, or just the songs themselves, something sets right with me. Of course the fact they’re not crazy death metal songs, which I have a hard time showing up to on GH II with, might have something to do with my satisfaction. So at this point, I’m still trying hard to love it. Am I having fun? Hell yeah. Did I just drop $50 bucks on it? Very sadly, yes. I think I finally made my conclusion this game is too expensive for it’s own good when I discovered there are only 30 songs, and no extra ones to buy in the store. Damnit, I just got the game, threw it in the office PS2, and I’ve almost beat it on hard? Bummer. Not to mention that I already am a super cheap gamer and I find myself spending more time on flash games so I don’t have to drop cash. I really don’t want to shun GH Rocks the 80s, but I feel slightly used. 30 songs, that’s all you’re going to give me? And you thought I wouldn’t notice that regardless of going back in time, my band looks exactly the same. Please Activision, throw me a bone. As brilliant as your attempt to make millions more or re-releasing GH II as an 80s game, and marking up the price for poor suckers like me that just want to rock out with my tube socks out, GH III better blow my brains away. Or you can send me money. That’ll make up for it too. Conclusion: Wait for price to plummet. <img src="/contributed/1179941578DGVahDLFCu.jpg"> </img></img></img></img>RANKING: 7 out of 10 <a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-2481309-10416249"> </a><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-2481309-10416249"><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-2481309-10416249" alt="Video Game Rentals Delivered" width="300" height="250"></img></a>  review

2007-07-25T17:00:00-04:00

445

2008-06-29T15:07:51-04:00

2007-07-25T17:00:00-04:00

7.0

guitar_hero_encore_rocks_the_80s published Rock out with your tube socks out. Or save 50 bucks and turn on the radio. -