Full Review: It may be the Same Ol' Song and Dance, but GH: Aerosmith is great for fans of the band and music games.
The Bad: Several hits are missing and there is no DLC option, only has 40 songs total, really isn't different from GH3.
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There is no question, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is definately a Guitar Hero, but when Activision first announced that the "Bad Boys from Boston" would get a Guitar Hero game devoted to them, I was a bit skeptical. I mean, yeah Aerosmith has a ton of big hits, but can one band carry an entire game? The answer to that is yes and no. Guitar Hero Aerosmith may be an easy way for Activision to make some big bucks by not doing too much to the Guitar Hero 3 formula, but it's still a solid entry in the series for fans of Aerosmith and music games in general.
The game is pretty much identical to GH3 (it has the same engine and tutorial to prove it), but it does have some differences besides the setlist and the inclusion of Aerosmith as a playable band. First, you still have to play as your old Guitar Hero band, then after two songs from other bands, Aerosmith takes the stage and you play two songs and an encore as Aerosmith. Before each venue, real life Aerosmith introduces why each of the featured venues was important in their history as a band. Each venue was modeled after real venues where Aerosmith had major moments in there history. These live action videos are quite interesting for Aerosmith fans, but most casual Guitar Hero gamers won't probably care.
Also, for better or for worse, the game is easier than GH3 and the achievements are quite a bit easier to earn. I was able to beat the career mode on Hard with little trouble, and I can't do that on GH3.
As far as the setlist goes, there are a ton of big hits on this game. Some of the Aerosmith hits include "Walk This Way" (both the Run DMC and original versions), "Dream On", "Sweet Emotion" and "Draw the Line". There are other big hits as well from bands who inspired Aerosmith. Some of these include "Dream Police" by Cheap Trick and "Complete Control" by The Clash. The non Aerosmith songs are a nice change of pace, but aren't that outstanding by themselves. This game is about Aerosmith, and it shows. The single biggest problem that I had was that there were a bunch of big Aerosmith songs missing from the setlist, including "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", "Cryin'" and "Just Push Play". The fact that the game doesn't support DLC is just a kick in the face for fans hoping that more Aerosmith hits would become available at a later time. Sure, technically we could see an Aerosmith pack for GH3 or later on ofr GH: World Tour, but it would have been nice to have some more Aerosmith tunes on GH: Aerosmith.
The setlist for the game has only 40 songs total, which is pretty low for a GH retail, non DS release, but there are definately some gems here.
As a big music game and Aerosmith fan, I am glad I purchased Guitar Hero Aerosmith because of the backstory to the band as well as all of the big Aerosmith hits on the disc. If you are not a big fan of Aerosmith, this is probably not going to appeal to you. If you are a big Guitar Hero fan and a casual Aerosmith listener, you might want to consider giving this one a shot.
Overall, Guitar Hero Aerosmith is a solid addition to the GH series, but the lack of DLC and missing Aerosmith hits may make fans of both GH and Aerosmith a bit disappointed. Still, it's worth a purchase only for hardcore GH and Aerosmith fans and a rental for those looking for some new tunes to play.
Gameplay: It's the Same Ol' Song and Dance, but Aerosmith fans and Guitar Hero fans will enjoy what Guitar Hero Aerosmith has to offer.
Graphics: The animated Aerosmith looks really good and captures the look and feel of the band.
Sound: With mostly original recordings, GH Aerosmith has a soild setlist, but several big Aerosmith hits are missing.
Value: Unless you are a big Aerosmith or GH fan, this is probably not worth $60.
Final Thoughts: Just Push Play