Aerosmith Hero

Published July 21, 2008

Powered by the electric blues-infused, "grab you by your throat" rock n' roll made famous by the legendary Boston rockers, Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith® represents the franchise's first band-specific offering. They could have hardly chosen better as Joe Perry's explosive guitar work seems tailor-made for Guitar Hero glory.

Ready to rock out in Joe Perry's shoes?

His guitar licks are iconic, and run the gamut from the searing, driving sound on songs like "Train Kept a Rollin'" to the lighter, ethereal feel of "Dream On" and everything in between.

Few if any bands could be better suited for Guitar Hero treatment.

Set Variety
The majority of your rock-inspired guitar antics may be spent conjuring your inner Joe Perry, but of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith's forty-plus songs, twelve come courtesy of other bands. These tracks help inject each set list with a bit of welcome variety while still holding true to the Aerosmith theme. Whether it's The Black Crowes' "Hard to Handle," Run DMC's "King of Rock," or Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You," each non-Aerosmith track represents songs much-loved by the Boston band.

Each set list in Career mode begins with two of these non-Aerosmith songs. These must be conquered before Steven, Joey, Tom, Brad, and Joe take the stage for three songs to round out each set. For example, the first set begins with Cheap Trick's "Dream Police" and Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" before giving way to the titular band's "Make It, Uncle Salty" and "Draw the Line."

You're looking at nearly 80 years of rock n' roll between them.

Career Venues
The magic of Aerosmith's sound and the birth of their career began humbly at Nipmuc High-School, where band members illicitly nabbed T-shirts bearing the school's name from the locker room before their inaugural show. It's here too that your GH: Aerosmith career begins, and with each new set you unlock, you'll visit and celebrate historically significant venues for the band. This includes New York's Max's Kansas City where the band was discovered by Clive Davis, a recreation of their Super Bowl halftime show, and even their Hall of Fame induction.

A Little Less Merciless
It's worth noting too that where Guitar Hero III is notorious for its ruthless challenge on Hard or Expert difficulties, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is noticeably more forgiving. That's not to say it's easy. Some of Perry's solos will test every bit of your Guitar Hero skill, but total failure will come less frequently while that blessed satisfaction that comes from dominating a song is mercifully much more attainable.

Looks, Axes, and Extras
Of course, developer Neversoft has recreated each of the band members with diligent accuracy while maintaining the comic over-the-top caricature style the series is known for. If you thought Steven Tyler's lips and Joe Perry's jaw were formidable in real-life, wait until you see them in-game! Likewise, each member's stage presence has been brought to life through motion capture, so Tyler's microphone antics and Perry's habitual leaning stance are in full effect.

Watch out for the wicked fast solos.

Perhaps just as important for Guitar Hero fans are the unlockable guitars purchased from The Vault, many of which are virtual recreations of Perry's own personal stash. Also included are four Brad Whitford guitars and five of Tom Hamilton's bass guitars. Naturally, Neversoft has included a number of fictional guitars to unlock as well, including several inspired by Aerosmith album cover art.

Fans of the band can also rejoice in a number of sit-down interviews with each member of the band as they reminisce over the past and even touch on what the future holds. You'll see small snippets of these interviews as you progress through Career mode, but you can unlock the full-length versions for your viewing pleasure from The Vault.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith for Xbox 360® is a welcome celebration of a band long coined "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band." Few if any bands could be better suited for Guitar Hero treatment. This is a rare opportunity to recreate the thrilling guitar work of one of rock's most loved guitarists. Take a cue from the game and get ready to "Strap, Lock, and Rock!"

Article by Ryan Treit