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What order should Guitar Hero games be played?

L

Luigison

Member
Thanks to Best Buy's buy 2 get 1 free deal and GAF's buy/sale/trade thread I now have 6 Guitar Hero games for PS3 (and one guitar). I'll add more peripherals later. (I also have the first three games for PS2/Wii.) Too bad I missed the Van Halen bonus.

My PS2/Wii games:
GH
GH2
GH3*

My PS3 games:
GH3
GH Aerosmith
GHWT(4)
GH Metallica
GHSH
GH5

Should I play them in chronological order (I think I listed them in order above)? Or, should I start with 5 and import the others? Having asked that, I realize I don't know how to import. Is there any time of bonus or download for installing/importing in a certain order?

*I know I have two copies of GH3, but got a great deal and wanted the songs on PS3 anyway.
 
GH2 > GH3 > GHM > GHWT > GH5

Don't waste your time with GH1 because it's broken as fuck. The ones I left out aren't even worth playing.
 
Luigison said:
Thanks to Best Buy's buy 2 get 1 free deal and GAF's buy/sale/trade thread I now have 6 Guitar Hero games for PS3 (and one guitar). I'll add more peripherals later. (I also have the first three games for PS2/Wii.) Too bad I missed the Van Halen bonus.

My PS2/Wii games:
GH
GH2
GH3*

My PS3 games:
GH3
GH Aerosmith
GHWT(4)
GH Metallica
GHSH
GH5

Should I play them in chronological order (I think I listed them in order above)? Or, should I start with 5 and import the others? Having asked that, I realize I don't know how to import. Is there any time of bonus or download for installing/importing in a certain order?

*I know I have two copies of GH3, but got a great deal and wanted the songs on PS3 anyway.
Click to expand...

Well you really don't need to keep World Tour or Smash Hits....you can import those into Guitar Hero 5 for like $5 each...

I would play GH2, then GH3, then GH Metallica, then GH5
 
MikeE21286 said:
Well you really don't need to keep World Tour or Smash Hits....you can import those into Guitar Hero 5 for like $5 each...

I would play GH2, then GH3, then GH Metallica, then GH5
Click to expand...


Yeah mean like 60% of it worthlessly imports to GH5
 
Several people have suggested starting with 1 or 2, and I can see why, but I should have said in the OP that I've already completed them (and 3). Still, I should be able to replay 1 and 2 since my PS3 is back compatible. I'm assuming it's impossible to import from the PS2 games, but correct me if I'm wrong.

MikeE21286 said:
Well you really don't need to keep World Tour or Smash Hits....you can import those into Guitar Hero 5 for like $5 each...
Click to expand...
Interesting... Are those the only two that can be imported? How does importing work anyway? (I'd love to get started now, but my wife is watching a movie.)
 
Related to importing songs..
To Guitar Hero 5 you can only import (most, not all) of the songs from World Tour and Smash Hits, and to do that you need to buy the $4.99 license (for each).
 
GH1 is horrible by modern standards. lol covers and a broken HO/PO system. If you absolutely must play a GH game, go with GH2 then RB2.
 
If you've already done GH1/2/3 then just throw the others in the garbage where they belong (or on Goozex) and get RB1/2 and play the real rhythm game.
 
RandomVince said:
If you play any of the later ones first you might run into spoilers about the first one.
Click to expand...
Yes, the Guitar Hero mythology is quite deep, as one can see from the litany of tie-in Guitar Hero novels.
 
Xav said:
Just start with Rock Band 2.
Click to expand...

This. Nothing else pre-World Tour on the GH side comes close to the overall gameplay experience.

However, when it comes to any music games, play the entries for the songs; if a song you want to play is only on "GH: Track Pack Volume 3" or whatever, play that.

If none of the music interests you in GH1 in particular, then just skip it. Broken HOPO system and covers FTL.
 
Luigison said:
Several people have suggested starting with 1 or 2, and I can see why, but I should have said in the OP that I've already completed them (and 3). Still, I should be able to replay 1 and 2 since my PS3 is back compatible. I'm assuming it's impossible to import from the PS2 games, but correct me if I'm wrong.


Interesting... Are those the only two that can be imported? How does importing work anyway? (I'd love to get started now, but my wife is watching a movie.)
Click to expand...

yeah, those are the only two that can be imported.......they did it (I believe) in response to the fact that Rock Band 2 allowed you to do it in with Rock Band 1 songs
 
Square Triangle said:
Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: Metallica
Click to expand...

Yep, these are my favorites as well.

Hopefully Metallica can be imported into GH5 at some point, for the vocal engine upgrade.
 
Magnus said:
This. Nothing else pre-World Tour on the GH side comes close to the overall gameplay experience.

However, when it comes to any music games, play the entries for the songs; if a song you want to play is only on "GH: Track Pack Volume 3" or whatever, play that.

If none of the music interests you in GH1 in particular, then just skip it. Broken HOPO system and covers FTL.
Click to expand...

Most of the best songs GH1 had are in Smash Hits, and the rest are Rock Band/DLC, so GH1 is effectively an obsolete game. Thank God.
 
I'd go 2, 3, Metallica, 5 in that order.

I find it hard going backwards in the series as the mechanics get increasingly clunkier the further you go back. Despite what people say 5 is a huge improvement on anything that came before it, it's just a pity that you can't import 2/3/Metallica into the new engine.
 
I'll eventually go to Rock Band (and Band Hero?), but I've got a lot of play time with Guitar Hero to go. Was the Rocks the 80's game really as bad as its reviews. I really love 80's rock, but if it's that bad and not on or importable to PS3 I'll probably skip it. Are there any other games I left out? Van Halen? Beatles? Band Hero?

In other questions, is there a value strategy to getting Guitar Hero DLC songs on PS3? Track Packs? Free songs? Etc? Are the DLC songs for specific games in the series? In the end I'll probably rely more on songs I like, but it'd be nice to know of a discount before I spend more money. I've already spent $150 on these games and guitar that several gaffers consider garbage.
 
I will simply echo the fact that the Rock Band platform is the way to go. Get Rock Band 2 and rent/borrow Rock Band 1 to import the songs.
 
1) GHI first so you can avoid the broken HOPO's being too much of a pain.
2) GHII because it's almost the same aesthetically.
3) GHIII - By now you'll be HOPO'ing more, and the system is by far the most forgiving in III.
4) Actually, you know what, play them in chronological order, it really doesn't matter after the first 3. Once you've been through the tracklist once on each you'll just want to go back to the older ones anyway. GHII is the hardest, then GHIII.

And if you're just playing guitar, don't go out of your way to play Rock Band. There, I said it. Playing guitar in Rock Band is god damn boring.
 
Save your DLC money for Rock Band. The library is much larger and has many more "big" songs.

Woffls said:
And if you're just playing guitar, don't go out of your way to play Rock Band. There, I said it. Playing guitar in Rock Band is god damn boring.
Click to expand...
lol
 
Woffls said:
1) GHI first so you can avoid the broken HOPO's being too much of a pain.
2) GHII because it's almost the same aesthetically.
3) GHIII - By now you'll be HOPO'ing more, and the system is by far the most forgiving in III.
4) Actually, you know what, play them in chronological order, it really doesn't matter after the first 3. Once you've been through the tracklist once on each you'll just want to go back to the older ones anyway. GHII is the hardest, then GHIII.

And if you're just playing guitar, don't go out of your way to play Rock Band. There, I said it. Playing guitar in Rock Band is god damn boring.
Click to expand...
Did you just say GH2 is the same as GH1 regarding broken hopos? You're talking out of your ass boy. GH2 has the same timing engine as RB2. It's not too tight (GH1) and it's not too loose (GH3-GH5)
GH2 is the perfect game for a guitar player.


and GH80s is pretty fun, though really short. The last two tiers are pretty fucking epic though.
 
The extensive hatred for GH & love for RB on this forum is hilarious :lol I agree though. Since the OP have already played 1, 2 & 3, just get rid of the rest & go get Rock Band 2 (and 1 for additional songs plus extra free DLC, or was that only for EU?).

It's not even an option :)

Regarding GH80's, in my experience, most people seem to agree on that it has one of the best setlists in the series. Except for Archie below :lol
 
corkscrewblow said:
Did you just say GH2 is the same as GH1 regarding broken hopos? You're talking out of your ass boy. GH2 has the same timing engine as RB2. It's not too tight (GH1) and it's not too loose (GH3-GH5)
GH2 is the perfect game for a guitar player.


and GH80s is pretty fun, though really short. The last two tiers are pretty fucking epic though.
Click to expand...
The only good thing about GH80s is Wrathchild and Play With Me
 
Luigison said:
In other questions, is there a value strategy to getting Guitar Hero DLC songs on PS3? Track Packs? Free songs? Etc?
Click to expand...

There are some free songs out there (not sure which ones for which games) but the best value strategy to getting songs is through the PSN download "sharing" option. You and several buddies get together and download the songs then spread out the cost across however many friends you have involved.
 
Archie said:
The only good thing about GH80s is Wrathchild and Play With Me
Click to expand...
You make it so easy to tell when you've never played a game.

Ain't Nothin But A Good Time
Because It's Midnight
Caught In A Mosh
Heat of the Moment
Holy Diver
I Wanna Rock
No One Like You
Radar Love
Seventeen
The Warrior
What I Like About You

+ the two songs you mentioned. It's a really good game but way too short.
 
Luigison said:
I'll eventually go to Rock Band (and Band Hero?), but I've got a lot of play time with Guitar Hero to go. Was the Rocks the 80's game really as bad as its reviews. I really love 80's rock, but if it's that bad and not on or importable to PS3 I'll probably skip it. Are there any other games I left out? Van Halen? Beatles? Band Hero?

In other questions, is there a value strategy to getting Guitar Hero DLC songs on PS3? Track Packs? Free songs? Etc? Are the DLC songs for specific games in the series? In the end I'll probably rely more on songs I like, but it'd be nice to know of a discount before I spend more money. I've already spent $150 on these games and guitar that several gaffers consider garbage.
Click to expand...
Well:

  • The Beatles is..'The Beatles Rock Band' so as far as Guitar Hero games go you're all set.
  • Guitar Hero 5 is the only GH game that you can import songs from other games, and only 2 games: Smash Hits and World Tour; and you need to pay $4.99 for each.
  • DLC-songs are game specific for all games, except World Tour and GH5. You can play World Tour songs on GH5, but not vice-versa (as far as I know, ifsomeone else can confirm it).

In any case, I would have gone for a: Metallica, Guitar Hero 5, The Beatles and Rock Band 2 combo; would have been a little mroe money, but those are currently the best GH and Rock Band games..and as a note, Rock Band and 'Hero games' are quite different..just that I've seen you mixing Rock Band, Beatles and Band Hero as if they are all similar or the same... :p
 
Struct09 said:
Play Guitar Hero 1 first, because it's hard to go back to after playing the others.
Click to expand...

This is very important.

Its a good game...but will be harder to enjoy after playing the newer ones.

The rest of the order doesnt really matter as much. Maybe play GH2 second because of the covers.

You seem to be missing GH80s though, it has the best tracklist, so you should look into it.


DoctorWho said:
Is there some sort of continuity to these games?
Click to expand...

Features get added, and changes are made that are incremental.
 
Archie said:
The only good thing about GH80s is Wrathchild and Play With Me
Click to expand...
Because it's Midnight and Caught in a Mosh were fun too, but Yes, 80's is mostly skippable.

corkscrewblow said:
Did you just say GH2 is the same as GH1 regarding broken hopos? You're talking out of your ass boy.
Click to expand...
He never said that.
 
Luigison said:
I'll eventually go to Rock Band (and Band Hero?), but I've got a lot of play time with Guitar Hero to go. Was the Rocks the 80's game really as bad as its reviews. I really love 80's rock, but if it's that bad and not on or importable to PS3 I'll probably skip it. Are there any other games I left out? Van Halen? Beatles? Band Hero?

In other questions, is there a value strategy to getting Guitar Hero DLC songs on PS3? Track Packs? Free songs? Etc? Are the DLC songs for specific games in the series? In the end I'll probably rely more on songs I like, but it'd be nice to know of a discount before I spend more money. I've already spent $150 on these games and guitar that several gaffers consider garbage.
Click to expand...

The only "garbage" game is GH1, because much more recent games have all the good songs in it.

The problem with Rocks the 80s is that while it has an awesome tracklist, again, the songs are almost completely redundant between Smash Hits and Rock Band DLC. As you know by now, the PS2 versions of these games are putrid compared to what the PS3 has on tap.

And FFS, if you love 80s rock, just pick up Rock Band 2 PS3 used for $15 and buy stuff like the Iron Maiden pack, The Who pack, The Cars pack, the Queen pack, just all kinds of crap.

You will love GH Metallica, BTW. That will keep you busy for a long time, and it's my favorite music game to play online because all the songs are good! Rock Band, as awesome as the catalog is, is the achilles' heel when it comes to online play. Lots of good stuff, but lots of crap as well.
 
If you really want to enjoy the slow development of the story and characters, then you really should start from the beginning. Otherwise you'll miss a lot of the little jokes they throw in later on in the series. As for 3....screw the haters. Sure the cutscenes are long, but they are also thoroughly enjoyable, and that part in chapter 17 (you all know what I'm talking about) is possibly the most emotionally deep moment I have ever experienced, not just in a video game, but in any kind of media. But if you really get sick of the cutscenes, there's always a skip button, and a handy wiki dedicated to all the aspects of the universe, in case your skipping made you confused in later games.
 
corkscrewblow said:
You make it so easy to tell when you've never played a game.

Ain't Nothin But A Good Time
Because It's Midnight
Caught In A Mosh
Heat of the Moment
Holy Diver
I Wanna Rock
No One Like You
Radar Love
Seventeen
The Warrior
What I Like About You

+ the two songs you mentioned. It's a really good game but way too short.
Click to expand...
Except I have played and beat GH80s. Dio sucks btw so you can take Holy Diver off the list.
 
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