Guitar Hero: Metallica is expertly crafted, much like the band’s killer riffs
Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 2:13pm by Boss Hog
Let me be clear: I haven’t been excited about Metallica since the black album was released in 1991. To put it nicely, I don’t think the band has put out a good album since then, although admittedly I haven’t given them a chance after being turned off by their sound in the mid ’90s, not to mention the group’s Napster snobbishness at the turn of the decade.
Thanks to Guitar Hero: Metallica, though, I’m excited about the band’s music again. Without getting into a full review, I’ll say this is the sharpest looking rhythm game to come to Wii. The graphics are crisp and look great in 480p. The sound is spot on. The cascading notes feel good, and the music rocks. I’m not a big metal fan, but I still enjoyed several tracks, including Sad but True, Enter Sandman, One, No Excuses by Alice in Chains, and Toxicity by System of a Down.
Is the game worth $50? I’m not so sure. There are only 49 songs, there’s no downloadable store (not that you’d want one as an owner of World Tour or Rock Band), and the lack of playlist variety will likely turn off a lot of buyers. But there is online multiplayer and a music studio. You be the judge.
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
You might like Death Magnetic
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Agreed with Dustin. Death Magnetic is a much better album than their recent stuff and is a lot similar to the earlier good stuff. It easily fits in between …And Justice for All and the Black Album. And I’m desperately wanting to get this game……
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I haven’t listened to Metallica since Middle School, long before the Napster debacle – I’m not sure I’m a big enough fan to pick this one up.
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
If you even consider yourself a Metallica fan, you need to get Death Magnetic. It’s easily their best effort since Justice, in fact to me it could be Disc 2 of Justice. I like the Black Album but it was the beginning of “different” Metallica. I don’t even think the Load albums are that bad. Then St. Anger…..ugh…..
DM is the real deal.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
great article!
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Good to see all the DM love. Try Cyanide, Judas Kiss, Suicide and Redemption. I never liked Metallica until I bought that record on a whim, and now I’m getting into all the old stuff.
Regarding the game, I’m a little disappointed at the lost opportunity. I think I’ve said it on here before, but no Maiden, Sabbath, Anthrax, Dio, etc? I know it’s a thrash metal group, but why not get some other types of metal in their too? And why no Megadeth?
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I’m interested, but firmly set on picking up a used copy or for a price drop. Rock Band and GH have taken enough of my money.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
MEGA DEATH FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AHAHAHAHA XD
April 5th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Let me just preface this by saying that I’m a Metallica fan – not as big as some of you guys here, but I do own almost their entire discography on CD, including Live Shit and S&M.
So.
I am uncertain about this game. 49 songs for $50 seems a little… unfair. Granted, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith only had 41 songs, and I bought that on launch day, but to be honest I didn’t know. I certainly wasn’t expecting it to have half as many songs as a regular Guitar Hero game for the same price, and to be honest I regret buying it. I don’t want to make the same mistake with Guitar Hero: Metallica.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
This looks to be a pleasing title. Metallica isn’t exactly the most varied music, but it is still pretty good stuff imo. I’m sure I can find it at discount say 30 dollars or so later on at which then I will buy it. (Along with Mirror’s Edge — I mean really, $60 for that game??)
April 7th, 2009 at 1:40 am
you should buy death magnetic, its more lke their old stuff.it is great!
April 8th, 2009 at 1:40 am
I’ll be repetitive, but it’s true, Death Magnetic is a return to their roots. I love the album.
I do want this game, but I don’t think any GH game is worth $50. I will pick this one up when Amazon has a deal for it to be like $25 or something. It really annoys me how many people buy these games so they can justify charging us so much for them.
April 10th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
It’s not Guitar Hero: Megadeth, but I guess it’s the next-best thing.
I’m a huge fan of Metallica’s 1983 through 1991 output; most of what they’ve done since has been worth ignoring, Blake, save for a few sparse gems. I’ve always thought if the band had trimmed the fat from Load and ReLoad and put the best songs from each on one record, it wouldn’t have been nearly as bad. My biggest problem with those records wasn’t necessarily the stylistic shift, but the poor writing.
Totally disagree with the Death Magnetic praise, though. It’s a tremendously mediocre record, and the only reason people are leg-humping it is because it’s a supposed “return to the roots,” which is just marketing nonsense. Anyone who calls it the missing link between …And Justice For All and the Black Album is either a Metallica fanboy or someone who hasn’t listened to either of those albums enough.
For good “old-school” thrash, Megadeth’s latest is substantially better — better riffs, better writing and MUCH better guitar work. Death Angel’s latest is even better than that, and Testament’s latest is better than all three.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
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