Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

Review

Common Sense Media says

Music game has lyrics, imagery most appropriate for teens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
10
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that some of the lyrics and imagery in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock might not be suitable for young eyes and ears. There are also some cut-scenes that may be inappropriate for children, including some that show scantily-clad female and male musicians, scenes of public inebriation, and some fantasy violence against robotic beasts. For the most part, though, this is a music-based game with a more positive message than negative one. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version supports open voice chat. Common Sense Media does not recommend moderation-free online communication for pre-teens. We suggest using the parental controls built into the game console to disable online communication features.

  • Positive messages1
    While rated "Teen" for lyrics and some suggestive visuals -- and while the characters are not ideal role models for children -- music-based games generally offer positive experiences, especially in the way playing together as a band promote teamwork and cooperation. Warriors of Rock is no different.
  • Positive role models0
    The characters in the game might not be the kinds of role models you want for your kids. As mentioned in the "Drinking and Drugs" section, the first character you see is lying on the street outside of CBGBs, seemingly intoxicated.
  • Ease of play3
    The game has some harder songs than in past Guitar Hero titles, but the varying difficulty levels and tutorials help newcomers to the genre ease into the game.    
  • Violence2
    While it's a music game, story-based sequences depict some fantasy violence as the characters' alter egos attack giant enemies, including a robot bent on destruction. A guitar is likened to an axe in the game. There is no blood, though. Some violent references occur in song lyrics, however (as in "Bohemian Rhapsody" -- "Mama/Just killed a man/Put a gun against his head/pulled my trigger, now he's dead").
  • Sex2
    Female musicians show some skin (cleavage, bare midriffs and legs). Some of the male players' tattoos show women posing suggestively. Lyrics of some songs are also sexual in nature, such as "Aqualung" ("Sitting on a park bench/Eyeing little girls with bad intent") and "Love Gun" ("You pull the trigger of my love gun").  
  • Language2
    The game contains some songs with suggestive or violent lyrics (see "Violence" and "Sex," above). Swear words are removed, however.  
  • Consumerism2
    The game features some familiar music-based brand names on the equipment, including guitar, amp and drum companies.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    The first character in the game, Johnny Napalm, appears to be intoxicated (belching, falling down on ground). He kicks open a door, chugs someone's beer bottle, and marches onstage to perform.  
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What's it about?

Music fans not yet burned out by rhythm games won't be disappointed by Activision's feature-packed GUITAR HERO: WARRIORS OF ROCK -- especially  those with a penchant for hard rock/heavy metal -- but the game will do little for those already tired of the genre. As with past titles in the Guitar Hero series, you're tasked with playing along with rock songs and are scored based on your performance. Players can strum a guitar/bass peripheral, bang on plastic drums, or sing into a microphone (all sold with or without the game). The game allows up to four players to jam on any combination of instruments. Warriors of Rock features a story-based Quest mode, narrated primarily by Gene Simmons from KISS. The tale follows a number of rockers who are transformed into evil-fighting warriors to defeat a malevolent force known as "The Beast." While introducing a story between the songs is a good idea -- and one that builds to an explosive climax -- it'll feel like déjà vu if you've played last year's Brutal Legend game with its similar story, artwork, and music.

Is it any good?

 

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock does indeed rock. A new mode, Quickplay+, lets friends to battle one another in up to 13 challenges per song, to see who can amass more points and stars -- the latter of which can be used to unlock bonus content. Rock lovers will no doubt be impressed with the more than 90 songs on the disc (and hundreds of optional downloadable tracks), including an original song by Dave Mustaine (of Megadeth fame), a great new tune by Soundgarden ("Back Rain") and Rush's entire 1976 concept album, "2112." Between its long set list and multiple game modes, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock delivers a lot of bang for your buck. If you're looking for a truly new music-game experience, however, you might want to wait for MTV Games' Rock Band 3, out in a few weeks, which offers a keyboard peripheral.

Online interaction: Players can download new tracks off the Internet and play with or against friends in other homes. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version supports open voice chat. The Wii version of this game does not support voice chat.

 

 

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about whether music games are still appealing. In 2009 alone, Activision flooded the market with titles like Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits, and others. Is this too much? Do parents want more plastic peripherals in their home? Or do music fans enjoy the getting new songs and features?  

     

     

  • MTV Games is adding new instruments (like a keyboard) to the virtual band with the upcoming Rock Band 3. How do you think the Guitar Hero franchise will hold up against its main competitor? Do both franchises offer a different enough experience for gamers to want to play both?

This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Teen, 15 years old
August 30, 2011
AGE
10
 
Good for Pre-teens and teens
Good game, don't worry about kids! It's a rhythm game, they will probably be paying attention to the notes on screen then paying attention to the brands on the drum kit!
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Helped me decide (10) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (9)
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Kid, 11 years old
November 6, 2011
AGE
10
 
Cool but stupid music
it's cool but my least favorite thing is that it has stupid music like metallica and megadeath. even def leppard and kiss.
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (10) | Read my mind (7)
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Teen, 17 years old
March 16, 2011
AGE
2
 
I haven't played this (only the other guitar hero and I'm not good at it :D) but, My Chemical Romance is on this so that's really all I know. I'd say if you're going to get something like this get Green Day Rock Band because, well its Green Day!
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (10) | Read my mind (7)
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Kid, 13 years old
February 18, 2011
AGE
10
 
Best Guitar Hero Yet, but Guitar Hero's Dead!
OMG!! The very best Guitar Hero ever. Unfortunately there's no more because of Call of Duty.
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Helped me decide (10) | Had useful details (7) | Read my mind (9)
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Teen, 14 years old
July 25, 2011
AGE
7
 
Not as good as any of the other Guitar Hero games. A great disappointment.
My rating: E: mild lyrics.
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (7) | Read my mind (11)
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Teen, 16 years old
January 1, 2011
AGE
14
 
This game is really fun and makes people rock a lot. There is a guitar and a drumset both in this game which makes i more fun for 2 players.
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (10)
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Parent of 10, 14, and 17 year old
November 5, 2011
AGE
11
 
10 yr. old loves it
i think Ghwor is So Stupid. it has some of my worst bands like Kiss and Metallica. Warriors look So Violent and Scary.
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (5)
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Kid, 10 years old
July 17, 2011
AGE
17
 
dfgreerr
lots of sex and drugs and male features
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Helped me decide (6) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (7)
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Teen, 14 years old
April 28, 2012
AGE
12
 
Why did IGN bash this game?
This is my favorite music game of all time. Remind me to write a thank-you letter to Activision for introducing me to Soundgarden. Oh, and i love the 93 songs on the disc, and all the downloadable content you can purchase.
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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Available online?Available online
Genre:Music
Developer:Activision
Release date:September 28, 2010
Price:$59.99 (game only)
ESRB rating:T for Lyrics, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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