Parents' Guide to

Band Hero

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Great party game for music-loving families.

Game Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 2009
Band Hero Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Band Hero Game: Screenshot #1
  • Band Hero Game: Screenshot #2
  • Band Hero Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Maxratingstff
Maxratingstff Adult
January 21, 2022
age 10+

Awesome game

This game really made my childhood and deserves the popularity it had although there are minor cuss words it is a game I would recommend to anyone

This title has:

Easy to play/use
chais
chais Parent of 10-year-old
December 8, 2009
age 10+

Great game, but terrible editing makes it unusable in a school setting.

I am a 6th grade music teacher and I bought this game specifically for use in my music classes. It is rated E for everyone 10+. The makers of the game have taken the time to edit out inappropriate language, but I do not know what they were thinking when they went about this process. There are a number of songs that repeat the phrase "I don't give a d***" and others that are obviously sexual. This is nothing that is ridiculously offensive, but it is still unusable for me in my school setting. What I do not understand is how they went about the editing process... the editors took the time to remove fairly innocent stuff like the word "whiskey" from Don McLean's American Pie and the word "gay" from Taylor Swift's Picture To Burn, yet they have the singer repeat "I don't give a d*** about my reputation!" over and over again in Bad Reputation by Joan Jett. 2 other songs (Rock Star and Black Cat) also include similar phrases. So, this is a great game, and I think it could be used in a school setting if they would have made some very minor adjustments. If you are going to take the time to edit words to make it more family-friendly, please do a better job!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Educational value
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Rock, pop, country, and folk come together in BAND HERO, the latest in Activision’s mega-successful rhythm game franchises, following Guitar Hero and DJ Hero. As the name suggests, Band Hero lets you play guitar, bass, drums, or sing -- using plastic peripherals that resemble real-life instruments – to a set list of more than 60 No. 1 hits. Examples of the diverse set of tunes include Taylor Swift’s Love Story, Don McLean’s American Pie, Jackson 5’s ABC and Evanescence’s Bring Me To Life. Activision has added more social play options to encourage cooperative or competitive jamming -- in the same room or over the Internet -- including the ability for multiple gamers to play the same instrument, such as having two drummers and two guitarists or four singers (and an all-new karaoke-style Sing-Along mode helps there, too).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (6):

Yes, but it’s no secret the market is saturated with these rhythm games -- not to mention family rooms piled high with plastic peripherals. But Band Hero attempts to stand out in its eclectic selection of hits, new playable characters (Maroon 5’s Adam Levin and Taylor Swift) and additional party modes for friends and family. Plus, the game lets you import songs from other games, such as Guitar Hero 5 (though it’s too bad it’ll cost a few dollars for the privilege). If you’re not yet burned out by these games and like the diverse set of songs and modes, Band Hero should be music to your ears.

Note: The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game play out the same, but the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS versions offer some interoperability including the ability for Nintendo DS/DSi owners to change the band’s set list on the fly (on the Nintendo Wii), along with Wii/DS guitar competitions. Nintendo Wii owners can also import their Mii character in a freestyle mode.

Online interaction: Players can jam online with others, which means they can communicate with one another. This might be an issue for some parents because this interaction can be unpredictable.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether music games have run its course. Is the market over-saturated with dozens of rhythm games, sequels, downloadable content, and a pile of plastic peripherals? Could Band Hero be more innovative or do gamers want more of the same?

  • Why do you see musical instruments from real world companies in this game? Why do companies want to sell to kids?

Game Details

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