When Activision first announced Guitar Hero DS, I just laughed and shook my head. Activision is notorious for shoe-horning every one of their franchises onto every conceivable system, so the idea of bringing a game that should be played with a group of people in front of a TV to a tiny screen seemed like just the kind of awful idea they would jump at. But then I forgot about the game, and hoped they had as well. Sadly, it’s actually happening.

Ever wonder what Guitar Hero would play like without a guitar? Guitar Hero On Tour (get it? Because it’s portable!) does come with its own peripheral, but it’s hardly a substitute for the plastic guitar substitute Guitar Hero fans have come to expect. It’s a plastic sleeve that plugs into the GBA slot, giving you four extra buttons on the side of your system to jam on.

This whole idea just sounds awful. Having to tap the side of the NDS (you play this game sideways, like Hotel Dusk) seems like a fundamentally flawed idea. How will the system stay securely in place without an opposing force on the other side? And who wants to strum by sliding the touchscreen? The tactile feel of the original has been replaced with a gimmicky, less-than-optimal, guitar abomination. And don’t even get me started on the sound quality. Are the tracks going to be MIDI?

Activision should learn to quit when they’re ahead. Rhythm games can work on the NDS (Elite Beat Agents is awesome), but only if they are made specifically for the system. You can’t cram a console idea onto a portable system and expect good results. Go back to the drawing board for this one.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Categories: Video games //