Guitar Hero: Van Halen (Xbox 360, 2009)

I got a great deal on my copy on ebay and love it for that fact. I have been an RockBand fanatic from the get-go and actually bought Guitar Hero: World Tour with very dissappointing results. However, THIS game was something I really wanted to have.

With the RockBand / GH cross compatibility with equipment, made this purchase an easy one and something that was cheap enough not to require an entire switchover to a whole other game franchise and their gear.

I had been initially worried since this game had been given away as a 'promotional copy' for free along with advance purchases of GH5. So I had always been eyeing auctions to find a copy for about half the cost of the GH5 purchase price (assuming the person wasn't a VH fan). I knew that I was going to try and spend around $30.

I ended up winning a full copy and can verify that there is no difference, other than a lack of case and booklet in the promo version. Like many reviewers have mentioned, the game lacks a few things, like even using 'younger' versions of the VH members and the exclusion of some select songs. But all in all, I have to admit, for the master tracks and the ability to play along with some of what I consider the absolute classics of VH, it is well worth the price of admission. I love drumming 'Jump' and 'Ice Cream Man' is pretty sweet...

I certainly wouldn't reccommend running out and buying a full copy of it off the shelves, for like $60-70, but securing a copy for under $30, regardless of whether it is a promo version or not, will not affect your enjoyment of the game.

One word of advice I might throw out though is if you ARE a GH fan and own most fo the game. Do make sure you ask the seller if they've used the import code or not, if you plan on merging this VH library into your existing main game (GH5? GHWT?) Only because, most might've done this and are dumping the game for cheap, forcing you to play this as a stand-alone. I didn't care either way, as this is the only GH game I own or will play. But if it were an RB game, I'd want to import it for sure. Something to keep in mind!

Rock on!
A

I'm a GH/RB fan, and hesitated a little before buying it, once i am no not a VH fan. But it turned to be one excellent game, cos Eddie's solos are really fun to play.

Pros:
- good price
- very fun guitar playing (and drums to a lesser extent)
- "space truckin" and "painkiller" kick azz
- got to know better this great band
- it's guitar hero!

Cons:
- nothing new in relation to other GH games
- doesn't even has a fun HQ plot like GH: Metallica

Don't waste you money on the PS2 version, it is a piece of junk! Bought this game brand new and it keeps freezing up. I can play a few songs in quickplay mode, but after a few songs it freezes up when trying to load another song. I could not play career mode because it freezes up when trying to load it. Activision(the maker of the game) claims that my PS2 is in need of repair, but I don't have any problems playing any of my other hundred games. Also, if you check out the reviews of this game on Walmart.com you will see that many others have had the same problem I've had! Their PS2s work fine except for when trying to play this game. Activision is just like all the other big companies - let's blame someone else so we make a profit on a piece of junk. Don't waste your time or your money on the PS2 version!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This recent installment to the Guitar Hero series unfortunately falls a bit flat. In a nutshell, they've copy & pasted a different band onto a tired game engine from the previous year's "World Tour." (This is the fourth title in one year to use the same format.) The game plays well enough and does everything it's meant to do, but this is a very bare bones experience with no new features, bonus interviews, or added bell & whistles. Without the inclusion of any Sammy Hagar songs they've also managed to restrict the playlist to only half of this band's library. Even the songs picked from the guest artists seem like questionable choices, making this title attractive only to true old-school Van Halen fans.

this game goes well with my other gh games fun to play,i really like the head to head with two people it is extremely fun .i would suggest this for any gh player