Settling the Debate: Guitar Hero or Rock Band?

When "Guitar Hero" was released back in 2005, it started a cultural phenomenon where people simply hit five buttons on a plastic guitar instead of a real one. When "Rock Band" was released in 2007, the two games were compared and critiqued almost endlessly. Both games have garnered a devoted following, and both groups believe their respective game is better. Being both a devoted "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" player myself, allow me to offer my insight on this debate. I will judge both games based on five categories: peripherals, graphics, difficulty, song choice, and overall game play.Round one goes to "Rock Band" for its peripherals. In terms of the instruments required to play the games, "Rock Band" is vastly superior to "Guitar Hero." When I first got "Guitar Hero: World Tour," I had problems with my guitar, and I eventually had to send it in to be replaced. There have also been numerous complaints that the drum kit has had unresponsive pads, and the microphone does not always work. When "Rock Band" was originally released, they had very few complaints regarding their instruments, and they worked out virtually all their bugs when they released "Rock Band 2."

Round two's graphics also go to "Rock Band." Although I am sure many people will question why I mention graphics, I feel it is necessary. While graphics do not make or break a game, I feel like "Rock Band" has the better graphics of the two, with its smoother looking venues and note charts. "Guitar Hero" offers some blocky characters, and the venues are not incredibly detailed.

Though "Rock Band" has won rounds one and two, round three goes to "Guitar Hero." When I play both games, I find myself getting especially bored with "Rock Band" as it does not pose much of a challenge for me. I play expert guitar all the time and feel like the charts that Harmonix came up with are not challenging whatsoever. However, with "Guitar Hero," I feel challenged and find myself failing through songs once I get into the last tiers of career mode. I also think the solos in "Guitar Hero" are far more fun to play compared to the simple solos many of the songs in "Rock Band" present.

Round four's song choice also goes to "Guitar Hero," tying both games at two rounds apiece. This is probably the one section that was a huge toss-up for me, but I feel like "Guitar Hero" has a better variety of songs to choose from than "Rock Band." I recognize many songs in "Guitar Hero: World Tour," and I enjoy playing them all as well. With "Rock Band," however, I like a lot of the songs they offer, but do not recognize some of the titles. For instance, I know obvious songs like "Any Way You Want It" by Journey, but I had never heard of "Visions" by Abnormality. With "Guitar Hero: World Tour," I know the majority of songs from "Misery Business" by Paramore to "Hotel California" by The Eagles to "Hot For Teacher" by Van Halen.

To take home the trophy in round five, I think "Guitar Hero" has the best overall game play for two reasons. First, the hammer-on and pull-off system used in "Guitar Hero: World Tour" is very easy to use and to get used to. "Rock Band" has a difficult and clunky hammer-on and pull-off system, and I find myself missing more notes that I could easily hit when I am playing a song. Second, is the ability to read notes on charts. "Guitar Hero" uses easy-to-read circles, while I find myself losing track of the rectangular notes "Rock Band" uses.

While I feel "Guitar Hero" is the better series of the two, I have a feeling this will spark some debate among fans of both series. I love both games, but "Guitar Hero" is for more skilled players, whereas "Rock Band" is more for party situations and casual players. Let the debate begin!