Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

 PlayStation 2
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 45
  3. Negative: 11 out of 45
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  1. LeoJ.
    Jul 26, 2007
    4
    It's hard to like GH 80s. It brings less to the table than a TV dinner. Songlist? It's short, with many selections that raise eyebrows as high as any New Wave hairstyle. "Lonely Is The Night"? "Shakin'"? "Turning Japanese"? "I Ran"? The really awful 80s covers of "Ballroom Blitz" and "Radar Love"? Who was responsible for this screwjob? It doesn't really get to rocking It's hard to like GH 80s. It brings less to the table than a TV dinner. Songlist? It's short, with many selections that raise eyebrows as high as any New Wave hairstyle. "Lonely Is The Night"? "Shakin'"? "Turning Japanese"? "I Ran"? The really awful 80s covers of "Ballroom Blitz" and "Radar Love"? Who was responsible for this screwjob? It doesn't really get to rocking by any definition until near the end, and before you know it the whole experience ends. There's very few changes from GH2; you're more likely to find things that are missing than added. Most of what differentiates this package from GH2 is eye candy, with only six 80s styled characters (good-bye Xavier, Clive, Casey, Eddie, and Lars), one unlockable character, no bonus music, no videos, and no special guitars. Many of the graphical elements are exactly the same or only have minor "80s Tweaks", like changing what Axel and Judy are wearing during the opening cartoon or making bits of the menu screens more pastel. It's pointless and annoying. Worst of all, this thing is EASY. Since the playlist stays away from power metal, glam rock, deathmetal, and whathaveyou, instead choosing to stay warm in the confines of hair rock and guitar pop, most songs are straight ahead lather-riff-repeat numbers, where you'll wind up playing the same exact pattern over and over for three to five minutes. Yawn. Even on Hard it's a cake walk. (Except for "Play With Me", of course...) Truth from someone with hours and hours and hours invested in the previous Guitar Hero games? Save yer cash for GH3 and Rock Band.… Expand
  2. budspud
    Sep 5, 2007
    2
    wow that is one /terrible game really they make a good franchise and say lets rip our fans off with terrible music most of em havent heard * good idea ill start right away really guys put effort in the next one or i will burn the last two becuase that really put a stopper in greatness and that is just the start bad pricetag barly any unlockables and forgettable songs hard to finish?wow that is one /terrible game really they make a good franchise and say lets rip our fans off with terrible music most of em havent heard * good idea ill start right away really guys put effort in the next one or i will burn the last two becuase that really put a stopper in greatness and that is just the start bad pricetag barly any unlockables and forgettable songs hard to finish? wow great effort all it needs is the macrena!! >:-{(… Expand
  3. T.K.
    Jul 29, 2007
    2
    This game was HIGHLY disappointing. Enjoyed the first and second GH games... But this one truly bites it. Really too bad. Could have been much better.
  4. JeremyR.
    Aug 12, 2007
    3
    I sat down with this game in the afternoon, and halfway through the evening I'd beaten it on expert with everything unlocked - thats not saying much btw, theres only 30 songs and a few unlockable guitars and skins. No unlockable tracks. Once it was done I had no intention of playing it again. I kinda liked how they were experimenting with the 3-finger chords and tried to make things I sat down with this game in the afternoon, and halfway through the evening I'd beaten it on expert with everything unlocked - thats not saying much btw, theres only 30 songs and a few unlockable guitars and skins. No unlockable tracks. Once it was done I had no intention of playing it again. I kinda liked how they were experimenting with the 3-finger chords and tried to make things more difficult, and they got a bit more creative with the solos as well. But the end result was a bunch of really long, repetitive tracks with a crazy solo at the last minute to frustrate you. 25/30 songs I've never heard of and are totally forgettable, and the only 2 I enjoyed playing were I Ran (So far away) and Turning Japanese. At 70 bucks AUD I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.… Expand
  5. CaroleMitchell
    Jul 12, 2008
    2
    After playing Rock Band, Guitar Hero rock the 80's was a huge disappointment! With the number of interactive options and songs for Rock Band, not to mention that Rock Band now costs about the same as guitar hero to buy the entire band set and game as it does to purchase the two guitar hero guitars and the game you would be nuts to spend any money on any of the guitar hero games.After playing Rock Band, Guitar Hero rock the 80's was a huge disappointment! With the number of interactive options and songs for Rock Band, not to mention that Rock Band now costs about the same as guitar hero to buy the entire band set and game as it does to purchase the two guitar hero guitars and the game you would be nuts to spend any money on any of the guitar hero games. Just buy Rock Band, at least you can keep changing and adding songs to your playlist for the same game rather than having to buy another fifty dollar game which may or may not have songs that you want. Face it Guitar Hero is washed up, make way for the entire band!… Expand
  6. D.B.
    Jul 24, 2007
    4
    (Encore should have been the predecessor to Guitar Hero I.) It's completely disappointing and not worth your money if you've already got Guitar Hero I or II. We are die-hard Guitar Hero fans (and kids of the 80s!), but we don't know any of the songs except 3 of them, at most. Save your money.
  7. AC.
    Jul 24, 2007
    3
    SAVE YOUR MONEY.
  8. RobertD.
    Jul 29, 2007
    3
    The game should be titled: "Guitar Hero Encore: Buttrocks of the 80s" You can hardly call any of the songs included with this title "rocking", and for approx. $1.77 per song ($49.99 + 7% tax = $53.49 / 30 songs = $1.77) you can feel completely shafted! Not only is there a ridiculously sparse 30 songs, but there are fewer in-game characters to chose from and the menu screen has remained The game should be titled: "Guitar Hero Encore: Buttrocks of the 80s" You can hardly call any of the songs included with this title "rocking", and for approx. $1.77 per song ($49.99 + 7% tax = $53.49 / 30 songs = $1.77) you can feel completely shafted! Not only is there a ridiculously sparse 30 songs, but there are fewer in-game characters to chose from and the menu screen has remained unchanged from Guitar Hero 2. If you enjoy money AND *real* 80s rock, then save your money for Guitar Hero 3. Goodness knows it'll be worth it.… Expand
  9. fuyuyuki
    Sep 7, 2020
    1
    guitar hero 2 with an ugly, lazy coat of paint. this game just leaves so much to be desired
  10. neojotic
    Aug 29, 2020
    4
    The playlist was weak and the game felt like guitar hero on auto pilot.

    Didn't live up to the first two games

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best PS2 Game of 2007
7
#7 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
25
#25 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 50 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 50
  3. Negative: 4 out of 50
  1. GotNext
    90
    It's a lot of (very familiar) fun, but like an overpriced concert t-shirt, there's no escaping the feeling that it's not quite the value it looked when enthusiasm had free reign over your wallet.
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  2. Game Informer
    83
    Yes, this fresh batch of tunes will help with the wait until the holiday rush of "Guitar Hero III" and "Rock Band." Those who are hoping for a new load of unlockables to shoot for are out of luck. [Aug 2007, p.97]
    Read full review
  3. 1UP
    75
    This is basically Guitar Hero II with a new set of songs. That means you get all of its improvements, from practice mode to cooperative two-player jams with one person on lead and the other on bass or rhythm guitar. But that also begs the question: Why does this need to be a full-price title?
    Read full review
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