Despite not having been officially unveiled yet (we've got Gene Simmons' famously big mouth to thank for confirming the game's existence), the first details about Guitar Hero 6 have just started to filter through the internet, after pages from OXM surfaced online.
Putting the focus back on Rock 'n' Roll (whatever that might mean, as Elton John could still technically be classed as Rock 'n' Roll), Guitar Hero 6 looks to take the series back to its roots - which, if they follow through with it, could be just what the series needs.
Heading up the list of revamps is an all new "Quest" mode, which sees you travelling the world with your band of misfits, recruiting both classic Guitar Hero characters, and real world rock heroes to your cause, by playing through their respective setlists. And while this certainly sounds like an interesting idea, we really, really hope this doesn't mean that boss battles will be returning - although we honestly doubt Activision would try something that crazy.
Following in the footsteps of its previous games, Guitar Hero 6 will also be featuring celebrity cameos - the first one confirmed being Lars Ulrich from Metallica, although this time, the cameos will be unplayable. Much to the surprise of no-one, the game's Quest mode is set to be narrated by Gene Simmons - the lead man of Guitar Hero mainstays Kiss.
In terms of other modes and gameplay, we're also promised a revamped quick play mode, the ability to play DLC from previous games, and, somewhat bizarrely, sustained open notes on the bass guitar. Quite how they'll pull that one off is anyone's guess.
Officially confirmed for inclusion on the setlist so far are Queen, Black Sabbath and (surprise surprise) Kiss - but a whole load of other songs are circulating around the internet, after purportedly being leaked in an issue of the Official Playstation Magazine.
The "leaked" setlist includes:
- "Children of the Gravy" by Black Sabbath
- "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" by My Chemical Romance
- "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard
- "What Do I Get?" by the Buzzcocks
- "If You Want Peace…Prepare for War" by Children of Bodom
- "Love Gun" by KISS
- "Chemical Warfare" by Slayer
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
- "Uprising" by Muse
- "Paranoid" by Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne
- "Been Caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction
- "There's No Secrets This Year" by Silversun Pickups
- "Sudden Death" by Megadeth
- "Bloodlines" by Dethklok
- "Waidmanns Heil" by Rammstein
- "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top
- "Dancing Through Sunday" by AFI
- "Fury of the Storm" by Dragonforce
- "Fascination Street" by The Cure
Plenty of songs then - but so far, pretty underwhelming. It looks like when they said the series would be going back to basics, they also meant with the setlist, as, for the most part, it's the same bands, and in the case of Paranoid, the same songs as we've seen featured on previous Guitar Hero games.
Of course, 19 songs do not a setlist make, so while we may be disappointed by the rather obscure choices of songs (when are we going to get one of Rammstein's big songs), we remain hopeful that the rest of the setlist will make up for any potential shortcomings.A back to basics reboot could be just what the series needed. We expect more information to come out of the E3 Expo, in around a month's time.
