More an expansion pack than a true sequel, Rocks The 80s follows the same formula as previous Guitar Hero games, this time focusing on the smug rock of the yuppie era. Yet while theres no question that Guitar Hero is amongst the worlds most satisfying videogames, its also a title that stands or falls on the strength of its music; and this time the tunes just dont cut it.
For every chord-crunching classic Iron Maidens Wrathchild, The Vapors Turning Japanese and Police Truck by the Dead Kennedys are superb is a disappointing jumble of tracks by long-forgotten acts who are best remembered as provocative logos stencilled onto canvas schoolbags 20 years ago, including Ratt, Anthrax and Twisted Sister.
In an ideal world, players would be able to download this extra content at a budget price, rather than having to fork out thirty quid for another disc. But while this latest release is a joy for fans of cheesy 80s rock, the Guitar Hero series will need to work harder next time, especially with the highly anticipated, multi-instrument rhythm game Rock Band waiting to steal its thunder at the end of this year.