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Band Hero

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 31 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Activision
Genre(s): Music, Rhythm Action
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Release Date: November 3, 2009
Summary
Family and friends come together to ascend the virtual stage and rock their way to superstardom with Band Hero, which features the hottest chart-topping hits from everyone's favorite acts including No Doubt, Lily Allen, The All-American Rejects, Snow Patrol and The Jackson 5. Headlined by some of the biggest names in music as in-game artists and playable characters, Band Hero is the ultimate party game where players of all ages can create the band they have always dreamed of by using any combination of guitar or drum controllers and vocals, providing rockers and performers of all ages the chance to experience and interact with their favorite music. [Activision]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Game Chronicles
Neversoft and Activision have built on the successful design of Guitar Hero 5 and given it a fresh new look and replaced all that aggressive rock and pounding metal with fun and energetic pop music and the smooth sounds of classic rock from the past three decades that will certainly appeal to younger gamers and their parents.
Read Full Review >1UP
While some people might complain about being fatigued by the seemingly endless stream of similar music games, when they're tied to each other like Band Hero is tied to GH5, I see that as a positive direction for Activision's franchise. It's one of the strongest points of the Rock Band series, and is a very smart move for Hero as well.
Read Full Review >Extreme Gamer
Band Hero is simply Guitar Hero 5 repackaged, and this is fine, but gamers should be aware of this before they think Activision has brought something new to the genre.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
If you're interested in even half the songs, I can almost guarantee you'll find at least a couple more surprisingly entertaining. And that pretty much sums up Band Hero for me: It's not a revolution for the genre, but it is a surprisingly solid, well thought-out, and just plain entertaining game.
Read Full Review >Planet Xbox 360
If you have been waiting for a music game that is a bit different than the others and includes the best playlist of pop-songs, put on a disguise and go pick-up Band Hero.
Read Full Review >GameFocus
For a game that Activision have said they want to stand on its own, it just doesn’t seem to change the formula enough to make it appeal to people who’ve played other games in the series. At least not yet, anyway. Really, this is just a gussied-up track pack for the casual market. That’s not to say that it isn’t a fun experience, it’s just certainly not a new one.
Read Full Review >3DJuegos
It's not a revolution for the genre, but it is a solid and entertaining game.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
There’s no doubt that Band Hero is fun to play, but Activision could have had so much more to show if it had evolved it better in relation to the other Hero games.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
At the end of the day, Band Hero feels a little like that massive bag of cotton candy you buy at the fair. Nostalgia tells you that it tastes great, but reality leaves you with a pink mouth and a stomach ache.
Read Full Review >GamesNation
The Guitar Hero spin-off mania has hit the dance floor, positively introducing the pop genre to all its fans. Band Hero is a very enjoyable rhythm game, with great songs and loads of gameplay modes.
Read Full Review >Vandal Online
Guitar Hero focuses on a loyal public, but limited to certain ranges. Band Hero broadens the public offering a repertory rich and varied enough to attract anyone.
Read Full Review >ZTGameDomain
The Top 40 music game is actually long overdue and I don't think it would be any more sensible to make this entire thing DLC as it would require people only wanting these songs to purchase both the original game and an entirely new pack.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Band Hero makes fake plastic rock easy to pick up, family friendly, and a whole lot of fun.
Read Full Review >Meristation
The same Guitar Hero franchise, but now it's time for Pop music. Including all features of Guitar Hero 5 with different tracklist, stages, vocalists and musicians, and inviting casual gamers to play guitars, drums, or just singing. Activision presents this new style for all kind of families, introducing real Popstars like Taylor Swift or Adam Levine as unlockable characters.
Read Full Review >Gamervision
Neversoft did a good job of not dumbing the game down while trying to appeal to a younger audience, and as a result both new gamers and longtime fans will be able to enjoy Band Hero.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
Band Hero is not the result of a series selling out or losing its identity. Instead it is proof that the developer has recognised a key gap in the market and has rather competently filled it.
Read Full Review >Da Gameboyz
Overall, Band Hero plays and presents almost exactly like Guitar Hero 5.
Read Full Review >Kombo
Band Hero can stand apart with being aimed squarely at the angsty tween crowd.
Read Full Review >Games Radar (in-house)
The bottom line is Band Hero is going to be an awesome game to those who happen to fall neatly within its target demographic. However, the developers missed the opportunity to make Band Hero stand out as a unique offshoot of the main franchise with special features and additional content.
Read Full Review >Totally360
In the end, Band Hero is a lot of fun. Your enjoyment of this title will depend on the track list.
Read Full Review >IGN
Band Hero is a good game, but it lacks any kind of spark that makes it feel unique. In the end, this is one of the examples people will point to when they talk about Activision milking the Guitar Hero franchise for all it’s worth – even though this time the milk is quenching the thirst of every Taylor Swift fan out there with a plastic guitar.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
It’s hard to take Band Hero out of the context of its recent music game brethren. Band Hero is the least innovative of the bunch, but that certainly doesn’t make it bad. For players who found previous releases too hard-edged for their tastes, Band Hero is exactly what they’ve been waiting for.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
If you've already played Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero is the exact same thing, just with brighter lights and an easier setting.
Read Full Review >WonderwallWeb
Will not doubt appeal to all the pop fans out there despite it being a Guitar Hero 5 clone.
Read Full Review >InsideGamer.nl
Although the game is quite easy and The Spice Girls are present in the game, Band Hero is still a fine game within the Guitar Hero series. The game looks stunning, the set list has some really nice highlights and practically all the little annoyances are gone. Kudos!
MS Xbox World
Technically, features and presentation are well executed and bug free. However, we have some issues recommending it unconditionally due to missing that something that makes a player take the experience seriously and invest effort to earn progression.
Read Full Review >Teletext GameCentral
It may just be a cynical re-branding of Guitar Hero 5 but if you prefer pop to rock this is still fun.
Read Full Review >VideoGamer
It's a game that comes across more as GH with a different musical focus, rather than as a new IP in its own right. Band Hero is far from being a bad game, but somewhere along the line it seems the new franchise's focus became a little confused.
Read Full Review >GameDaily
If you haven't played the latest Guitar Hero or are looking for something that all ages of players can get into, it's a respectable choice. However, its mostly flat song list and almost complete lack of anything significantly new may have you feeling a sense of deja vu that can't be shaken.
Read Full Review >Giant Bomb
Band Hero is a product that feels like a commodity, something assembled by a marketing team concerned only with the market demands currently not met by the existing Guitar Hero brand. But that cold, calculated feeling doesn't make it a bad game.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
The game is sound on the technical side, and if you were still a big fan of the stuff, then I'd say Band Hero would be right up your alley once again. However, if you're feeling more than a little burned out at this point, and hoping for something particularly awesome from this release, prepare to be disappointed.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 5.2 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
