DS owners, it is time to get your inner Rock-god fired up! The folks at Activision, are not resting on their laurels being the number one publisher of video games in the US and merging with Blizzard to become even larger. No, they have plans for you DS owners. This is Guitar Hero On Tour for the Nintendo DS. We got to test and play this at Destination PlayStation in Arizona a while ago, but we could not share this with you, dear reader, until now. We think you are going to like what you see.
Image Source: IGN
Yup, this is what it will look like. It clicks onto your Nintendo DS and boom, you have a portable Guitar Hero game. It comes with a "pick" because one strums a screen and pushes the "frets" as you would on console versions. Great head to head action is possible using the DS wi-fi ad hoc network. I got to play against one of the folks from Activision. Like the console version, players can launch attacks against each other. The game leverages the DS features very well. One may have a rabid fan wanting an autograph during their performance, so one needs to "sign" on the touchscreen before getting back to playing. Alternatively, players can launch a failed pyrotechnic attach on their opposition who will need to "blow out" the flames using the DS. Lots of fun. Honestly, I would have stayed playing it, but we had some business to take care of at Destination PlayStation, oh well. Sometimes work gets in the way of fun.
Great songs are included including hits from Nirvana, OK Go and No Doubt. New unlockable venues keep the Rock Party going on all over the place. It is rated E-10+ so it will reach a wide audience. Personally, I think this is going to be a really huge title to expand an already large market. Brining together a top music franchise game with the top handheld platform should only result in a powerful combination in the marketplace. We are excited to be able to share this with you. Be looking for this at a Sam's Club near you.
While I do not personally own a DS (the collection is limited to a PS3, PSP, 360, Wii and various Macs), this may be a reason for me to get one.
Crank up your DS and you can be like the gents in Spinal Tap*, crank it up to eleven!
So what do you think? Is this something you would want for your Nintendo DS?
(*This is Spinal Tap, for those that do not know, was a very funny "R" rated "mockumentary" directed by Rob Reiner and released in 1984. It followed a fictious British metal band by the same name who mysteriously lost many drummers over the years. Good flick if you want to laugh at some sophomoric humor.)
Here is a quote from the movie regarding the aforementioned "eleven." You really need to see it if you have not.
Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don't know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven. Nigel