List of songs in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is the sixth main game in the Guitar Hero series, and was released to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii consoles in September 2010. Warriors of Rock, as with previous games in the series, challenge the player to use special instrument controllers based on guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, matching notes as they scroll on-screen with specific actions of the controller to score points and successfully pass a song. Players are awarded star ratings based on their score; with changes in the mechanics of Warriors of Rock, the typical limit of 5 stars can easily be surpassed due to selected perks the player can select. Players can opt to try songs on one of five difficulty levels that alter the number of notes and speed with which they are presented to the player. Following a downward decline in sales of music games in 2009, partially due to the large number of music games released in 2009, Activision scaled back their efforts in the Guitar Hero series; as such, Warriors of Rock represents the final game developed by RedOctane and Neversoft before both studios were closed and brought in internally to Activision.
Main setlist
There are 93 songs on disc for Warriors of Rock.[1] Recent games in the Guitar Hero series were found to have soundtracks that attempted to please several types of players, leading to dilution of the experience; Warriors of Rock was built to focus on the success of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock with a soundtrack that was more focused on the rock 'n roll genre, according to project director Brian Bright.[2] The game features songs primary from the punk, alternative rock, and classic rock genres, and with heavy focus on lead guitar portions as this was found to be the most popular instrument by players. The game's on-disc setlist is also more difficult than songs from previous games, as Activision found most players would quickly progress to the highest difficulty, Expert, shortly after each game's release.[3] Bright noted that "there's still range and still a lot of variety in this game" to avoid too much alienating of long-time fans of the series in general".[4]
Warriors of Rock' primary gameplay mode is "Quest" mode, a story-driven campaign where players recruit fictional in-game characters to help rescue the DemiGod of Rock from imprisonment by The Beast; the story is narrated by Gene Simmons. For each character, the player must earn a number of stars based on how well they scored on a selection of songs tied to each character that represented the genre the character personifies; for example, the mohawk-wearing Johnny Napalm has songs primarily from the punk genre. After achieving the required number of stars, the character transforms into a more powerful character that brings specific bonuses and perks when that character is used, such as increasing the scoring multiplier. Once the player is able to earn the transformed version of a character, that character can then be used as part of the band, and the opportunity to recruit another character will become available. One highlight of Quest Mode's story involves finding the Demigod's guitar in a cave; this part of the story is set to match the lyrics of Rush's 7-part epic, "2112", with Rush members Geddy Lee, Neil Peart,and Alex Lifeson narrating the story. Outside of Quest mode, the on-disc songs can be played at any time in Quickplay and various competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes.
Two songs, Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and The Runaways' "Cherry Bomb", have been specifically re-recorded by the original bands for use in Warriors of Rock.[5] The song "Black Rain" by Soundgarden represents the first single by the group since 1997, and the release of the game was planned in coordination with Soundgarden's Telephantasm compilation album that includes the single. Megadeth's "Sudden Death" was specifically written by Dave Mustaine as the final song within Warriors of Rock's setlist; its polyrhythms and difficult passes to make it the toughest song to beat.[6][7]
Reviewers found the soundtrack to lack the focus that Activision claims it has, and that the series may have exhausted a number of good guitar songs in its previous iterations. Arthur Gies of IGN stated that the game soundtrack "may be the most uneven collection in any of the main Guitar Hero titles", citing problems with "a surplus of tracks that seem out of place", "too many songs that are just boring to play", and "a number of synth heavy songs that are nevertheless shoehorned" into the game.[8] Official Xbox Magazine UK stated that the setlist "feels at times uninspired, incongruous and uninteresting".[9] Game Informer's Matt Helgeson felt the setlist was "a mixed bag", with a strong and balanced set of songs in the early tiers of Quest mode, while the latter, more difficult songs were "terrible and felt like a chore" to complete.[10] Roger Hargreaves of The Metro commented that "with so many of the more iconic rock songs having already been used in previous Guitar Hero and Rock Band games developers are forced to use ever more obscure songs and/or acts".[11] On the other hand, USA Today's Mike Snider claimed that the game's soundtrack "gave [him] a reason to blast music on [his] stereo", and besides providing well-known songs and bands, introduced him to new bands.[12]
| Year | Song | Artist | Genre | Quest Mode Setlist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Again" | Flyleaf | Modern Rock | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 1971 | "Aqualung"+ | Jethro Tull | Classic Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 2005 | "Bat Country"+ | Avenged Sevenfold | Metal | 9. Axel Steel Encore |
| 1990 | "Been Caught Stealing"+ | Jane's Addiction | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails Encore |
| 2010 | "Black Rain" | Soundgarden | Grunge | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 2007 | "Black Widow of La Porte"+b | John 5 featuring Jim Root | Speed Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock Final Encore |
| 2007 | "Bleed It Out" | Linkin Park | Nu Metal | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 2009 | "Bloodlines"+ | Dethklok | Death Metal | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 2001 | "Bodies"+ | Drowning Pool | Nu Metal | 6. Pandora Encore |
| 1975 | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen | Classic Rock | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2004 | "Burn" | Deep Purple | Hard Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 1993 | "Burnin' for You" | Blue Öyster Cult | Classic Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 1976 | "Call Me the Breeze" (Live) | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Southern Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 2007 | "Calling"+ | Strung Out | Modern Rock | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 1984 | "Chemical Warfare"+ | Slayer | Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 2010 | "Cherry Bomb"a+ | The Runaways | Rock | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 1971 | "Children of the Grave"+ | Black Sabbath | Metal | 4. Austin Tejas Encore |
| 1993 | "Cryin'"+ | Aerosmith | Blues Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 2005 | "Dance, Dance"+ | Fall Out Boy | Pop Rock | 6. Pandora |
| 2003 | "Dancing Through Sunday"+ | AFI | Rock | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 1997 | "Deadfall" | Snot | Punk | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 1989 | "Fascination Street" | The Cure | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2008 | "The Feel Good Drag"+ | Anberlin | Modern Rock | 6. Pandora |
| 2007 | "Feels Like the First Time"+ | Foreigner | Classic Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 1969 | "Fortunate Son" | Creedence Clearwater Revival | Southern Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 1997 | "Free Ride"+ | Edgar Winter | Classic Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 2004 | "Fury of the Storm"+ | DragonForce | Speed Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 2002 | "Get Free"+ | The Vines | Alternative | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 2010 | "Ghost"+ | Slash featuring Ian Astbury | Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 2009 | "Graduate"+ | Third Eye Blind | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2009 | "Hard to See"+ | Five Finger Death Punch | Metal | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 1990 | "Holy Wars… The PInishment Due"+ | Megadeth | Metal | 10. Battle With The Beast |
| 2001 | "How You Remind Me"+ | Nickelback | Hard Rock | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2009 | "I Know What I Am" | Band of Skulls | Indie Rock | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 1994 | "I'm Broken"+ | Pantera | Metal | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 2004 | "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" | My Chemical Romance | Pop Punk | 6. Pandora |
| 2005 | "If You Want Peace... Prepare for War"+ | Children of Bodom | Death Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 1987 | "Indians"+ | Anthrax | Thrash Metal | 9. Axel Steel |
| 1994 | "Interstate Love Song"+ | Stone Temple Pilots | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2009 | "It's Only Another Parsec..."+ | RX Bandits | Modern Rock | 6. Pandora |
| 1990 | "Jet City Woman"+ | Queensrÿche | Hard Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 2009 | "Lasso" | Phoenix | Alternative | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 1978 | "Listen to Her Heart"+ | Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | Classic Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 1991 | "Losing My Religion" | R.E.M. | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2007 | "Love Gun"+ | Kiss | Glam Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 1981 | "Lunatic Fringe" | Red Rider | Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 1994 | "Machinehead"+ | Bush | Rock | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 1986 | "Modern Day Cowboy" | Tesla | Classic Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 1985 | "Money for Nothing"+ | Dire Straits | Pop Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 2001 | "Motivation" | Sum 41 | Pop Punk | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 1995 | "Move It On Over" (Live)+ | George Thorogood & The Destroyers | Blues Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 2005 | "Nemesis"+ | Arch Enemy | Death Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 2010 | "No More Mr. Nice Guy" a | Alice Cooper | Classic Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 2005 | "No Way Back" | Foo Fighters | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2003 | "The Outsider"+ | A Perfect Circle | Alternative | 6. Pandora |
| 2009 | "Paranoid" (Live) | Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne | Metal | 7. Lars Umlaut Encore |
| 2009 | "Pour Some Sugar on Me" (Live) | Def Leppard | Hard Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 2008 | "Psychosocial"+ | Slipknot | Metal | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 2009 | "Ravenous"+ | Atreyu | Metal | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 1987 | "Re-Ignition" (Live)+ | Bad Brains | Punk | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 2009 | "Renegade"+ | Styx | Classic Rock | 8. Casey Lynch Encore |
| 2009 | "(You Can Still) Rock in America" | Night Ranger | Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 1989 | "Rockin' in the Free World" | Neil Young | Classic Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 2008 | "Savior"+ | Rise Against | Modern Rock | 6. Pandora |
| 2009 | "Scumbag Blues" | Them Crooked Vultures | Alternative | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 1994 | "Self Esteem" | The Offspring | Pop Punk | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 2004 | "Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants"+ | The Dillinger Escape Plan | Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 2003 | "Seven Nation Army" | The White Stripes | Blues Rock | 3. Judy Nails |
| 2007 | "Sharp Dressed Man" (Live)+ | ZZ Top | Blues Rock | 8. Casey Lynch |
| 2004 | "Slow Hands" | Interpol | Alternative | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 2010 | "Speeding (Vault Version)"+b | Steve Vai | Speed Metal | 11. Demi-God of Rock |
| 1968 | "Stray Cat Blues" | The Rolling Stones | Blues Rock | 4. Austin Tejas |
| 2010 | "Sudden Death"+ | Megadeth | Metal | 10. Battle With The Beast |
| 2009 | "Suffocated" | Orianthi | Modern Rock | 6. Pandora |
| 1995 | "Theme from Spiderman" | The Ramones | Punk | 1. Johnny Napalm Encore |
| 2009 | "There's No Secrets This Year" | Silversun Pickups | Indie Rock | 6. Pandora |
| 2009 | "This Day We Fight!"+ | Megadeth | Metal | 10. Battle With The Beast |
| 2007 | "Tick Tick Boom" | The Hives | Alternative | 2. Echo Tesla |
| 2007 | "Ties That Bind"+ | Alter Bridge | Hard Rock | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 1992 | "Tones of Home"+ | Blind Melon | Alternative | 3. Judy Nails |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 1 – Overture"+ | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 2 – The Temples of Syrinx"+ | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 3 – Discovery"b | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 4 – Presentation"+ | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 5 – Oracle: The Dream" | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 6 – Soliloquy"+ | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1976 | "2112 Pt. 7 – Grand Finale"+ | Rush | Prog Rock | 5. Legendary Guitar Stage |
| 1990 | "Unskinny Bop"+ | Poison | Glam Rock | 9. Axel Steel |
| 2009 | "Uprising" | Muse | Alternative | 2. Echo Tesla Encore |
| 2009 | "Waidmanns Heil"+ | Rammstein | Industrial | 7. Lars Umlaut |
| 2005 | "We're Not Gonna Take It"+ | Twisted Sister | Glam Rock | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 1978 | "What Do I Get?" | Buzzcocks | Punk | 1. Johnny Napalm |
| 2002 | "Wish" | Nine Inch Nails | Industrial | 2. Echo Tesla |
^a Song has been re-recorded for the game.
^b Song does not have parts for one or more instruments.
^+ Song contains both a single and double bass drums chart, contains ghost notes, or both.
Downloadable content
Warriors of Rock provides the capacity to purchase more songs that can be played in the game alongside the on-disc soundtrack through downloadable content for each console. All previous downloadable content that worked with Guitar Hero 5, as well as selected on-disc songs from Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero World Tour, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, and Band Hero, works in Warriors of Rock. More than 500 tracks are available to players since launch.[13] In addition, 39 songs from Guitar Hero: Metallica are importable into Warriors of Rock as of the game's release.[14]
Initial shipments of the game in the United States are also bundled with Soundgarden's latest album, Telephantasm, which includes the new track "Black Rain" and other previous Soundgarden songs; "Black Rain" is available on the Warriors of Rock disc to play, while the remaining eleven tracks on the album, songs from previous Soundgarden albums, are available as downloadable content alongside release of the game.[15][16][17][18]
| Year | Song title | Artist | Pack name | Genre | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Hunted Down" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1989 | "Hands All Over" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1991 | "Outshined" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1992 | "Rusty Cage" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1992 | "Birth Ritual" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1994 | "Black Hole Sun" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1994 | "Spoonman" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1994 | "My Wave" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1995 | "Fell on Black Days" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1996 | "Burden in My Hand" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
| 1996 | "Blow Up the Outside World" | Soundgarden | Telephantasm | Grunge | September 28, 2010 |
References
- ^ Anderson, Joe (2010-08-18). "Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock tracklist unleashed". VG247. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
- ^ East, Thomas (2010-06-30). "Guitar Hero lost its identity - Neversoft". Official Nintendo Magazine. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
- ^ Crossley, Rob (2010-08-09). "Neversoft on 'selling out' in the race for sales". Develop. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
- ^ Cowen, Nick (2010-09-24). "Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock video game preview". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ^ "ALICE COOPER, THE RUNAWAYS Re-Record Tracks Exclusively For 'Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock'". Blabbermouth.net. 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ Dave Mustaine (speaker) (2010-09-01). Dave Mustang Talks Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (Flash video) (Trailer). Activision. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ "Dave Mustaine, "Sudden Death" Featured on G4 TV's X-Play". Roadrunner Records. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ Gies, Arthur (2010-09-28). "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Review". Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock". [[|Official Xbox Magazine|Official Xbox Magazine (UK)]]. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ Helgeson, Matt (2010-09-28). "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock". Game Informer. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ Hargreaves, Roger (2010-09-27). "Games review - Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock tunes out". The Metro. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ^ Snider, Mike (2010-09-29). "First Impressions: 'Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
- ^ King, Ryan (June 2010). "Guitar Hero 6". Official Xbox Magazine UK. pp. 56–57.
- ^ "Guitar Hero® Metallica® Thrashes its Way Into the Guitar Hero® Music Library" (Press release). Activision. 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
- ^ Snider, Mike (2010-08-02). "Soundgarden's 'Telephantasm' gets 'Guitar Hero' welcome". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ Mastrapa, Gus (2010-08-03). "New Guitar Hero Packed With Soundgarden's Greatest Hits". Wired. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "SOUNDGARDEN: Complete 'Telephantasm' Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2010-08-05). "Soundgarden album free with Guitar Hero". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
External links
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