Guitar Hero – Metallica

Following the release of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, this is the second game in the series to focus on a specific band.

This title borrows heavily from the innovations introduced in Guitar Hero: World Tour, including band career modes for single or multiple players with a cartoon-style storyline, competitive modes online, and the ability to play with different instruments such as a regular guitar, a bass guitar, drums, and doing the vocals. The plot outlines how a band aspires to follow in Metallica’s footsteps and become a headlining act on their tour. This edition includes an Expert+ difficulty option in which players must drum using a second bass pedal to emulate the playing technique of the band’s drummer, Lars Ulrich. Members also participated in motion capture sessions for the avatars in the game.

The music selection comprises 28 master recordings and 21 extra tracks chosen by the band from various artists. Various videos and song trivia are included as extras. Progress is made through completing song sets rather than a series of shows set in venues significant to the band’s career, like in Guitar Hero: World Tour. Performances are rated with stars, and a particular number of stars are required to advance and unlock a new set.

GHTunes from World Tour is also included in the game, where new songs may be made and shared. A new Drum Mode allows you to play the drums without using an existing drum track to create new rhythms, and the Battle mode (from Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock) has been updated with Metallica-inspired power-ups such as Fade To Black, Under The Ice, and Ride The Lightning.

Although it was packaged with a guitar controller and a Metallica faceplate in Europe, other regions received only a solus edition. Pre-order bonuses included custom drumsticks and a second bass pedal at some retailers.