In the popular game Guitar Hero you simulate playing guitar. The concept has been very well received on earlier platforms. On Nintendo DS the game works well, but requires a bit of practice.

On Nintendo DS it´s really the games machine itself which is the guitar. With this game you get a new grip controller which connects to the GBA port on the DS, where you have four different buttons which look like the five we know from the stationary consoles. A guitar pick comes with the pack, which you use to strum the strings on the touch sensitive screen. Apart from this the game is more or less the same as earlier: You pick a character and the guitar you want to use in your career, and then you go on tour and perform with different cover songs. You´ll find amongst others Blink-182, OK Go, Maroon 5 and Red Hot Chili Peppers on the list. With five different levels and loads of songs to choose from you´ll have enough to do on a boring bus journey.

Child suitability:
Children (and adults) will first of all notice how badly the grip controll is attached to the GBA port. Often the fight to keep the board in place gets just as tiring as hitting the notes. At the same time you have to keep an eye on both screens – the strings, the wammy bar and the star power meter on one, and the notes flying by on the other. Children and adults alike might get problems keeping up with everything, and risk being discouraged. Even so the game is easy to understand, and a lot of fun after a bit of practice. But the very youngest might not get too much out of it.

Score: 5

Suggested age: Suitable from 7 years.

Format: Nintendo DS

PEGI: 3