Hey all,

I've just finished the final exams of my university degree and feel like... investing, who am I kidding, splurging rather in some hedonism :P This, I think, is going to take the form of some Guitar Hero titles, so I was wondering if I could get some assistance from any folks out there that might own any rhythm games.

I was thinking about picking up GH5 Super Bundle (game, mic, guitar and drums) with one or two other stand alone titles; I've spent the entire weekend debating whether I should take the plunge or not (I've never played a rhythm based game before, well, apart from Audiosurf which I love) - I've read reviews... and comments... and pretty everything there is to be read about the games, but I still have no idea whether the cost, in total around R2000 (thats about 200 Euros in conversion), will justify the potential fun to be had, hehe.

So, I would really appreciate if anyone had any comments or thoughts to give about the Guitar Hero games, GH5 in particular (I unfortunately have to keep it to GH and not Rock Band as I can't find any RB Bundle stockists in my country). Any input about the bundles and quality of the intruments as well would also be very useful. Your insights would really help my decision dilemma ;P And I know this is subjective, but subjectivity is absolutely what I'm after: do you think, in terms of fun, the Guitar Hero games are worth their cost? And, just, are they a good time in general: both solo and party wise? (although I'm going to make a massive assumption here *wink* and imagine that it is much more... amusing with the latter) ;D

Thanks to all that respond, your collective wisdom is most appreciated - you give the reason to my future rhyme! :P

P.S.
As an aside: I've read several articles proclaiming the music-based game industry to be dying... any thoughts on this matter? Don't really feel like investing this much money into controller equipment if Warriors of Rock or Rock Band 3 are going to be the last iterations of the games.

Again, thanks a lot :)

I would not recommend these kind of games for solo players, they grow old pretty fast if you are alone (at least for me). They are pretty good party games, though.

Well it has been oversaturated in recent years and from what I've seen, the new versions really don't offer much new. Personally I think the only thing that will revitalise the genre is to bring kinect into it and make Air Guitar Hero

...Are you fucking high?! Buy Audiosurf, Rhythm Zone, and Beat Hazard. 30 bucks spent with more entertainment than you can buy with all of the GH games.

In my point of view, I'd never buy a Guitar Hero game, neither RockBand.

Why? Because I'd get Drummania and Guitar Freaks. Well, actually I'd get beatmaniaIIDX and Pop'n Music before these :P but technically speaking these last 2 are not a "Guitar and Drum" music game :P

The music-based game instrustry isnt dying, only the "casual" one is dying... I mean, the real hardcore music games will continue without any problem... Look at beatmaniaIIDX, it started on 1999! (and beatmania even before!) and its already on the 18th version! So much songs, so much fun, so much videos, hell, so much playing!

Most Konami games (At least the Bemani ones, Bemani is the music-division) are alive and doing just fine, the main problem is that people dont even know them, mainly because most of them were not released outside japan or anything like that.

Also, Compared to Rockband or Guitar hero, Guitar Freaks is much more harder, even if it has "less" frets in the guitar...

for example GuitarFreaks+Drummania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksRNNW8xsOc

Also, if you like music games, you should check beatmaniaIIDX:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcqi2Q81tpk

And finally for some awesomeness, Pop'n Music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY21hkUef6E

I had GH3 for the PC.

Enjoyed it.. but maybe dl Frets on Fire (freeware) and get an Xbox USB guitar controller.....