Gitaroo-Man hitting the road

By Dan Tochen, GameSpot
Posted Apr 14, 2006 11:49 am PT

The original guitar hero makes an encore; new installment in rhythm game series set to arrive on Japanese PSPs next month.

A product posting on Sony's Japanese PlayStation site today announced a second installment in Koei's cult-hit rhythm game franchise, Gitaroo-Man.

Gitaroo-Man Live! for the PlayStation Portable is the follow-up to Gitaroo-Man, which was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2002 (2001 in Japan). Expect demos of this game to be in high demand at this year's E3; the original won positive reviews in both the US and Japan, though a very limited US release helped make the game something of a collector's item.

Though the Gitaroo-Man Live! product page is light on detail, it does reveal a few new features for the upcoming PSP game. It allows ad hoc network play (though, unfortunately, does not appear to be online compatible), and players can either compete head-to-head or cooperative in the new Duet mode. The game balance has been tweaked for the PSP version, and the game's music and vocals will be provided by well-known Japanese pop stars.

When the game launches in Japan on May 25, it will retail for 5,040 yen ($42.50). Koei has not yet made any announcements on a US release.

28 Comments

MassaLee
Posted Apr 17, 2006 10:41 am PT

New Gitaroo Man? Whoo!

PSP-only? Boo!

Soundtrack provided by well-known j-pop stars? As much as I love that Flyin' to your Heart level, I don't think I could stand something like that more than once.
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dragonsama
Posted Apr 17, 2006 7:11 am PT

This is the best news I've heard in a while. Gitaroo man was one of the best games to ever come out on the PS2. if you don't have a copy of it do yourself a favor and go get it if you ever see it. It will be the most fun you have playing a music game in years.

I enjoyed the game so much that I not only went out and bought the soundtrack I also bought a Guitar and started to learn to play it. I can almost play the legendary theme and I am trying to learn resurrection (the last song in the game) now.

I have also learned that I am not the only one who decided to pick up the Guitar after playing Gitaroo man. Many others have as well. If a game and inspire you this much to learn to play an instrument then It definitely deserves a sequel and should be played by more people.
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nemes1s3000
Posted Apr 16, 2006 9:19 pm PT

Awesome, just in time to celebrate my level 19 rank. (Guitaroo man)
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chrisdojo
Posted Apr 15, 2006 8:49 pm PT

oh no...
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loserboy8
Posted Apr 15, 2006 3:27 pm PT

man this is great. now if they would only release it for the ps2/ps3....
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aida_x
Posted Apr 15, 2006 8:30 am PT

Ever since the PSP's specs were announced a Gitaroo Man PSP was the one thing I wished for, even if it was a port. This is probably the greatest news I have heard in gaming history
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jimmy-fly
Posted Apr 15, 2006 3:20 am PT

awesome!
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robowarriorx
Posted Apr 15, 2006 12:13 am PT

Gitaroo Man is so, soooooo much better than Guitar Hero, and that one was pretty good. Totally different. I have been hoping for a sequal since the first, so hopefully Koei has the brass to bring it, plus it would be nice to have more quality psp games. Besides, this one would work really well with the PSP control scheme. Here's to hope (legendary theme plays softly).....
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Orasion_Seiz
Posted Apr 14, 2006 5:45 pm PT

i always love this game and a new gitaroo man would be really nice!
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MaxxxReebo
Posted Apr 14, 2006 3:27 pm PT

Ugh... anything but the PSP. I love Gitaroo Man, but not if it's on PSP.
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CTRtoken
Posted Apr 14, 2006 3:15 pm PT

Puma! PSP!
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BobbyBobby85
Posted Apr 14, 2006 3:13 pm PT

I feel bad for all the people here thinking they are taking about a Guitar Heo sequel. They truly missed out on the greatness that is Gitaroo man.
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BobbyBobby85
Posted Apr 14, 2006 3:11 pm PT

Gitaroo Man was one of the Few PS2 titles I loved. It had one of the coolest love melodies from any game from the genre. I wish they'd make the sequel on PS2 though. It would've inspired me to get another one after my original PS2 broke.
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gameloverx
Posted Apr 14, 2006 3:04 pm PT

hope it comes to America
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frankeyser
Posted Apr 14, 2006 1:52 pm PT

oh i am importing this for sure it was so good on the ps2. fiannly a game for my psp that i cant wait to get my hands on.
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jman183
Posted Apr 14, 2006 1:50 pm PT

Awesome news....but I want a US release!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Gitaroo-Man!! It has to be one of my most favorite games that I have ever played!!
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DBZelda7
Posted Apr 14, 2006 1:33 pm PT

OMG YES. O. M. G. YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!
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Nico4
Posted Apr 14, 2006 1:03 pm PT

Hope Gitaroo man live comes to Europe
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Mo3ius
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:50 pm PT

YES YES YES!!
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Weeoo_86
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:40 pm PT

They're probably gonna be like DDR and have like a butt load of games come out every month hehe. But shoot that's cool
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matrix_hiei
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:35 pm PT

good news. gitaroo-man was a solid rhythm game, so i might check it out on the psp.
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Hiroki_30303
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:33 pm PT

This article isn't talking about Guitar Hero, it's talking about Gitaroo-Man, and that game never had a guitar controller. This is greatthough. The original was awesome and hopefully this one will come over here as well.
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DevilMayAsian
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:32 pm PT

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
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StillWingless
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:27 pm PT

without a guitar controller, won't it end up more like... umjammer lammy? i liked the game, but you'd think they'd come up with something more original in order to define one game from the other.
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atomD21
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:16 pm PT

But without the guitar controller, won't it lose a lot of its appeal?
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NeoNder
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:08 pm PT

Give me a sequel to Guitar Hero, and I'll be happy.
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jimb0
Posted Apr 14, 2006 12:08 pm PT

Duet mode sounds pretty interesting. Hopefully it will head over here, or at least be import friendly.
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mr_squibble
Posted Apr 14, 2006 11:52 am PT

Sweetness! Total Sweetness!
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Gitaroo Man Lives!

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Release: Nov 14, 2006 »
ESRB: Everyone

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