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Poison, Police play 80s Guitar Hero Encore

"Synchronicity II" and "Nothing But a Good Time" to be featured on slightly retitled PS2 rhythm game; Billy Squier, Eddie Money, Faster Pussycat, Skid Row, and Extreme also on board.

Behold, the paradigm of '80s heavy metal masculinity!

Behold, the paradigm of '80s heavy metal masculinity!

Just under two weeks ago, Activision officially confirmed that it was prepping a special 1980s-themed Guitar Hero title. Titled Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s, the game is the last in the series to be developed by now-MTV-owned Harmonix, and will ship for the PlayStation 2 this summer. The publisher also announced five songs that would be covered in the game: "Round and Round" by Ratt, "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow, "Metal Health" by Quiet Riot, "Holy Diver" by Ronnie James Dio, and "Heat of the Moment" by Asia. In addition, Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s will feature two original tracks: Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran" and "I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister.

Today, Activision revealed seven more covers that would be featured in the game: Skid Row's "18 and Life," Faster Pussycat's "Bathroom Wall," Billy Squier's "Lonely is the Night," Poison's "Nothing But a Good Time," Extreme's "Play With Me," Eddie Money's "Shakin'," and "Synchronicity II" by the recently reformed Police. As of now, 13 of the 30 songs that will be featured in the game are known, with others to be undoubtedly revealed bit by bit over the coming weeks.

Besides unveiling the expanded song list, Activision also tweaked the title of the game formerly known as Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s. Henceforth, it will be known as Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s--perhaps presaging a whole retro "Encore" subfranchise to the Guitar Hero series. However, no such spin-off had been officially confirmed as of press time.

152 Comments

  • rob_b_ps2

    Posted Oct 29, 2007 9:02 am GMT

    GH2 is good but GH2 80's isn' because of the bad songlist. GH3 is gool again. A very good playlist, the best so far!!!

  • Dudeisdrumer109

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 8:48 pm GMT

    Guitar Hero = good
    Guitar Hero 2 = really good
    Guitar Hero Encore = a F***ing piece of S*** except for about 4 songs (and thats a compliment)

  • kingcole225

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 7:01 pm GMT

    this game is fun

  • akhauskinz

    Posted Jul 4, 2007 3:50 pm GMT

    As far as 80's Guitar heros go, i wanna see some more stevie ray vaughn... either pride and joy, or little wing

  • bobblehead875

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 10:54 pm GMT

    oooh they could have some fun with this encore thing...50's anyone??? i wouldnt mind johnny b goode....=)

  • Foofightersbmcp

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 10:00 am GMT

    well ya obviously its gonna be on the 360. and that pic is creepy

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted Jun 20, 2007 8:31 am GMT

    PLEASE put this game on 360! Especially if Don't Fear the Reaper will be on it.

  • saibot05

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 7:27 pm GMT

    I am so gonna sport the Gumby doo when it's gonna come out and pop it on my Myspace

    lol

  • SLENNIE__12

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 7:17 am GMT

    I just reallly want that

  • xboxdude101

    Posted May 31, 2007 6:06 am GMT

    some songs are good but...where is the real metal?? i dont see a single metallica, judas priest, motorhead or IRON MAIDEN song on there. Those bands are true metal.

  • KrazyKhallos

    Posted May 29, 2007 1:08 pm GMT

    Sure games like this still show that the PS2 has life but where and when will an online Guitar Hero come to the PS3...? But yeah, sure, rockin out to Flock of Seagulls sure does sound like an alternative to slicing some dude up in Asia on Gears of War

  • Bnd13007

    Posted May 28, 2007 10:19 am GMT

    Where's the Jukebox Hero?

  • brutalbrian

    Posted May 27, 2007 6:27 pm GMT

    I like the list so far, but why for the love of all that is Guitar Hero, or how is the more appropriate word, did Billy Squire get in there?

  • MysticDynamite

    Posted May 27, 2007 9:41 am GMT

    "Synchronicity II?" Sweetness!

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted May 26, 2007 8:00 pm GMT

    ASIA!!!!! Alright! awesomeness.

  • OMGWTFBBQ111

    Posted May 26, 2007 4:55 pm GMT

    I like how the article talks about 80's Heavy metal, but I don't see any sign of METALLICA........

    They say that there's metal, but it just this lame 80's MTV pop rock crap.

    The only real metal song in Guitar Hero so far is Hangar 18 by Megadeth.

  • jakob_187

    Posted May 26, 2007 12:36 pm GMT

    SKID M*********** ROW F T W!!!!!!!!

    THIS GAME IS GOING TO PWN ALL...I doubt that Guitar Hero III can give me anything to beat "18 and Life"...even though "Sabotage" runs a VERY close second!

  • ThePhilatron

    Posted May 25, 2007 11:07 pm GMT

    I'm not sure how they're gonna pull this off without more master tracks but we'll see when it gets out I guess.

  • gamer_Prime

    Posted May 25, 2007 6:29 pm GMT

    Eruption was from the 70s. The only worthy VH songs from the 80s are the ones off 1984, and only Hot for Teacher really stands out guitar wise among those.

  • Batman54

    Posted May 25, 2007 5:03 pm GMT

    All i ask for is a little AC/DC, Van Halen(can eruption be reproduced properly on gh), and Leppard I hope that isn't too tall of an order

  • whoozwah

    Posted May 25, 2007 3:02 pm GMT

    schweet. 18 and Life is gonna be fun. my old band covered that one.

  • DaClint91

    Posted May 25, 2007 1:50 pm GMT

    This should raise my PS2 from the dead and give my 360 a lil' competition until NCAA 08, Madden 08, Halo 3, GTAIV, and GH3 come out. Then my PS2 is gonna be in a coma for a very long time, right next to the Gamecube and N64.

  • 4quarters

    Posted May 25, 2007 1:10 pm GMT

    How about Dokken, Bryan Adams,Cinderella, Night Ranger, Loverboy, Trixter,Foreigner,White Lion,Lita Ford, Accept(Balls To The Walls),Danger Danger, Queensryche,Kix, Keel(The Right To Rock), Slaughter, BulletBoys,Scorpions,W.A.S.P., Jackyl(The Chainsaw),Britny Fox, Def Leppard, Tesla, or Yngwie????????????

  • jwolf0

    Posted May 25, 2007 11:11 am GMT

    @ravscool: I remember Eric Tam joking about "special plans" for The Final Countdown in an article when GHII was coming out. Maybe this is it.

    Hopefully they threw enough money around to get Metallica and AC/DC... 'Back in Black' would be awesome!

  • prowlerintheyar

    Posted May 25, 2007 10:10 am GMT

    Faith No More "Epic" could be on as long as they could get the rights or think about it, it was released in '89. As far as the song choices I can't wait for this, I'm happy about Poison, Skid Row, Twisted Sister, Ratt, Faster **** Quiet Riot, The Extreme Song, is gonna be a pain, considering the guitar solo is Beethoven. !..!. Extremely a pain, Its off of Bill and Teds Exellent Adventure, and its a VERY fast song.

  • GabuEx

    Posted May 24, 2007 8:42 pm GMT

    "o well i would of liked newer songs but....oh well"

    The game is entirely dedicated to the '80s, as evidenced by the name... they would not exactly be rocking the '80s if they were playing newer songs, yes?

  • Dante_Fox

    Posted May 24, 2007 8:25 pm GMT

    hah, Holy Diver, friggin A! Asia though... didn't see that coming, neither did I for Flock of Seagulls. Meh, let's see what other songs come of this. I won't pay over $30 for this game if the songs continue to make me, how should I say it, "gag me with a spoon."

  • thereaper2007

    Posted May 24, 2007 7:01 pm GMT

    o well i would of liked newer songs but....oh well

  • solidusScott

    Posted May 24, 2007 4:18 pm GMT

    How about some Faith No More "Epic" (or did that come out in the early 90's?)

    I also find the lack of Ted Nugent very disturbing

  • Teh_Jakester

    Posted May 24, 2007 3:30 pm GMT

    Need... Ozzy... And... Difficulty...

  • ravscool

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:59 pm GMT

    They have to put at least "The Final Countdown" by Europe.

    The guitar riff is awesome!!! And the best is the band is back since 2003.

    "Secret Society" is their 7th studio album and the 2nd since their reunited.

    "Always The Pretenders" is their single from this album that was released October 2006.

  • winnerjay

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:48 pm GMT

    If they dont release this for 360 i will officially smash someones head.

  • ckyfan434

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:29 pm GMT

    there is 11 more day's untill the next guitar hero game! woot! june 4 woot woot

  • deadeye_81

    Posted May 24, 2007 1:44 pm GMT

    MTV HELPED OUT ON THE FIRST GUITAR HERO SOUNDTRACK AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER THEN THE 2ND GUITAR HERO SOUNDTRACK

  • bobbysbits

    Posted May 24, 2007 11:39 am GMT

    holy diver is the only song i like so far. very disappointing. and it's $50!?!

  • MrLetty

    Posted May 24, 2007 11:21 am GMT

    Final countdown anyone..

  • LucasNadolny

    Posted May 24, 2007 9:46 am GMT

    WHEN DOES THIS GAME COME OUT TO STORES?? THE DATE ON GAMESPOT SAYS JUNE 4TH, BUT EVERY WHERE ELSE SAYS MID JULY!! WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO THINK?

  • _Roo_

    Posted May 24, 2007 5:46 am GMT

    As a child of the 80's who's first concert was Metalica (Master of Puppets tour) opening up for Ozzy I would like nothing more than to see them included. However they sold out a long time ago and as greedy as the group is (anyone remember the Napster lawsuits) they probably would want to much money.

  • ulrich84

    Posted May 24, 2007 3:03 am GMT

    Yeah! that a great new! but i wan metallica!!! That the legend for 80s why the hell they don at it! even one song, it can be the best selling point for the guitar and rock lover for 80s...!!! anyone agree with me?

  • Mandalore_15

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:11 am GMT

    Where the hell are METALLICA?!?

  • DiscoMcDisco

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:03 am GMT

    I, for one, think this is what guitar hero was made for, it's always had an edge with the thrashy old tracks anyway compared with things like 'take me out' on the first one.

    With MTV now at the helm of harmonix i imagine there will be plenty of spin-offs.... i can see Emo, Grunge, Indie, Punk all being seperated out, which is good and bad, But hopefully they will do best of's.... kinda like 'Now that's what i call Guitar Hero 98' or something, combining the best songs (or most downloaded) onto compilation disc'd games..

    Bring it on is all i can say... and the more songs that coincide with Singstar the better, me n mates play along to some of the songs on guitar hero on big screen, while other sing with it on a projector.... now that's a night of fun!!!

  • devilpig

    Posted May 24, 2007 1:51 am GMT

    Guitar Hero Encore: the Blues session!!! Oh my god, that would be great! )

  • Fooljeff

    Posted May 23, 2007 11:42 pm GMT

    OMG THEY GOT OFF THE ISLAND!!

  • ps2crazy17

    Posted May 23, 2007 11:34 pm GMT

    The idea of buying songs individually is great for the consumer, but harmonix can only get licenses for a limited amount of songs let alone the best ones. they must continue to sell them in a bundle on discs as they have or else people will not buy the less popular songs online.

  • N2TheFlames

    Posted May 23, 2007 9:57 pm GMT

    I see a lot of negativity towards the song choices. I for one am excited to get this one, I'm a child of the 80's, unlike the seemingly majority of younger gamers here. I don't like every song they choose for these games, but I'm realistic enough to understand that they can't possible choose an absolutely perfect tracklist for such a game. Even with the less favorite songs, I still love Guitar Hero.

  • mierdahp

    Posted May 23, 2007 9:25 pm GMT

    \m/

  • blancobo

    Posted May 23, 2007 8:50 pm GMT

    Making another game is pointless. It would be better if they simply provided downloadable content every so often, adding songs for us to play in the guitar. Making the game itself would not be as profitable as making the songs themselves. That would be so much more easy! Then we could choose which songs to play and store instead of playing some of the crappy songs that have to be diluted with the good ones.

  • letumroll88

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:51 pm GMT

    they should make this a download able for XBOX 360, and make it cost as much as it would for the PS2, like $30? then have it's own set of achievements and stuff too

  • Jab7604

    Posted May 23, 2007 4:10 pm GMT

    i feel for the for the 360 owners but im glad i held on to my PS2 guitar controller, Im not to crazy about the songs for this game but there is still another 17 songs to be named. Im getting the game regardless but im hoping for some better tunes

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