Guitar Hero: Smash Hits takes stage June 16

Activision's compilation rhythm game featuring 48 four-piece-enabled tunes from previous frachise installments warms up for 360, PS3, PS2, and Wii show in late spring.

Following its reveal during a postearnings conference call in February, Activision made official Guitar Hero: Modern Hits last month. The game--later renamed Guitar Hero: Smash Hits--offers 48 master tracks previously released for Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. However, more than just a compilation of previously released songs, Smash Hits reworks the tunes to accommodate the vocal and drum parts introduced with Guitar Hero World Tour last year.

Today, Activision attached a date to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Wii editions of the game, saying they will ship out on June 16. The news comes by way of Smash Hits' latest trailer, which also offers a glimpse at a handful of the songs that will be available for play.

As was first seen in Guitar Hero World Tour, Smash Hits will include the Music Studio song-creation and sharing mode. The rhythm game will also include offline and online play modes for both single- and multiplayer rocking. Eight new venues will be packed into the game, including concert halls set in the Amazon, polar ice caps, and the Grand Canyon.

A complete list of thus-far-announced playable tracks is listed below, as well as the most recent trailer. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.

Guitar Hero
"Killer Queen" - Queen
"I Love Rock 'n Roll" - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
"Bark at the Moon" - Ozzy Osbourne

Guitar Hero II
"Them Bones" - Alice in Chains
"Killing in the Name" - Rage Against The Machine
"Message in a Bottle" - The Police
"Carry on Wayward Son" - Kansas
"Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
"I Wanna Rock" - Twisted Sister
"Nothin but a Good Time" - Poison

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
"Barracuda" - Heart
"Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

240 Comments

  • tylerclawson

    Posted May 6, 2009 7:20 am PT

    Free Bird!!!

  • sco14

    Posted May 4, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    Ill probably get this it better have the hard songs like pantera and megadeth hell even jordan as long as its challenging and if you could pu the songs from that disc onto world tour that wouold be pretty kool too

  • Fridge-Raider

    Posted May 3, 2009 4:40 pm PT

    okay, for anyone who thinks rock band track packs are stupid they need to look at this. This is absolutely no different than a track pack and so many people think this is a good idea. I think this is a great idea myself but i wont get it. Already have gh1, gh2, and gh3, plus Aerosmith.

  • score89

    Posted May 3, 2009 4:31 pm PT

    Sounds like a good idea, but it could be better if they use the export option that RB has,exporting GHwt and GHmetallica into one single game would be awesome, cause its just my opinion but GHmetallica may have great songs, but there are very few so the game feels a little bit incomplete

  • jeffswanton54

    Posted May 1, 2009 7:31 am PT

    Well if they make all the other songs DLC i will be in heaven cuz i havent played gh1 or 2 in ages!!!

  • Nick277

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 11:47 am PT

    I can see why they didn't release this as DLC. They are a company, out to make money like everyone else, and if selling 48 songs on a disc is going to make more money for them than selling individual songs as DLC (because not everyone has the internet) then that's what they'll do. Its a double edged knife, we may be paying for something we ultimately wouldn't buy if it were sold separately, but people without the internet won't miss out (and Activision won't miss out on any profit lol)...

  • HPFreak623

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 9:21 am PT

    Hmmm. I'm a GH Fan, but this is just ridiculous. Though I never owned GHI or II and I loooooove playing Carry On My Wayward Son in RB (which I don't own. Friend does) I might get this. I didn't buy Aerosmith or Metallica. And as I have the Wii and Downloading is kinda limited (though with new SD card support it's a bit better) Im glad it's in a disc. But I can see how it's kinda ridiculous.

    Oh well. I hope Activision figures out a way to propel the series soon. These lil disc expansions aren't going so well with the public now from reading these comments.

  • Matt1836

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 10:12 am PT

    "AndYOU Posted Apr 14, 2009 7:07 pm ET why don't they just release the songs as DLC? "

    I agree, there are song that may not make the game that some might want just release them all & pick the tracks you want is a great Idea

  • MCDM

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 3:43 pm PT

    Why 48 songs?

  • Stapp_Iz_God

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 9:51 pm PT

    For the guy who said Guitar Hero needs Green Day and Blink 182 apparently does not know good music. Those are the two worst bands of all time keep them away from Guitar Hero please.

  • FatPurry

    Posted Apr 17, 2009 6:51 pm PT

    Only TWO songs from guitar hero 3.........I don't think I'll get this.

  • Incetardis

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 7:05 pm PT

    this is a great idea, they just need to add more than 48 tracks

  • ej1041

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 8:37 am PT

    WEEEE!!! free bird FTW!!

  • mysteriojoe

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 9:19 pm PT

    Guitar Hero is over.... once Rock Band came along. Throwing a bunch of songs together that people are already sick of playing will not save it. Other music games Rock Band, Singstar, Lips etc already have most of those tracks. Why the hell to we want to play them again?

  • modem22

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 4:30 pm PT

    INsider Rumor: New Zelda game announcement for the Wii on this Year's E3. Don't miss it.

  • Ardiendo_1

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 2:41 pm PT

    @ Crazy_Kid314:

    Activision have already done GH:Aerosmith and GH:Metallica...

    I'll probably pick this up. It'll be fun playing the classic GH songs as a band although I don't think it should be sold at a full retail price. Oh and if this doesn't contain Holy Diver it is an abomination.

  • Crazy_Kid314

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 1:21 pm PT

    its like GH is always one step behind Rock Band and Harmonix.
    they need to not creat more "GH" games with just songs, but a different game in general, like with what RB is doing with the beatles. im not biast to them, it just that im tired of the same crap from GH.

  • enix165

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 1:18 pm PT

    @Damaster101:Having it in GH1, Rock Band 2 and GH:Metallica isn't enough for you? O_O

  • damaster101

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 4:50 am PT

    I hope they fit in Ace of Spades.

  • bengino

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 11:44 pm PT

    i own almost literally all the rhythm based games since GH the first came out. I skipped out entirely on Aerosmith and will do the same for Metallica, this one in all likelyhood will get the same treatment.

    While i would LOVE to play some of these tracks, the whole game will not be appealing because you won't be able to export them unto another title. I won't say the DLC thing, it's been said to death already in this thread, but that would be the correct and appropriate manner to go about this, give us the CHOICE of the songs we want and then i might consider it.

  • Riot429

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 8:38 pm PT

    To MajorBrain, when a game has a DragonForce in it.... IT SUCKS.

  • MajorBrian

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 8:34 pm PT

    dude Riot not cool. Guitar Hero is the first and best!

  • Riot429

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 7:53 pm PT

    So is it going to be abbreviated GH:Sh!ts?

  • StJimmy15

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 6:53 pm PT

    o wait... how about some songs from THIS decade? i mean, i love me some classic rock but seriously. what about green day? more avenged sevenfold, blink 182, linkin park and all the other great bands that your target demo are into... come on.

  • skhellitor

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 5:41 pm PT

    the reason they arent releasing this as dlc is simple more people will buy it as a disc. not everyone has internet on their console. im excited personally because most of these songs i had on ps2. and my ps2 bit the dust months ago. also adding instruments to the tracks will be fun. if you dont like the idea simply dont buy it.

  • AndYOU

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 4:07 pm PT

    why don't they just release the songs as DLC?

  • camster10

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 1:30 pm PT

    I've now read some comments and I think that the people who say that they should release all the songs as downloads are right, but they have to try to make as much money as possible, sadly :'{

  • camster10

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 1:23 pm PT

    This idea sounds absolutely amazing, but I'm gettiing Guitar Hero Metallica which will be totally insane and hard, probably harder than Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero III is probably one of the hardest Guitar Heros there is.

  • gamertitan53

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    now only if it was tht simple

  • shadow105gaara

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 12:41 pm PT

    They should make a guitar hero game with lots of the latest songs from modern bands...

  • Slammer612

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 12:08 pm PT

    lol to all the fan boys marking people negative on people below. Hey if you want to blow 60 bucks on the same songs that already came out on the original games go right ahead.

    I think for the next pack they should release 20 of the songs people voted to dispise the most.. I am sure you all would buy that too. OMG!! sonic youth

  • David_Kniffin

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 10:06 am PT

    redblade86, do you know how to read an article before posting a comment?

  • MrSteph27

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 8:26 am PT

    *Pushing away for the Guitar Hero's table* I've had enough already, I can't take it anymore! I agree with Robbybear... Give the Foo one, Cum'on! Dave Grohl played for Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Motor Head! I might come back for 5th serving if that happens

  • omegadog

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 7:46 am PT

    Barracuda? Really?

    Boo.

  • stjimmy222

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 2:51 am PT

    I agree. Or at least a Dave Grohl playable character

  • ROBBYBEAR1985

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 2:25 am PT

    I'm still waiting for the day everyone realizes the Foo Fighters deserve their own music game.

  • nitrouside

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 4:53 pm PT

    Mysterywriter, just putting it out there, we don't ALL live in America.

  • webdoom

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 2:38 pm PT

    its funny how people are going "oh dont go buying guitar heros every year" when those same people buy fifa 07 08 09 10 11 12 etc...

  • Mysterywriter

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 2:14 pm PT

    Sheesh, what is wrong with some people? So what if it's a GH game and NOT RB? what difference does it make? People LIKE what THEY like... That's all. I personally LIKE both and play/have both. I will more than likely add THIS game to my collection. I thought we lived in America? everyone is entitled to their own opinion even if it clashes with yours.So just deal... what can you do except incite other people into a pointless and meaningless debate on what THEY perosnally like? What does it change? Can it change the War?, Gas prices?, The fact that the tv shows I like are always taken off the air?, That people can barely keep food in their belly?, The roof over their head?.... Can It?, Cause if so Tell me HOW!

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 1:16 pm PT

    Hum... pass, just like that last two expansions, I mean 'new releases'. GH is worse than the Sims these days...

  • kingtwiggy

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 12:51 pm PT

    @redlade86...uh, yeah. Otherwise why rerelease it? BTW...what are mic drumbs?

  • redblade86

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 12:39 pm PT

    wicked cool!!!!!........... but does it have a mic drumbs and 2 guitars likeworld tour? if it does it's so awesome

  • delcidanddarth

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 11:50 am PT

    Freebird and Bark at the Moon are worth their weight in gold. Ummm... how much does electronic data weigh?

  • mikemaj82

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 10:57 am PT

    Man the people in this thread are really ignorant. Obviously they're going to keep making new games when each one they release outsells the last. Wouldn't you? That's easy money.

  • kingtwiggy

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 10:53 am PT

    I just have to say "Wow." The only way I would possibly consider buying this is if it were a "Track Pack" type expansion disc like Rock Band did...or possibly if they put every song from all the previous GH games in there. There is no way I'm going to pay full price for what should be DLC at the very least. I still feel cheated from GH: Metallica. There was what, like 28 songs from Metallica on the game & it was titled GH: Metallica?

  • frogiggy323

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 10:12 am PT

    I really don't see myself buying this, it just seems like a profit release. I mean its half the songs for the same full price. Rock Band will probably release most of these as DLC anyway or in Carry On My Wayward Son's case, its already in Rock Band 2.

  • xXZak-ataKXx

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 10:10 am PT

    i think that GH is dead. Rockband all the way!

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 10:04 am PT

    Hmmm I may have to get this one, even though I haven't bought a GH game since 2 and have followed the creators to Rock Band. If it's compatable with Rock Band instruments then here I come! FREE BIRD!!

  • rbenns2

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 9:53 am PT

    So far, so good, but where is Iron Man, Smoke on the Water, Slow Ride, and countless others, although they do have 36 more tracks to reveal. Also, are these master tracks from the original artists, or the master tracks (which were largely covers) used in previous releases.

  • walbk

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 9:53 am PT

    I have to agree with derka on this one. This is a really stupid move on activision's part. It's obvious that their main concern is profit, not putting out quality games.

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