First Guitar Hero 5 details revealed

Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil," Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," same-instrument multiplayer added to Activision's newest rhythm game.

Last week, Activision officially confirmed that Guitar Hero 5 would arrive this fall, bringing with it an "unprecedented level of control over the way [people] play the game." As for more specific details on the next flagship installment in its burgeoning rhythm game franchise, Activision was planning on sitting tight until closer to this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, which runs June 1-4 in Los Angeles.

World Tour brought the lightning bolts.

Unfortunately for Activision--though good for gamers--one of the publisher's publicity partners had other ideas, unofficially releasing an official press release for the game today. As detailed by the announcement, Guitar Hero 5 will include a number of tweaks and additions over Guitar Hero World Tour, which was released in November for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, and PC to positive reviews.

Notably, the release offered a look at Guitar Hero 5's set list. Songs listed as part of the errant announcement include The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil," Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid," Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream," Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," and Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire."

The release also stated that gamers will no longer be restricted to the one-instrument, one-player rules that have defined the series and its rival Rock Band. Instead, rhythm rockers will be able to use any combination of instruments for any given song, with Activision giving the example of two guitars and two drums rocking out together. Gameplay modes mentioned were Party Play and RockFest. Taking a page out of MTV Games' playbook, Activision also said that all Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content will be compatible with Guitar Hero 5. The publisher also said that all-new features introduced with Guitar Hero 5 will be retroactively applied to tunes from the older game.

Activision had not responded to requests for comment on the unintentional announcement as of press time.

363 Comments

  • ryanwhtkr

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 9:13 pm PT

    Nickelback, seether, some cooler korn songs would be sweet

  • Mysterywriter

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 8:58 am PT

    I just hope that when they get around to the add-on's that they are REALLY FANTASTIC!!! otherwise i'm going to feel ripped off.

  • randomguy15

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 6:15 am PT

    Modest Mouse wit a different song would be awesome

  • coolhardrocker

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 6:42 pm PT

    DevilDRIVER219 got it right. The music games have gotten slower and slower songs. all those are too easy to play. they should add faster heavier metal songs to give people challenges on the games

  • scmbg

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:11 am PT

    Radiohead!!
    Radiohead!!
    Radiohead!!
    Radiohead!!
    Radiohead!!

  • Rockerrav

    Posted May 26, 2009 6:05 pm PT

    I have been getting guitar hero games since Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock and i think just getting new songs to play is good enough.

  • DevilDRIVER219

    Posted May 25, 2009 1:54 pm PT

    They should add songs like

    -Everytime I Die : Children of Bodom
    -Not all who wonder are Lost: Devildriver
    -I Could Care Less : Devildriver
    -Hatredkopter : Dethklok
    -Fan Song : Dethklok
    -Walk With Me In Hell : Lamb of God
    -And Justice For All : Metallica
    -Mea Culpa : The Human Abstract
    -Vulgar Picture : The Black Dahlia Murderer

    And my most favorite song ever

    -Hammer Smashed Face : Cannibal Courpse

  • DevilDRIVER219

    Posted May 25, 2009 1:48 pm PT

    this is gonna be better than world tour

    guitar hero metallica was the best guitar hero game ever, i want the 5th to be better than metallica

    they should add more metal to guitar hero

  • BonsaiMagpie

    Posted May 21, 2009 9:51 am PT

    really they are just spitting out old gum now. All thats required is 1 purhcase song lists, bringing out new gamelay is pointless, you either like this type of game or you don't. they aren't going to intice anybody new with this.

  • Luke253

    Posted May 21, 2009 1:25 am PT

    This looks so awesome!!! Can't wait!

  • Incrognito

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:48 pm PT

    Oh right, and for God's sake, would someone -Activision, Harmonix, I don't care- include more songs from Journey? Everyone has heard Any Way You Want It, and don't get me wrong, I love that song. But come on, really. Lights, Seperate Ways, Stone In Love, Wheel in the Sky, Don't Stop Believin', they are simply too good to leave alone!

  • Incrognito

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:42 pm PT

    I do enjoy the extra features that Activision has incorporated into Guitar Hero which sets it apart from Rock Band (i.e. innovative guitar controls, more complex percussion controllers). That said, Harmonix is still far better at creating a controller which ''wears'' well. There is nothing more frustrating than a faulty controller which seems to inexplicably strum notes on it's own. In contrast, I have placed four times as many 'miles' on the Rock Band 2 Wireless Guitar Controller, and it still works as well as the day I bought it.

    My sincere hope is that Activision will find some way to make their controller manufacturer rethink the way they build those crappy controllers >_

  • Nihonomaru

    Posted May 20, 2009 3:51 pm PT

    , now all we need to hear is sync your own songs to it in 30 mins~! . That would easily make GH the most epic game of all time . Just imagine it, never having to cross your fingers for the wait of reading your favourite band is on GH. Especially if your into something thats a completely different language o:

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:40 pm PT

    " wiifan001

    Posted May 16, 2009 5:49 pm GMT

    Complain all people want I'm supporting GH over RB, and it pleasures me to hear complaints.

    Why should Activision stop publishing a game that from the franchise that made over $1 billion in revenue, and Gh: WT has sold over 3.5 million. Get used to it, because this franchise is sticking around for a very long time. "

    And while you're playing you're plastic guitar for virtual women in a virtual crowd, I'll be playing my real guitar with my real band for real women in a real crowd =-D

  • zemonstar

    Posted May 19, 2009 5:06 pm PT

    I read on some website that Plug In Baby by Muse is going to be on there

  • Gmaster01

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:40 pm PT

    ow great a new one I must get giutar hero 6 oh great Ive got them lets see metalica world tour 1 2 3 4 and 5 and I just cant wait for the 6!!! SARCASM they dont need more they have enough and i heard a rumor that says there will be a guitar hero with 30th song who the hell will buy that kind of stuff please dont buy. please

  • enix165

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:37 pm PT

    Well, it's a shame that none of those songs really interest me(except maybe All Along The Watchtower, I never heard Bob Dylan's version but I like Jimi Hendrix's version a lot and I'm not a huge fan of Hendrix, so...), and I'm wondering why Johnny Cash's in a Guitar Hero game(don't get me wrong, I love the Man In Black, but he's not exactly the kind of stuff for these kind of games...XD), but being able to play co-op with two guitarists...wicked! Now if only they could let one person play guitar/bass and sing using one slot, that'd be lovely...=P

  • g1rldraco7

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:29 pm PT

    Didn't they just make guitar hero metallica? Too many in my opinion.

  • KH2-4EVER

    Posted May 19, 2009 6:22 am PT

    Of some reason i never get tired of guitar hero, or Rockband at that. The only thing i'm missing from Guitar Hero, is more of the classic songs, and maybe some more albums to download. I would drool through my floor if they would release the entire In Your Honor album by Foo Fighters, or maybe some more Rise against. I also think that Rockband does a good job with the DLC's. I went right away and bought the "The Colour and the Shape" album by Foo Fighters, but that's just because i love Foo Fighters in any form The three earliest Nickelback albums would also be quite good, although i don't really approve of the rest of their albums. Maybe even som Three Days Grace. That could be interesting.

  • Pyroninja42

    Posted May 19, 2009 5:27 am PT

    Can they go ahead and make a Metal Band game already? We're sick of all this stupid pop crap. Put in some real music! Slipknot, All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Opeth, In Flames, Machine Head, Metallica, Lamb of God...
    GH: Metallica was a good start, but they need to put more heavier stuff in there.

  • EchoEcho

    Posted May 19, 2009 12:31 am PT

    " jonnymcl2k: Just learn to play REAL INSTRUMENTS, I mean the time it takes to play 5 guitar hero games must be enough to learn and get good at a real instrument."

    Did it ever occur to you that -- just perhaps -- some people who enjoy this game have no interest in learning to play real instruments? Maybe -- just maybe! -- they enjoy the music and the rhythm-game mechanics, and couldn't care less about whether it's real or not?

    Never mind that a lot of rather accomplished musicians play these games, not just no-talent wannabes. Get off your high horse, please.

  • jonnymcl2k

    Posted May 18, 2009 11:31 pm PT

    Just learn to play REAL INSTRUMENTS, I mean the time it takes to play 5 guitar hero games must be enough to learn and get good at a real instrument.

  • ultralesus

    Posted May 18, 2009 5:30 pm PT

    KoL Sex On Fire... Yes! Yes! OH HELL YEAH!!!

    They got my purchase already.

  • penpusher

    Posted May 18, 2009 4:34 pm PT

    honestly,,,do they realy need to realse yet another one,,i think they got the formula perfect last time, they just need to keep updating the song list

  • goat_god_3

    Posted May 18, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    cheers blood you make me all fuzzy inside also x x x

    @501: definaitly the stones man

  • 5011704dc

    Posted May 18, 2009 2:03 pm PT

    i swear "sympathy for the devil" is by Guns and Roses?

  • BloodMist

    Posted May 18, 2009 1:59 pm PT

    And you're a pedantic idiot.With no taste.And there we go.

  • goat_god_3

    Posted May 18, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    im actualy quite flavourful.
    slipknot still suck.

  • BloodMist

    Posted May 18, 2009 1:42 pm PT

    You still have no taste.

  • goat_god_3

    Posted May 18, 2009 1:41 pm PT

    and on GH5: Improve your online store and release patches. Theres no need for quarterly installments, and godknows theres no need for any more plastic instruments.

  • goat_god_3

    Posted May 18, 2009 1:39 pm PT

    @blood mist

    Thats called doubletracking and has been around for about 60 years.

    ...slipknot still suck.

  • blaze11987

    Posted May 18, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    they did'nt exactly take their time to announce yet another guitar hero did they? it seems to me that all these 'new, exciting features' could probably be crammed in to a DLC pack but nah, they just slap it on to a disk packaged with another replica guitar and suck another 100-odd dollars from the gaming public.

  • KingOfTheRodeo

    Posted May 18, 2009 12:21 pm PT

    Why put Sex On Fire on it?

    There's so many more KOL songs that would be suited to Guitar Hero. Think Black Thumbnail, McFearless, Slow Night, So Long, Four Kicks, Happy Alone, Spiral Staircase etc

  • BloodMist

    Posted May 18, 2009 11:58 am PT

    if you don't think Slipknot is very good...especially now with their latest album which has an incredible dual voice dynamic, that's from ONE GUY...you have no musical taste.

  • llakallaka

    Posted May 18, 2009 10:27 am PT

    ill pass

  • Jedilink109

    Posted May 18, 2009 9:50 am PT

    While I HAVE been saying that Activision has been milking this franchise dry....at least this will be an ACTUAL installment. Not some side project or other band or collection from previous games. So on and so forth.

  • thunderhorse55

    Posted May 18, 2009 9:22 am PT

    ok, I'm seeing some "good songs so far" comments, and here's what I have so say to that: rofl

  • taylormadederek

    Posted May 18, 2009 8:09 am PT

    Down with Guitar Hero. I hate the milking. I like how Rock Band does the downloads, but GH is weak.

  • icytower Site moderator

    Posted May 18, 2009 8:02 am PT

    Ring of Fire will be interesting to try and sing.

  • klugenbeel

    Posted May 18, 2009 7:13 am PT

    flynow,
    There is a huge difference between Activision and EA. Yeah i will agree, they are pumping out the same IPs year after year, but they are keeping them good, fun and keeping the quality up. The titles Activision put out are keeping high scores, and people are buying them and enjoying them. The Call of Duty series has remained strong, Guitar Hero as also remained strong, with the only lackluster titles going to the non-normal systems (Mobile GH, GH on the DS - which saleswise did well, just not a good title). Blizzard falls under the Activision umbrella and WoW titles are still strong and the game itself continues to grow. EA has put out some really crappy games over the past few years, but they have put out a few good ones, but i think Activision seems to have better Quality control of their products than EA does, so i can't see putting Activision in the same boat as EA, it really is a huge difference.

  • klugenbeel

    Posted May 18, 2009 7:05 am PT

    bubbalooga,
    Slipknot isn't very good, so i wouldn't give that a top 5 and Fuel....is that the best Metallica you could think of? So to let you know, that's not an award winning line up...oh and Billy Corgan is a whiny girl who needs to just face the facts...he was good with Smashing Pumpkins and his solo projects are terrible incomparison.

  • klugenbeel

    Posted May 18, 2009 7:01 am PT

    "Activision also said that all Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content will be compatible with Guitar Hero 5. The publisher also said that all new features introduced with Guitar Hero 5 will be retroactively applied to tunes from the older game."

    It's about damn time! All of a sudden i have renewed faith in Activision, did they finally listen to us? As for that, can we copy out GHWT disc onto the HDD, if there is a fee...whatever, and play the GHWT songs on GH5? I would like to find out about that.

  • bubbalooga posted May 18, 2009 6:42 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    bubbalooga

    Posted May 18, 2009 6:42 am PT (hide)

    what the gumdrops (they bleep everything) is this? The line up of songs so far is the BEST they can show at this stage, jebus. It's guitar hero for flipping sake! Let me know if this is an award winning line-up for a first 5:

    Rage Against the Machine - Guerilla Radio
    System of a Down - Toxicity
    Slipknot - Duality
    Smashing Pumpkins - Zero
    Metallica - Fuel

    That was just off the top of my head.

  • Imaginative

    Posted May 18, 2009 6:42 am PT

    This is why I'm glad Harmonix is taking the year off for rock band. Wait for this to flop and then come out with a real update.

  • Bwags

    Posted May 18, 2009 6:35 am PT

    YAWN....

  • ryan_returns29

    Posted May 18, 2009 5:39 am PT

    Meh...

  • flynow

    Posted May 18, 2009 5:31 am PT

    Activision is becoming like EA, pumping out the same rehashed titles year after year.

  • adoss

    Posted May 18, 2009 5:06 am PT

    it became like Final Fantasy or Dynasty Warriors.

  • Ryuketsu2043

    Posted May 18, 2009 5:05 am PT

    *yawn* it's getting old

  • monkeyd_93 posted May 18, 2009 3:57 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    monkeyd_93

    Posted May 18, 2009 3:57 am PT (hide)

    come on slipknot

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