Nintendo Media Summit: Guitar Hero On Tour

When I first heard about Guitar Hero On Tour coming to the DS I was a little skeptical. Okay, I was a lot skeptical. While I didn't get to do a hands on with it, I did see it demoed during the opening presentation and I have to say it looked pretty cool.
As you've probably seen in the photos, a little attachment is snapped on to the DS that adds four colored GH like buttons (for spacing it was reduced to four form the original five). The DS is held book style in the hand that controls the buttons while the other hand uses the special pick stylus to strum on the touch screen. Pretty ingenious actually and watching it being played heightened my desire to put my grubby paws on it.
Aside from the standard play mode, we checked out the head to head mode as well. Some challenge has been added in the form of special drops that will allow you to foil your opponent's big moment by flashing cameras or lighting fires that obscure their vision, dropping bombs, overloading their amp, cutting their strings, flipping the screen or even upping their difficulty level. This new mechanic really adds to the multi-player fun and leaves me wondering if it will be included in the next console iteration of the game.
Obviously, I can't judge how the game controls too well having only seen it being played, but it looks fairly simple and non-hand cramping. There is a lefty and color flip so that everyone will be able to enjoy the game, even you freaky left handed types (just kidding, I am totally not leftyphobic. Although it is called the "right" hand for a reason.) There is no song list as of yet, but I did hear the dulcet tones of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" during the demo. We also no that the songs will cover classic rock, pop and alternative including hits by Nirvana, OK Go and No Doubt. Word on the street is that many will be master tracks.
Look for Guitar Hero On Tour to start rocking your DS this summer.







Actually, since the brain works by having the left side control the right side of the body and vice-versa, it would seem that lefties are the only people in the right state of mind. Ponder that righty.
I played this in a focus group a few months ago and it was pretty fun. Some of the songs I remember were Smashmouth - All Star, Incubus - Anna Molly, and I think Nirvana - Breed.
Oh and lefties rule! Although I play normal style...