Guitar Hero 5 Songs Listed, Include Johnny Cash; Compatibility with GH World Tour DLC Confirmed

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Following up on last week's announcement of Guitar Hero 5, USA Today and Activision have revealed the first batch of songs and new details for the fall-due sequel.

As expected, the multi-instrument music game will arrive on PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, sporting tracks from 85 bands. Of those 85, over 30 recording artists will be "making their music-rhythm video game debut," according to Activision. Here's what we know:

  • Johnny Cash - "Ring of Fire"
  • Santana - "No One To Depend On (Live)"
  • Bob Dylan - "All Along the Watchtower"
  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - "Runnin' Down a Dream"
  • Vampire Weekend - "A-Punk"
  • The White Stripes - "Blue Orchid"
  • The Rolling Stones - "Sympathy for the Devil"
  • Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
  • Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"
  • Iron Maiden - ?

"We have a lot of new indie artists as well and Iron Maiden as more classic rock or heavy metal," said Guitar Hero 5 director Brian Bright. "We've been trying to get the White Stripes and they have finally come around."

Unlike previous Guitar Hero games, which limited virtual rockers to one of each musical instrument, Guitar Hero 5 will enable players to duplicate instruments in-game, allowing for such combinations as four lead guitarists or three drummers and a singer.

In addition, GH5 will be compatible with the downloadable tunes for last year's Guitar Hero World Tour, with Activision vowing that the songs "will automatically be updated to include all of the upgrades and enhancements of Guitar Hero 5. However, that promise "does not apply to a limited number of songs," the company later clarified.

There's also a new party mode, which essentially acts as a music player. "You can load up playlists with your favorite songs and just let that run and people can jump in when they want and the music never stops," explained Bright.

"This is a perfect mode for parties," he noted, adding that players can change instruments or difficulty mid-son. "If you played any of our previous games, getting into a game is kind of a pain especially with multiple people with different instruments."

Thanks to Masem for the tip.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 15, 2009 8:01 AM

    Do any of the other music games have some Johnny Cash ? cause that's awesome.

    • reply
      May 15, 2009 8:15 AM

      Not yet... Rock Band did get Social Distortions cover of Ring of Fire though. ;)

      • reply
        May 16, 2009 12:32 AM

        Johnny Cash is a bit easier to sing than Mike Ness, but Social D is going to be more fun to play. I just wish they used the recordings from Live at the Roxy.

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