Gitaroo-Man impressions

[06.22.01] » All the people envy new my Gitaroo.

   The GIA's Gitaroo-Man preview has a comprehensive look at the single-player mode, but after a solid afternoon with the title, we can bring you more detailed impressions of the game's multiple modes of play. The standard single-player mode follow's U-1's through ten separate levels, each with its own environments and music. Nearly every level has a different style of music, and all of it is good. Many of the levels vary the gameplay, too. In one level, for example, U-1 must evade a rampaging hammerhead space shark, and the drum-and-bass track consists entirely of defensive segments. In another, when U-1 woos the heart of Kira, he plays the entire time without ever defending. The level is rebalanced, however, so that mistakes take away a significant portion of U-1's health. With no chance to defend or recharge, this places a high importance on accuracy--as any attempt to woo a girl with music should!

   The game is very difficult on the "Normal" setting; fortunately, an "Easy" mode is available to help players acclimate themselves to the gameplay style. Once the ten stages have been completed on Easy or Normal, a "Master" difficulty setting is unlocked for masochists and expert players. Gitaroo-Man also offers a "Theater Mode" and "Collection Mode" to enhance the single player experience. Once a stage is completed, the opening cinema sequence is available to watch in the "Theater Mode." Completing a stage also earns a character/vehicle for the "Collection Mode." Here, the player can load up a piece of illustrator 326's artwork and peruse a brief biography/description.

   Once a stage is completed, it is available for multiplayer play. Multiplayer play is both cooperative and competitive, and limited to songs with both attacking and defending segments. Fortunately, this is the great majority of the stages. The multiplayer mode supports up to four players. Multiplayer songs take place in a special "battle arena" independent of the song. Attacking and defending phases happen simultaneously; when one side attacks, the other, logically enough, defends.

   One nice extra is the game's support for two different vertical controller setups. Whether this is actually more "guitar-like" is debatable, but the vertical grip does seem to offer finer control over the analog stick. Button icons on screen are also rotated to match the new controller orientation.

   Like its spiritual forebears, Parappa and Lammy, it's very short. But the wide variety of music, multiple difficulty settings, and robust multiplayer modes should give it extended replay value. Basically--Gitaroo-Man rocks!