Guitar Hero

LQ: 8.3

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Brain grade: 7.9
Fun score: 8.7

Guitar Hero - Educational Game Review image 1
Game Type: ESRB Rating: Everyone Platform/Console: , , , , , , , , , LWK Recommended Age: 7+ Other Requirements: Guitar Controller Thinking Skills Used: ,

iTunes / Android / Chrome

Anybody can become a rock star in Guitar Hero, a game that lets players simulate playing guitar to popular rock music. Using a fake plastic guitar as the game controller, players press different buttons on the guitar’s neck to play along with the game’s songs, following the on-screen prompts and strumming in time to the song’s rhythm. If players continually hit notes consecutively without messing up, their score is multiplied, increasing the amount of points earned as long as the player sustains a flawless streak. Certain notes will give players “star power” when hit, which can be stored up and unleashed to score massive amounts of points. There is no reading required for game play, but some songs may feature inappropriate lyrics for very young players. Thankfully, there is a wide range of music to choose from, making it easy to find something appropriate for all ages. Due to the game being relatively easy to pick up and play, and the the wide range of age-appropriate songs, Guitar Hero is recommended for players ages 7 and up.

 


This Game is Good for Kids Who Need Help With:

Focus

Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals. Ignoring external distractions.

The Guitar Hero franchise is great for kids who need help with sustaining attention and effort throughout tasks. Songs in Guitar Hero can last anywhere from two and a half minutes to over five or six minutes in length. After players complete the song, they receive a rating of 0-5 stars based on the performance. In order to earn a five-star rating, the player must stay focused on the song throughout its duration. A single lapse in focus will result in a missed note, which will reset the player’s multiplier and will result in a serious setback to the score, as the multiplier must again be built up. While playing the game, players should be fully engaged with the stream of notes coming to them and actively recall which buttons correspond on their guitar controller.

Self-Control

Managing our actions, feelings and behaviors. Managing anger and frustration.

If players miss too many notes the crowd will turn against the band and boo the player off stage resulting in a failure of the song. Failing a song forces the player to restart from the beginning of the song. Failing a song multiple times in a row can be very frustrating to some players. Being able to control anger and avoid quitting is a key component of Self-Control. Players should exercise such abilities to remain controlled throughout their gameplay experience.

Another aspect of Self-Control used in Guitar Hero is the ability to resist impulsive behaviors. Players will commonly become overwhelmed with fast-paced segments of a song, and need to resist the urge to become panicked and begin mashing buttons or rapidly strumming the guitar. This can quickly cause the player to lose control of the game, resulting in an unhappy crowd and possible game over. Instead, players are better served to pause briefly and jump back into the song when ready, catching up with the notes and trying to get back in the rhythm of the tune.

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