Guitar Hero Live Review Roundup

For the first time since 2010, Guitar Hero fans have a new game to play in the form of Guitar Hero Live. Developed by DJ Hero studio FreeStyle Games, it makes a number of major changes to the formula with its live-action crowds, new controller, and ever-evolving GHTV mode. But how does it all come together?

GameSpot scored the game a 6/10. Editor Scott Butterworth praised the new mechanics but lamented its use of microtransactions, among other things. Scroll down to find a sampling of other review scores and editor opinions. For more on the game's critical reception, be sure to read GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

Note, too, that Guitar Hero Live is not compatible with existing Guitar Hero controllers, nor does it support any DLC tracks you might already own. Competitor Rock Band 4 does support legacy controllers and DLC.

Game: Guitar Hero Live
Developer: FreeStyle Games
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, mobile devices
Release Date: October 20
Price: $60
GameSpot -- 6/10
"Guitar Hero Live's reinvented mechanics makes music-driven gameplay fresh and fun again, and while that's a truly massive and meaningful change for the genre as a whole, the campaign's off-putting presentation and GHTV's unpleasant microtransactions all sour the experience built up around that gameplay. Still, this successful innovation alone might be reason enough to grab a new axe and rock out regardless." - Scott Butterworth

IGN -- 7.9/10
"The new guitar makes a tangible improvement to how you experience each and every riff and lick, and GHTV provides an almost irresistible service for enjoying tracks you love while discovering new ones, with absolutely nothing hidden behind a paywall. Guitar Hero Live might not return the series to the heights of its heyday, but it's definitely the freshest and boldest Guitar Hero game in a very long time." - Tristan Ogilvie

Destructoid - 9.5/10
"Guitar Hero Live completely took me be surprise. I love the new controller design, the FMV portions work far better than they should, and Guitar Hero TV hooked me with its channel concept. Going forward, I'm hoping that the model further reinvents itself by introducing the world to new music." - Chris Carter

Kotaku -- Should You Play? Yes
"Too many artists continue playing long past their prime. It's better to burn out than fade away, and Guitar Hero Live's single-player mode burns very bright. Then it's off the stage to spend the rest of our days jamming out with friends. I can live with that." - Mike Fahey

The Sixth Axis -- 9/10
"Guitar Hero Live is exactly what the franchise needed after its five-year hiatus, and I'd go as far to say it's what the whole genre needed. Although naysayers will lament the lack of more instruments or complain about the non-permanence of extra songs, for many, Live will become the quintessential party game and is already set to be a permanent fixture in my sitting room." - Jim Hargreaves

Game Informer -- 7.5/10
"I like Guitar Hero Live; FreeStyle has crafted an innovative and intriguing variation on the standard music game formula. But as I played, I couldn't help feeling like my enjoyment was on a slowly burning fuse, and the inability to play my favorite songs was waiting to blow up the fun." - Matt Miller