For fans of rhythm action games on PlayStation 4, the mid-2010s marked a glorious resurgence with the return of two titans: Guitar Hero and Rock Band. As someone deeply invested in the genre, even through its less popular years, the 2015 releases of Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 on PS4 were highly anticipated. What made it even more exciting was that both titles promised distinct experiences, moving beyond simple iterations.
However, for the average PS4 gamer interested in diving into the plastic instrument phenomenon, choosing between Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 could be tough. Which game offered the better rock and roll experience on PlayStation 4? Having spent considerable time with both games on PS4 since their launch, this in-depth comparison will provide an unbiased perspective to guide your decision. Let’s see which game truly rocks on PS4.
Round 1: PlayStation 4 Backwards Compatibility
For long-time rhythm game enthusiasts on PS4, the question of instrument compatibility is crucial. Many players have invested in plastic guitars and drum kits from previous console generations. A game that allows you to dust off those peripherals and use them on your PS4 is a significant advantage, saving both money and clutter.
Sleep well, sweet prince of plastic video game instruments
Image: A classic Guitar Hero II controller, symbolizing the legacy of plastic instruments.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 made backwards compatibility a central feature. Harmonix, the developers, specifically designed the game to work with a wide array of legacy Rock Band and even Guitar Hero instruments. For the most part, this promise held true. Many wireless guitar controllers from the PS3 era, designed for Guitar Hero or Rock Band, seamlessly connected to the PS4 version of Rock Band 4.
However, the compatibility wasn’t flawless on PS4. Due to technical limitations and Sony’s device authentication protocols, wired controllers were not supported. This meant that beloved wired guitars, like the Guitar Hero II Xplorer – a favorite for many dedicated players – were unfortunately rendered obsolete for Rock Band 4 on PS4. While a niche issue, it was a point of frustration for some hardcore fans.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 took a drastically different approach. The game introduced a completely redesigned guitar controller with a new button layout. This innovative design, while aiming to enhance gameplay, inherently meant that older, five-button controllers were incompatible. Consequently, none of your previous Guitar Hero or Rock Band peripherals would work with Guitar Hero Live on PS4. You would need to invest in the new guitar controller to play.
Winner – Rock Band 4
For PS4 gamers wanting to utilize their existing collection of plastic instruments, Rock Band 4 is the clear winner in terms of backwards compatibility.
Round 2: Guitar Gameplay on PlayStation 4
While Rock Band 4 expanded the rhythm game experience with drums, vocals, and bass, the guitar remains the iconic instrument for many players, especially on PS4. Guitar gameplay is central to the appeal of these titles.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 retained the classic five-color lane highway system that defined the genre. If you were familiar with any previous Guitar Hero or Rock Band game on PlayStation consoles, picking up the guitar in Rock Band 4 felt immediately natural. The core gameplay remained largely unchanged, providing a comfortable and familiar experience for returning players on PS4.
The main addition to guitar gameplay in Rock Band 4 was the introduction of Freestyle Guitar Solos. During these sections, the game encouraged improvisation, allowing players to strum and shred freely, with the game engine attempting to mold those notes into a coherent solo.
Rock Band 4
Image: Rock Band 4’s familiar note highway, showcasing the yellow-lined solo section.
These freestyle solos, while intended to add dynamism, were somewhat divisive. Often, the generated solos felt a bit disjointed or out of place within the song. However, Rock Band 4 provided the option to disable freestyle solos for players who preferred a more traditional experience. Ultimately, guitar gameplay in Rock Band 4 was about refinement and evolution of a proven formula on PS4.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4, in contrast, opted for a revolutionary overhaul of guitar gameplay. It abandoned the five-color button system entirely, introducing a brand-new guitar controller. This new guitar featured two rows of three buttons, positioned one above the other on the neck.
This redesigned guitar fundamentally changed the feel of playing Guitar Hero on PS4. It aimed for a more realistic guitar playing sensation. On higher difficulty settings, the button layout demanded complex chord shapes spanning both rows. Mastering these new techniques and developing the muscle memory to execute them effectively was a genuinely rewarding and satisfying experience.
Freestyle Games, the developers behind Guitar Hero Live (and previously acclaimed for DJ Hero), took a significant risk with this new guitar design. However, after an initial adjustment period, the new Guitar Hero Live guitar system proved to be an innovative improvement over the established five-button standard. In terms of pure guitar playing feel and innovation, Guitar Hero Live edged out Rock Band 4 on PS4.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live
For players seeking a fresh and innovative guitar gameplay experience on PS4, Guitar Hero Live‘s new controller design offered a compelling and ultimately more engaging challenge.
Round 3: Instruments Beyond Guitar on PlayStation 4
This comparison category highlights a key difference in design philosophy between the two games, particularly relevant for PS4 gamers interested in a full band experience.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 remained committed to the core concept of forming a virtual band. Drums, bass guitar, and vocals were all integral components of the Rock Band 4 experience. Crucially, Rock Band 4 on PS4 supported legacy wireless drum and microphone peripherals, allowing players to assemble a full band setup using their existing instruments (where compatible).
However, there was a notable omission: keyboard support, a feature introduced in Rock Band 3, was dropped in Rock Band 4. This meant that the keyboard, an instrument that had shown promise within the Rock Band ecosystem, was unfortunately absent from the PS4 iteration.
I suppose you can sleep well too, though I
Image: A Rock Band 3 keyboard, a reminder of the instruments not supported in Rock Band 4.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 took a dramatically different direction, focusing almost exclusively on the guitar experience. The game prioritized the feeling of being a lead guitarist. Consequently, Guitar Hero Live offered no support for drums or bass guitar. The focus was laser-sharp on mastering the new guitar controller and experiencing the game from a guitarist’s perspective.
While Guitar Hero Live did include a vocal mode, utilizing either a standard USB microphone or a companion app for iOS devices, it was clearly a secondary feature. The core gameplay loop of Guitar Hero Live on PS4 was firmly centered around the guitar, with other instruments intentionally excluded.
Winner – Rock Band 4
For PS4 owners interested in the full band experience – playing drums, bass, and vocals alongside guitar – Rock Band 4 is the only viable choice. Guitar Hero Live‘s deliberate focus on guitar gameplay leaves players seeking a broader band experience wanting more.
Round 4: Visual Design and Presentation on PlayStation 4
Visual style is subjective, but the distinct artistic directions of Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live on PS4 warrant a comparative look.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 opted for an evolutionary approach to visual design, maintaining a style consistent with previous Rock Band games. While benefiting from the increased graphical power of the PS4, the visual upgrade was not dramatically pronounced.
The familiar Rock Band aesthetic, including customizable polygonal characters and stylized venues, remained largely intact. Players accustomed to the Rock Band look and feel would find Rock Band 4 visually comfortable and familiar on PS4. The visual engine was designed for scalability, efficiently handling a vast library of downloadable songs and ensuring consistent lip-syncing and animations across all content.
Let
Image: A typical Rock Band 4 band performance scene, showing the familiar character style.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 presented a radical visual departure. It moved away from rendered graphics, embracing full-motion video as its core visual style. This approach manifested in two distinct game modes.
Guitar Hero TV (GHTV) mode incorporated official music videos, streamed as playable channels. Playing along to actual music videos offered a unique experience, particularly for music discovery and engaging with artists.
The GH Live mode featured first-person, live-action concert footage. The game simulated the experience of performing on stage, with crowd reactions dynamically changing based on player performance.
While technically impressive, the GH Live mode’s execution was somewhat polarizing. The transitions between “good performance” and “bad performance” videos could feel jarring. Furthermore, the live-action footage, while aiming for realism, sometimes veered into uncanny valley territory. The overly enthusiastic and uniformly attractive band members and crowds could detract from the sense of immersion for some players.
Get off my fucking telly, you complete and utter immaculate moron
Image: A scene from Guitar Hero Live, showcasing the first-person live-action visuals.
However, the GHTV mode, with its streaming music video gameplay, provided a compelling and visually engaging experience. Despite the mixed reception of the GH Live mode, GHTV’s innovative approach to music video integration gave Guitar Hero Live a distinct visual edge over Rock Band 4 on PS4.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live
Guitar Hero Live‘s bold shift to full-motion video, particularly in the GHTV mode, offered a visually unique and arguably more engaging presentation compared to Rock Band 4‘s more traditional aesthetic on PS4.
Round 5: On-Disc and Included Content on PlayStation 4
For PS4 gamers considering the out-of-the-box experience without additional purchases, the amount of included content is a significant factor.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 launched with 65 on-disc songs, spanning various genres and eras, from classic hits to contemporary tracks. While this provided a solid starting library, expanding the song selection within Rock Band 4 primarily relied on purchasing downloadable content (DLC). Free songs within the in-game store were infrequent. Even importing songs from previous Rock Band games, like Rock Band 3, required an additional purchase for a disc import license.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 took a different approach to content delivery. The GH Live mode offered 42 on-disc songs. However, the GHTV mode launched with a substantial library of approximately 200 playable music videos, available to stream and play at no additional cost. Furthermore, Guitar Hero Live consistently added new songs to the GHTV library post-launch, significantly expanding the available free content.
The GHTV mode in all its glory. This is Guitar Hero Live
Image: Guitar Hero Live’s GHTV mode interface, highlighting the streaming music video channels.
While GHTV’s streaming nature meant players didn’t have on-demand access to every song at all times, it offered a vast and constantly growing library of playable music videos accessible without further expenditure beyond the initial game purchase. Players could also earn in-game currency by playing GHTV, which could be used to purchase “Play Tokens” for on-demand song access.
Considering the sheer volume of playable content available from the outset and the ongoing influx of free songs in GHTV, Guitar Hero Live offered significantly more content for the initial purchase price compared to Rock Band 4 on PS4.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live
For PS4 gamers prioritizing a large amount of immediately accessible content without additional spending, Guitar Hero Live‘s GHTV mode provided a clear advantage in terms of included and free content.
Round 6: Downloadable Content and Song Libraries on PlayStation 4
For players willing to invest in expanding their music library through downloadable content, the DLC ecosystems of Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live on PS4 presented contrasting models.
Guitar Hero Live‘s GHTV library, while extensive, operated on a streaming and token-based system. Players didn’t truly “own” the songs within GHTV. While the streaming channels offered random song rotations, playing specific songs on demand required using Play Tokens. These tokens could be purchased with real money or earned through in-game play. For players wanting to repeatedly play a particular song, the token system could become restrictive and potentially costly over time.
Furthermore, the GH Live mode, with its full-motion video concert experiences, presented significant logistical and financial challenges for adding new DLC songs. Creating bespoke first-person videos for each new song was a considerably more expensive undertaking compared to Rock Band 4‘s more abstract visual style. Consequently, the GH Live mode remained largely static in terms of song selection post-launch.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 adopted a more traditional DLC model. A vast back catalog of DLC songs from previous Rock Band games was ported over to Rock Band 4, creating a massive library of purchasable tracks. Purchasing a Rock Band 4 DLC song granted permanent ownership, allowing players to play it as often as desired without recurring costs.
You can even buy Audioslave stuff if you want to pretend it
Image: Rock Band 4’s DLC store, highlighting the extensive library of purchasable songs.
Rock Band 4‘s DLC ecosystem provided a robust and continually expanding library of songs for purchase, offering players true ownership and on-demand access to their chosen tracks. For players invested in building a large and personalized music library, Rock Band 4 offered a far more appealing and sustainable DLC model compared to Guitar Hero Live‘s token-based system.
Winner – Rock Band 4
For PS4 gamers planning to invest in downloadable content and build a substantial, owned music library, Rock Band 4‘s DLC ecosystem and song ownership model were significantly more attractive than Guitar Hero Live‘s GHTV token system.
Round 7: Single-Player Experience on PlayStation 4
The solo gameplay experience differs significantly between Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 on PS4, catering to different player preferences.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4, with its singular focus on guitar and first-person perspective, was clearly designed with single-player engagement in mind. The GHTV mode incorporated profile progression and experience points. Playing songs and completing challenges in GHTV contributed to leveling up, unlocking customization items like note highways and profile icons. GHTV songs also featured specific challenges, adding replayability and goals beyond simply completing a song.
You
Image: A Guitar Hero Live first-person perspective, emphasizing the single-player focus.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 offered a less structured single-player progression. The Career mode in Rock Band 4 was relatively concise compared to previous iterations. Beyond Career mode, single-player options primarily consisted of Quick Play mode for individual song selection. Rock Band 4‘s single-player experience lacked the consistent sense of progression and unlockables present in Guitar Hero Live.
For PS4 players seeking a single-player rhythm game with a clear sense of progression, unlockable content, and structured challenges, Guitar Hero Live offered a more compelling and engaging solo experience.
Winner – Guitar Hero Live
Guitar Hero Live‘s GHTV mode, with its profile progression, unlockables, and song challenges, provided a more engaging and rewarding single-player experience compared to Rock Band 4 on PS4.
Round 8: Local Multiplayer on PlayStation 4
The local multiplayer experience is a crucial aspect of rhythm games for many PS4 owners, often defining the social fun associated with the genre.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 significantly underdelivered in local multiplayer. The game only supported a second guitar in the GHTV mode, and even then, both players played the same guitar part. Local multiplayer in GHTV became a competitive score-chasing mode rather than a cooperative band experience. Given the potential for skill disparity between players in social settings, this competitive-only local multiplayer lacked the collaborative fun that defined the genre.
Not even Weezer can make local multiplayer better in Guitar Hero Live
Image: A humorous depiction of Guitar Hero Live’s limited local multiplayer, even featuring Weezer.
Rock Band 4 on PS4, in contrast, maintained and refined the series’ strength in local multiplayer. While not drastically innovating, Rock Band 4 delivered the core band experience that players expected. Up to four players could simultaneously play lead guitar, bass, drums, and vocals locally on PS4. The cooperative band gameplay, working together to build multipliers and nail challenging sections, remained a highlight of Rock Band 4.
Rock Band had established itself as a premier local multiplayer experience in the previous generation, and Rock Band 4 on PS4 successfully carried that torch forward. For PS4 gamers prioritizing local multiplayer sessions with friends and family, Rock Band 4 was the superior choice by a wide margin.
Winner – Rock Band 4
For local multiplayer band gameplay on PS4, Rock Band 4 provided the definitive experience, while Guitar Hero Live offered a severely limited and ultimately disappointing local multiplayer mode.
Round 9: Ongoing Updates and Support on PlayStation 4
Both Harmonix and Activision positioned Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live as platforms intended for ongoing updates and support, rather than one-off game releases for PS4.
Rock Band 4 on PS4 received updates that added social features, character customization options, and gameplay enhancements like the Brutal Mode, which dynamically increased difficulty based on player performance.
Guitar Hero Live on PS4 also received continuous updates, primarily focused on expanding the GHTV library with new songs (over 90 additional songs added post-launch). Customization options, such as themed note highways, were also introduced. Furthermore, Guitar Hero Live added an online competitive mode where players could be matched against similarly skilled opponents in GHTV for score-based challenges.
Guitar Hero Live Rivals mode
Image: Guitar Hero Live’s Rivals mode, highlighting the online competitive aspect.
Both Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live demonstrated a commitment to post-launch support and content updates on PS4, enhancing the games beyond their initial release states. Both platforms continued to evolve and offer new content to their player bases.
Winner – Draw
Both Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live on PS4 demonstrated ongoing support through updates and new content, making them both viable platforms for long-term engagement.
The Verdict: Rock Band 4 or Guitar Hero Live for PS4?
Choosing between Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live on PS4 ultimately depends on your priorities as a player.
If you primarily play rhythm games solo and value a structured single-player experience with progression and a constantly expanding library of streamable songs, Guitar Hero Live on PS4 is a compelling option. Its GHTV mode and innovative guitar controller offer a unique and engaging solo experience, despite the quirks of the live-action visuals.
Yes, even despite these beautiful arseholes
Image: A humorous image highlighting the sometimes-criticized live-action band members in Guitar Hero Live.
However, if you envision playing rhythm games primarily in social settings with friends and family, and value the full band experience with drums, bass, and vocals, Rock Band 4 on PS4 is the clear recommendation. Its unparalleled local multiplayer, backwards compatibility with legacy instruments, and robust DLC ecosystem make it the definitive choice for band-centric gameplay on PS4.
Rock Band 4 pic 2
Image: A Rock Band 4 band performance, emphasizing the social multiplayer aspect.
Price is also a factor. At launch, Guitar Hero Live with a guitar controller was generally more affordable than Rock Band 4 with a guitar bundle. However, Rock Band 4 offered a cheaper software-only option for players with existing compatible instruments. Current pricing may vary, so it’s worth checking retail listings for both Rock Band 4 PS4 and Guitar Hero Live PS4 to factor in cost considerations.
Ultimately, both Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live offered distinct and enjoyable rhythm game experiences on PS4. Your personal playstyle and priorities will determine which title is the better fit for your PlayStation 4 rock and roll aspirations.
