The rhythm genre is back, and it’s brought friends. But with two major contenders vying for your attention, which PS4 rock band game reigns supreme: Guitar Hero Live or Rock Band 4? This comprehensive guide breaks down each game feature by feature to help you decide which one will have you rocking all night long.
Comparing Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live on PS4
Backwards Compatibility: Dust Off Those Old Instruments
Rock Band 4 shines in its backwards compatibility, supporting a wide range of legacy Rock Band and even some Guitar Hero wireless instruments for the PS4. While wired controllers are sadly incompatible due to Microsoft’s device-signing process, wireless guitars and drums should work seamlessly. Guitar Hero Live, however, features a completely redesigned guitar controller, rendering all previous instruments unusable.
Guitar Gameplay: Classic vs. Modern
Rock Band 4 retains the familiar five-color button highway, making it instantly accessible to veterans of the genre. The addition of freestyle solos, allowing for improvised playing, adds a new layer to the experience, though the results can sometimes sound dissonant.
Rock Band 4 gameplay featuring the classic five-button highway.
Guitar Hero Live shakes things up with a six-button, two-row guitar controller. This innovative design provides a more realistic feel, especially on higher difficulty levels where complex chords are required. While the learning curve is steeper, mastering the new system is incredibly rewarding.
Band vs. Guitar Hero: The Instrument Showdown
True to its name, Rock Band 4 allows for a full band experience with drums, bass, vocals, and guitar. While keyboard support is unfortunately absent, the core band experience remains intact. Guitar Hero Live, on the other hand, focuses solely on the lead guitar experience, with limited vocal options via a companion app or compatible microphone. No other instruments are supported.
Rock Band keyboard from Rock Band 3 – not compatible with Rock Band 4
Visuals: On-Stage Energy vs. Real-World Footage
Rock Band 4 visually resembles its predecessors, featuring stylized character models and performance venues. Guitar Hero Live takes a bold departure with full-motion video backgrounds for both its GH Live and GHTV modes. GH Live places you on stage with a real band, reacting to your performance, while GHTV offers a continuous stream of music videos. The FMV approach can feel cheesy at times, but offers a unique visual experience.
Content: On-Disc, Free, and Paid DLC
Rock Band 4 ships with 65 songs spanning multiple decades. While DLC is plentiful, accessing the vast library requires purchasing songs individually or importing tracks from previous Rock Band titles for a fee. Guitar Hero Live offers fewer on-disc tracks for its GH Live mode, but boasts a massive library of streamable music videos in GHTV, many accessible for free with in-game currency.
Guitar Hero Live's GHTV mode offers a wide selection of streamable music videos.
However, you never truly “own” GHTV songs, requiring continuous token purchases for on-demand play. Rock Band 4‘s DLC model offers permanent ownership of purchased tracks.
Single-Player and Multiplayer Experiences
Guitar Hero Live caters to solo players with its GHTV progression system, offering challenges and unlockables to keep you engaged. Rock Band 4, while offering a shorter career mode, excels in local multiplayer, allowing up to four players to rock out together.
Ongoing Support and Updates
Both games have demonstrated a commitment to ongoing updates, including new songs, features, and customization options. Rock Band 4 has received significant updates, like the challenging Brutal mode, and Guitar Hero Live continually expands its GHTV library.
Which Rock Band Game is Right for Your PS4?
The best PS4 rock band game ultimately depends on your preferences. Guitar Hero Live offers a innovative guitar experience and robust single-player content, while Rock Band 4 provides the classic band experience and excels in local multiplayer. Consider your budget, preferred play style, and desired content when making your decision.
