Gitaroo Man (PS2)

Each level consists of you battling a member of the Gravillian family and is split into Charge, Attack and Guard sections. Attacking and charging involves rotating the analog stick while well-timed button presses charge your energy bar or attack your opponent. Guard mode is frenetic as symbols fly towards the middle of the screen while you press the appropriate button to avoid taking damage. The action can switch from attack to guard in a split second, which ensures chaotic gameplay. Each levels uses one or all of these modes in differing order, which shakes up the often rigid routes that Bemani games can take.

The graphics have a pleasing colourful Japanese cartoon style but the constant background action can sometimes obscure vital onscreen info. Crucially, the music doesn't grate on repeated plays and the interaction between your button bashing and the guitar works really well. Gitaroo Man benefits from the rethink of the usual control methods (and the overactive imagination that thought up the bizarre characters & locations). This probably won't convert non-Bemani fans but those who are into rhythm games will love it.--Jonathan Winter

This game is absoloutely stonking, and no matter how much I say it will not do justice to this game. The visuals are impressive, with cut-scenes of impeccable quality and clever little life lessons nestled into them. The actual game itself is also of this superior quality, with people who watch it even being amused and impressed.

But, of course, no rhythm-genre game would be any good if it didn't have good music to back it up, and this, my friends, is where the game really starts to shine. every song is different yet all feel like they are your favourite type of music. There's techno, classical, metal and a heaped serving of good old-fashioned rock. yes, the words are in japanese, but i guarantee after a few days you will be trying your best to sing the words, and will look quite silly in doing so. If music is the food of love, then this game is a five-course banquet of the heart

And we haven't even talked about multiplayer, Oh the joy!! Many a lost night have been spent with friends furiously laying down hot riffs and immersing ourselves in the music.

All in all, every ps2 fan I have met that was unsure or just didn't like this game by the looks of it I have turned, by the simplicity of a trumpet-playing, platform-wearing, afro-headed disco bee. and if a game company can manage to fit a character named 'Mojo King Bee' into the storyline, you know there onto a winner. Buy it now, your ears won't put up without it for much longer


Music or lose it   June 27, 2002
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Gitaroo man is a unique game about a boy and his dog. Sound boring so far? WRONG! Gitaroo man takes a young boy named U-1, a boy who is picked on by a brat named Kazuya and in love with a girl named Pico, and his dog, Puma, through the universe to save the planet Gitaroo. The game starts with Puma telling you that you are the legendary Gitaroo man and that you must collect the eight Gitaroos to obtain the ultimate power! So, U-1 and Puma set off to save the world from the evil Gravilons using his only weapon, a mystical guitar, one of the eight gitaroos.

Like Parappa the Rapper, Gitaroo Man is a match the button music game, however, the game takes this genre into an entirely new dimension. You must follow, with pinpoint accuracy, fast and slow songs (all of which are brilliantly done, catchy and varied in style) as you fight off eleven levels of bosses.

The cartoony animation is a step away from anime, but you can tell it has that Japanesey feel throughout. With colourful backgrounds, great music, humourous characters and an intriguing story line, Gitaroo Man is a must by for all fast tracked music lovers of all types.


A truly outstanding game of button-mashing mayhem!   October 25, 2002
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Don't be fooled by it's cartoony exterior, this game is not just for kids! I finally convinced myself to buy this game after spending hours on the 'Flying-O' techno-style demo, and boy am I glad I did.

Once you've got used to the slightly difficult controls you're in for a treat. The game compromises of every genre of music you can imagine; rap, techno, rock, slow jam, drum n' bass etc. and every style is fitted perfectly into each level, so much so that it's hard to pick a favourite.

Once you've beaten the likes of Modjo King Bee and Gregorio III and you think you've finished the game, trust me you haven't. You then unlock a 'Master's Mode' and believe me it's hard but not in a frustrating way, in a 'I'll just have one more go' way and you can say goodbye to another couple of hours.

The game is rewarding in the way that the better you play the better the music sounds and the more likely you are to advance. So go on, give it a try you won't be disappointed!


It's Gitaroo-tastic!   March 6, 2005
D. Freir (Edinburgh , Scotland)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Although this game has very little story that makes sense, it's amazing how addictive the gameplay is. It is also one of the hardest games ever! I still haven't completed the games master difficulty but saying that the game is well worth it. With a crazy japanese colour scheme and amazing music to play to, this is one of those few games that doesn't leave you asking for more. Instead it gives you an immense sense of acheivement and is one of my favourite games ever.


Interesting but very very hard!   May 12, 2005
Paul (Bournemouth, UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Well, this game smacks you in your face with it's stylising... there's nothing that looks like this. The graphics are just plain trippy.

And to be honest there's nothing that plays quite like this either. Yeah there's Donkey Konga, Amplititude, Papa the Rappa etc - but these are in comparision kids play.

It really is hard. You want a challenge, you like rhythm games, you want this game. It's compelling because you know that it is possible and in your grasp to complete these challenges, but the difficulty leaps up each stage in such a way that after the first couple of stages you are going to have to repeat to complete.

There is a multiplayer game that has the potential to be a blast - if you can get anyone else to take up the challenge against you.

The music is varied and original - from rock, pop, jazz and drumb and bass - they are quality tracks that shouldn't grate on you even after the 10th time of repeating to get that goal.

So what makes it hard? Well there's the speed, but also the co-ordination and timing. Instead of just bashing the correct buttons, you also have to play with the analogue stick to direct the stance of Gitaroo Man depending on the line on the screen. Sometimes the combos fly in from all sides, and at the same times as holding the stick you've gotta press a button and follow that line with the stick, that can go around corners, up and down, etc. It's like crossing the button bashing with one of those games where you have to thread a loop across a section of wire without the sides of the loop touching the wire.