Me rocking out is like a vegan gnawing on a pork chop. So when Band Hero was announced, and I learned that I could revel in my stereotypically gay side with Culture Club and Taylor Swift songs, I knew I'd dig this Rock Band spin-off because (1) I could be gayer than Lady Gaga, and (2) you wouldn't have to hear it. Which is probably for the best, because when I gripped that mic and felt like Taylor Swift during "Love Story" (I was her avatar – no wonder) even Paula Abdul wouldn't have a single nice thing to say about my 54-percent score. Say what you will, but that "Romeo save me, blah blah blah" part – on "Hard," no less – is a little like holding your breath under water.
Swift has two other songs on what's clearly a game geared toward shameless pop freaks (like me), '80s geeks and homos who like homo music.
Does it get gayer than Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?," Spice Girls' "Wannabe" or Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue's "Kids"? Why, yes, it does: The Village People and the Go-Gos are also among the 65 songs.
Essentially a revamped, gayed-up version of Guitar Hero 5 or Rock Band, Activision's new music-lovers' gaming system is made with the Top-40 fanatic in mind. It's got Party Play, career and practice modes. Rock, er, pop out on the drums, guitar or as lead singer. Worried about sucking? Doing classic karaoke allows gamers to just sing. No scores. No booing. No way to realize that whether you're doing rock or pop, you blow at both.
– Chris Azzopardi
