Guitar Hero II Controller Roundup
- November 09, 2006 13:30 PM PST
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The Frontman and the Shredder...
Nyko Frontman
The Nyko Frontman is by far the best third-party Guitar Hero controller we tested. While not without its share of minor setbacks, it does the best job in balancing design and in-game performance.
The Frontman is based on the Gibson Explorer guitar and body-wise, it most closely resembles the SG controller in terms of weight and the type of plastic used. It almost seems as if it were a modification of the original SG.
The Frontman runs on a 2.4 GHz wireless frequency, and it also has a snazzy transmitter that is made to look like a guitar effects pedal. The design and ease of use are much more user-friendly than the V, to compare. The Frontman uses 3 AA batteries and does not require a screwdriver to install. Instead it sports a remote-control-like pop-up door that anyone can easily use. The guitar does not have an on/off switch, but instead has a 'link' button that, when pressed, links directly to the transmitter. That's it. We had no problems with the connection, and the guitar goes into standby mode when dormant for a few minutes. Just hit the 'link' button again, and bam, you're back into action.
Nyko's Frontman
Fret buttons are also the best of the third-party guitars; they are well balanced and inset enough so that they don't rock from side to side. I got 5 stars on 'Sweet Child' on expert, which is a pretty good test right there. That said, it still can't compete with the SG in terms of reliability.
The strum bar on the Frontman is closest in look and feel to the SG, and the former is even quieter the ladder. It feels a bit more wobbly because it comes up higher than the SG, but alternate picking is still solid. Whammy is also very similar to the SG, with only minor spring action after the release. Strap hook placement is good, and the included strap holds nicely without any chance off popping off.
If you are in the market for a wireless Guitar Hero controller, the Frontman is the obvious choice because until RedOctane unleashes its own wireless axe later in November.
Grade: B+
Worthy of: Blizzard of Oz Ozzy
TAC Shredder
The runt of the third-party Guitar Hero controllers, the Shredder is about 4 inches shorter, lengthwise, than the standard GH SG controller, and almost 7 inches shorter than the two wireless controllers reviewed here.
TAC Shredder
But apparently TAC was a little too focused on packing big features into a little package, as the poor Shredder is not compatible with Guitar Hero II...well, at least not with an extra adapter that TAC is charging $6.99 for, which isn't even out on the market yet. So don't expect your Shredder to work today when you bring home your piping hot new Guitar Hero II retail disc. So, we were only able to test the Shredder on the original Guitar Hero, an obvious minus point.
As for design, the Shredder has an overall sturdy feel, as far a weight is concerned, though the rest of the design has a somewhat frail feel.
The fret buttons have an overly soft and sticky feel, making hammer-ons and pull-offs more difficult than they should be. Because the standard SG controller sets the standard for solid controls, third-party companies should attempt to mimic the action of the fret buttons. But alas, the soft feel is annoying and very different from what is natural to the seasoned GH player. The fret buttons on the Shredder also tilt awkwardly from side to side if pressure is put anywhere but on the center of a button, which is in complete contrast to the steady feel of the SG. The start and select buttons are also sticky.
As for the strum bar, the Shredder unfortunately has the worst of the bunch. The bar itself is extremely loose, which makes alternate strumming uncomfortable and causes an annoyingly load strumming noise.
The whammy bar is probably the best constructed piece of the Shredder. It is looser than the SG, causing it to rattle and bounce a bit when it is let go of, unlike the SG which simply stops once it is let go.
The cord has a nice thick piece of rubber protection when it enters the body of the Shredder, and the cord length is the same as the SG.
The Shredder gets a couple notches for its compact design, but the shiny black finish of the controller shows fingerprint smudges when light reflects on it. The included strap holds well on the strap hooks, but the hooks themselves are prone to loosening and the top one would have been better placed a couple more inches to the left. Widely available for $29.99 it is the cheapest third-party controller out there, but you will have to come with the fact that it is pretty dang ugly.
Grade: D+
Worthy of: Creed
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