Customer Reviews

Guitar Hero 2 Guitar Controller

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is one of my favorite guitars to use for guitar hero as well as rock band. The strum bar is right on as well as the notes. The only downfall that I would say is that it quit working after a year of some really heavy playing.

I own the PC version of Guitar Hero III. The game comes with one guitar and I wanted another to hook into the multi-player option. This guitar has a USB connection and was recognized by Windows XP with no trouble.

I bought this guitar as a second guitar so we could play multiplayer Guitar Hero. The guitar itself works great and the game is a blast. My only complaint it that I have to sit closer to the TV then I would like because of the cord length. They really need a wireless version of the Guitar. My kids are always running around the room and trip over the cable as well. That said, it's still a great guitar for the game.

Of the seven guitar controllers I have used, this one, even after four years, is still number two on my list.

The reason this guitar really works is the same reason that newer models of guitar controllers don't: nothing fancy was done. The guitar is hard plastic, single body construction. No detachable neck, overly large whammy bar, long or wide neck, silent strum bar, loose frets, too heavy, and so on.

This and the controller that came with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (my all time favorite) are both about the same weight, but the GH:A controller was wireless, and when it finally gave out it just became too expensive to keep buying it on its own to justify using it as my primary controller. So since that one isn't economically viable, I have gone to my number two to fill the void, and it does so beautifully.

I think the state of current guitar controller models can be summed up in a short story that took place a couple weeks ago. I had recently purchased the Logitech Xbox 360 Wireless Guitar Controller, and when I showed the couple of friends I frequently play Rock Band with, they were both blown away at its beauty and realism. But over the next few hours (I brought the Logitech and the XPLORER) over which both were handed around and used quite a bit, the unanimous conclusion was that the white XPLORER guitar controller was far superior. And so my conclusion is that if what gamers wanted was the heft and look of a real guitar, they would learn to play a real guitar (or try out the upcoming Pro Mode in Rock Band 3 using a MIDI guitar controller). All the bells and whistles and wirelessness in the world can't compete with results.

And this is the original Guitar Hero 2 controller at its core. It can handle the beating I give it (I play on expert), where other guitar controllers can't really cut it. This controller takes some time to break in, maybe a couple weeks or so to loosen up the strum bar and break the frets in, but once you do it is completely worth it. The two biggest things that completely ruin guitar controllers for me are:

1. When you down-strum and the controller reads it as two when it snaps back into place.

2. When the frets are too loose and the controller doesn't read that you are pressing a button down.

This guitar controller has neither problem. Well, for the most part. Over the few years I've been playing I have probably gone through about six of these XPLORER's, which isn't too bad considering they get a couple hours of use a night on average.

The XPLORER is wired and doesn't have any show, but it works a lot better than the glitzy controllers being produced currently. What good is realism if it's going to negatively affect your playing?

Eventually you realize that it isn't worth a thing.

I bought this when GH2 first hit xbox 360. My friend and I both had these guitars, stood playing for 4 hours to beat the game in one day. Next we continued to the next difficulty, and the last. This guitar has been played by little kids to strong adults and it has always worked perfectly for me. It is easily the most durable without any removable parts that may break like other guitars often do. The fact its wireless means no battery fails midsong. Also its timing for notes is perfect. NOTE (If you have an HDTV or LCD it will need to be calibrated which ALL GH guitars are required. So if you playing on an HDTV and not hitting notes it is not the guitars fault. Sorry for killing your excuse!!) After constant abuse from GH 2,3 Rock Band, to being borrowed, to 3 year olds slamming on it. It has never failed me and still lives up to my intentions. The only thing that has been negative was the whammy bar no longer stays up on its own its slightly loose and will hang down. However I have been told I beat that thing harder than anyone before me.
Short summary, I have done research on every guitar, this is several years after the first game came out. Been playing since GH1 days. Every other guitar has had basic problems such as detachable parts not registering or notes failing. I have never once encountered a problem with this one.

GH2 Wired Xplorer is simply the best for the money!

NONE of the guitar controllers available for Guitar Hero/Rock Band games get it all right. All of them have drawbacks and you have to pick your poison, but the old GH2 controller gets my vote for the least amount of trouble overall. It's wired, it doesn't have solo buttons or anything fancy, it's a bit smaller than other controllers, the clicking is pretty loud, but it's durable, reliable, and easy to play. The only serious flaw besides not being wireless is that when playing online there will be a constant hum emanating from any headset plugged into this controller (even when the headset is muted!)

This product exceeded my expectations and works great. I was very pleased by its reasonable price and exceptionally high quality.

Nope, it's not wireless. Can we really say things like there'll "never ever be a wireless controller"? no, and I think when the sales numbers for GH2 hit, there'll be a wireless xbox360 controller pretty quickly.
I'm an 40-something gamer who's wife picked up the bundle last week, it's an absolut howl. My controller functions perfectly, no whammy issues, I'd like a second controller, but I'm not going to pay $60 for it(though I'd probably pay $80 for a wireless!).
Seems pretty durable, looks and plays as beautifully as the game itself.

I got this guitar because I was having problems with the wireless guitars I had. It works great and I have not missed a note because of a bad connection. The style of the guitar is really sweet too and reminds me of some great heavy metal bands. The only issue I have is that I find it difficult to strum really fast. The way I normally strum quickly is by anchoring my forearm to the body and then shredding as fast as possible. But, due to the design of the guitar I can't. All in all, a good replacement for the frustrating wireless guitars.

After 3 years! I have gone through many guitar peripherals including the Les Paul GH3, Fender Strat for Rock Band, the original SG, an off-brand Firebird and the World Tour's guitar but I have to say I much prefer the GH2 Explorer. The controller was very durable and lasted me another 2 years even after my dog chewed up the cable. A small strip of tape later and the controller worked again. The FUN is a 5/5 but I am giving it a OVERALL 4/5 only because about 2 1/2 years into it, the rubber part that presses the actual board so that each button hits broke, luckily all I had to do is open up the guitar and replace the rubber parts with an off-brand guitar.