Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9461 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Koei
• Released on: 2008-02-15
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: Sony PSP

Amazon.co.uk Review:
In a nutshell:
Before Guitar Hero there was Gitaroo Man! One of the greatest ever rhythm action games returns as you battle to save planet Gitaroo and woo the girl of your dreams via the power of rock!

The lowdown:
Since it doesn’t come with a miniature guitar, the game has you angling a pointer in the centre of the screen to follow a meandering guide line. The line is interspersed with circular icons, at which point you must press and hold the circle button for the specified length of time. As you take on everything from Jazz playing bumblebee men to Europop performing UFOs, a bonkers crazy animation plays out in the background. Originally on the PS2, the PSP version includes two new songs in the multiplayer mode and an easy difficulty level, but since the PS2 version is so rare it’s just a relief it’s gotten another outing.

Most exciting moment:
Although none of the songs are licensed, they’re still a varied and catchy bunch. The best tune by far though is the appropriately named The Legendary Theme, a remix of which is the highlight of the whole game when it appears on a later level.

Since you ask:
Gitaroo Man was the first game from developer iNis, who then went on to make the cult Japanese only game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan on the DS. A reworked version of the game is being released in the West as Elite Beat Agents.

The bottom line:
The Legendary Theme makes a welcome portable debut. - HARRISON DENT

Customer Reviews

A fantastic music game
I bought this game for my collection of games and I am still playing this fab game.
You play a young boy named U1 who with his talking dog discovers he is Gitaroo man. You have to use your analog stick to trace the line then press the circle button for the guitar to work. When you don't play on the guitar, you have to guard using the buttons that come to you.
The songs are brilliant but the one that is my all time favourite is The Legendary Theme the guitar solo and the one much later in the game.
This game is a fantastic music game that is quite hard to do but is a challenge to play.
I give this gem of a game 10/10 it's that great.

Gitaroo Man does indeed live...
Review synopsis: This game is, like PaRappa, a rhythm game. This game is also, like PaRappa, a remake of an old and relatively rare game (only this time for the PS2). This game, UNLIKE PaRappa, is brilliantly ported to the PSP.

Gitaroo Man was originally released on the PS2 a few years ago and was critically acclaimed on its release. unfortunately nto many copies of the game were shipped out to the West and as such the game achieved cult status akin to that of the original PS1 PaRappa the rapper. It is therefore brilliant that the game has been ported to the PSP - or at least it should be. Fans of PaRappa were initially extremely pleased that PaRappa was going to be orted but then what did they get? A straight port with the original games cutscenes (not even beefed up to a decent resolution or remastered). they also got very iffy button registering and occasionally off beat controls - not ideal on a rhythm game. It is with great pleasure that I can now report that Gitaroo man does not suffer from any of these problems. The game - for lack of a better phrase is near perfect on the PSP. My only niggle is a design fault of the PSP itself in that the game requires you to use the PSPs analog stick - mind you this isn't half as bad on the new slim and lite.

The game does not use licensed music and as such runs the risk of falling flat on its arse but thankfully in true J-rhythm form features some utterly brilliant original music - every variation of rock possible. There really is something for everyone (I've even downloaded a number of the tracks onto my MP3 player they're so catchy. The graphics are crisp and enjoyable throughout and even the story will give youa chuckle.

A number of extra songs have also been packed into the PSP version which are playable during the multiplayer 'duet' mode (which unfortunately I haven't been able to try yet - but am assured is great).

the controls for Gitaroo Man are perhaps its best strength in their versatility and wide scope, each 'battle' consists of the phases CHARGE, ATTACK and DEFEND. Charging and Attacking consist of moving the analog stick to the music while pressing the O button to strum. Defending is more dance mat style only using the circle, cross, square and triangle buttons.

Frankly put if you haven't yet tried Gitaroo Man on the PS2 then you should be shot repeatedly if you don't get it for the PSP. And if you have played Gitaroo Man on the PS2 (Ya lucky bugger) surely it's worth shelling out the £15 (in most shops now) to play it on the go?

Pros:
- Excellent variety of music with even the games worst songs outclassing those of most rhythm games on the market now.
- Nice graphics translated well to the PSP.
- Multiplayer now included.
- Collectibles give a minor incentive to replay (which trust me you'll be doing regardless).
- Difficulty levels are exactly as they say (Master mode = godly...)
- Somehow it isn't frustrating to lose a battle 4 times in a row.

Cons:
- As with most brilliant games it's over too quickly (but then again I said that Skies of Arcadia was over too quickly and that was over 40 hours long...)
- No downloadable songs like in PSP PaRappa
- If you're using an original PSP you left thumb will drop off.

Verdict: By FAR the best rhythm game on the PSP with only a couple of minor niggles.

Graphics: Functional and backgrounds don't get in the way. Nice colourful characters that use the 2D faces I've always loved since Skies of Arcadia (Second time I've brought that game up in this review... Must go play it again...) 8.0/10

Score Breakdown

Music: Just listen to it! 9.8/10

Controls: Fun and varied, though possibly painful on and old PSP if you play for too long. 8.3/10

Longevity: You WILL replay this game, you'd be mad not to. 9.0/10

Overall score: 9.2

awesome conversion
great conversion from the ps2 classic. loading times are longer which is par for the course, but there are a few new levels in "duet" mode which are pretty cool. all the cut-scenes and mad backgrounds are still here. only gripe is with the psp itself for this game, as the use of the mini analogue stick has already given me a few dire cases of "psp claw". that said, i keep going back for more so it can't be bad. for such a bargainous price you really can't go wrong - its intuitive, the music's pretty good and the story is proposterous. go gitaroo man!