The 80s were humanity's id in leopard spandex.

While the era may seem perfect for a Guitar Hero tribute, many, including our own GH aficionado Michael McWhertor, have qualms with the new title. To hear more, hit the jump for our Frankenreview: plagiarism at its best.

Snackbar
the game plays, and even looks identical to Guitar Hero II. Oh sure, some neon has been added, and the guitarist character models have been mildly altered, but altogether the game feels like the absolute bare minimum was done in order to justify a new release. A classic case of "what could have been," Encore comes up far short of expectations, and as such cannot escape disappointment.

GamerNode
The biggest disappointment is the choice of songs...I can think of at least thirty songs from the 80's which would have been perfect for a Guitar Hero game and aren't in it - likely much, much more. You boast that you include the "greatest rock anthems of the era," but do you? Don't lie to me, Guitar Hero - we've been together far too long for you to be able to lie to me.

Gamespot
Roughly two-thirds of the tracklist could be considered fun either because it's a cool song to play, or just because it's a big hit with a memorable riff. The rest scrapes the bottom of the '80s barrel like a fourth run of I Love the '80s.

Maxim
The covers of the songs don't feel as tuned or as polished as they did in the superior Guitar Hero II. Beyond that, you never feel like you're actually "playing" these songs as much as you're merely trying to hit a bunch of random fret buttons as quickly as possible.

GameDaily
As an expansion, Encore performs adequately...[but] (the Guitar Hero vets that we are), refuse to pay a ridiculous $49.99 for a game that not only reuses all of Guitar Hero II's modes, but also its venues and screens (including the loading screen- that's just lazy).

I wish they'd just made the song pack available on LIVE for GH2 and nailed us with microtransactions on the skins. Because I hate to see franchises sell out while becoming lackluster products.

Cnet's News.com is hosting a gallery of what they consider to be some of the greatest arcade games of the eighties. Pretty much everything you imagine would be on there is present including all the old standards like Frogger, Super Mario Bros., Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Pole Position and Space Invaders. There are twelve picks in all including short blurbs about each game 9mostly culled from klov.com). Not really a whole lot of new information here, but it's a nice little gallery and they even have a section where you can vote for your favorites.

What do you think of this list? Is there anything they left out? I could certainly name plenty. If you have any to add, be sure and list them in the comments! Flynn De Marco

The Greatest arcade games of the 80's [CNet News - Thanks D.]
[photo: mrpphotos004203]

Microsoft tells me that they will be making an announcement at their big Pac-Man tournament in New York City tomorrow. I don't expect anything ground-shaking, but it will probably be interesting news.

The event will include a showdown of Pac-Man pros from around the world, an "80s party" and an appearance by the creator of Pac-Man, Toru Iwatani. We will have someone on hand to check out the festivities and report back on the big news so make sure to check back with us tomorrow afternoon. Brian Crecente

The totally rad website for Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's has launched and while it may only be one page it does hold some new information. At the bottom of the page, an audio player plays tracks from the game and reveals three new tracks that were heretofore unannounced. The three new tracks are:

• "Balls To The Wall" by Accept
• "Only A Lad" by Oingo Boingo
• "The Warrior" by Scandal

Add these three to the already released tracks and you've got yourself quite the set list. Some of the 30 total tracks available will actually be the original versions of the songs and not covers. As of now, only "I Ran" and "I Wanna Rock" are confirmed as being the original tracks and hopefully there will be more. We'll keep our ears to the ground and let you know what they are as soon as we find out. Make the jump to see the entire list of titles already announced. Rock on, party people! Flynn De Marco

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's Website [Red Octane]
[via theprp - Thanks, wookubus]

• "18 And Life" (as made famous by Skid Row)
• "Bathroom Wall" (as made famous by Faster Pussycat)
• "Lonely Is The Night" (as made famous by Billy Squier)
• "Nothing But A Good Time" (as made famous by Poison)
• "Play With Me" (as made famous by Extreme)
• "Shaken" (as made famous by Eddie Money)
• "Synchronicity II" (as made famous by The Police)
• "I Wanna Rock" (Twisted Sister) (original recording)
• "I Ran" (Flock Of Seagulls) (original recording)
• "Round And Round" (as made famous by Ratt)
• "I Want Candy" (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow)
• "Metal Health" (as made famous by Quiet Riot)
• "Holy Diver" (as made famous by Dio)
• "Heat Of The Moment" (as made famous by Asia)

"Will you be the first?"

They really knew how to entice kids to buy stuff back in the 80's. Tell them they will be the first to own something, throw in a cool robot, a light gun and Duck Hunt and you've got a license to print money! So, how many of you were sucked in by this one and went running to your parent's room at 6am on a Saturday morning begging for it? And how many of you actually got it? Flynn De Marco

What better way to bring back the 1980's with Mario and Rubix cubes. This six-colored New Super Mario Bros. puzzler breathes new life into old favorites. The cube has been out since last November and retails for ¥2,079 (US $17). Two words: Must have. Brian Ashcraft

Mario Rubix [MegaHouse via Tokyo Mango]

Oh Destructoid, it's been so long since I've written you one of my little mash notes. I don't mean to neglect you, I just got distracted.

If our popular music demanded we become the Eye of the Tiger, then you bet your ass we were gonna name our movies, video games, heroes, vehicles, toys, and children after predatory animals " especially snakes. While your parents were doing cocaine, you were in the living room and arcades playing games like Twin Cobras, Cobra Command, Codename: Viper, Cobra Triangle, and others to make you feel like Serpentor: hissing.

Destructoid rocks faces and asses with this serpentine top-ten of the greatest snakey moments in video games. The selection above is from Number 9: Gaming in the 80's in General. Other members of this fine lineup include the Pitfall cobra, Coily the Q-Bert snake, and a finale that will leave you breathless. And braless. Eliza Gauger

Snakes in Games! [Desnaketoid]

The Nintendo Cereal song has to be the catchiest tune ever dreamed up by an 80's jingleer. Although the shapes of the cereal pieces themselves resemble the 8-bit pixellated forms of Mario and Link not a bit, it's that "NIN-TEN-DO! IT'S FOR BREAKFAST NOW" chant that caused us to hold our breath in the cereal aisle at the local supermarket until we began having a series of spastic asphyxiation seizures and our Mom caved and bought us a box.

Nintendo Cereal Commercial [You Tube]