Guitar Hero is a series of music rhythm game video games first released in 2005, in which players use a guitar-shaped game controller to simulate playing primarily lead, bass guitar, and rhythm guitar across numerous songs. The games attempt to mimic many features of playing a real guitar, including the use of fast-fingering hammer-ons and pull-offs and the use of the whammy bar to alter the pitch of notes. The early success of the game lead the company RedOctane to be acquired by Activision in 2007.
Despite early success, the series, along with the overall rhythm game genre, suffered from poor sales starting in 2009. Guitar Hero Live, released in October 2015, was the last release of the video game series.
Guitar Hero Logos
Guitar Hero Game Logos
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith was the first Guitar Hero game to center on one specific artist. Later, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero: Van Halen was released and was the other specific artist games.