Koei cult rhythm game with innovative mechanics where the player guides a melody along a timed path with the music. The unique visual style, fabulous soundtrack and emotion conveyed make it an unforgettable musical experience, still unique in its genre on PS2.
Your verdict
Category
Rhythm1 player7+
Description
A cult rhythm game by Koei and iNiS released in 2001 (Japan) and 2002 (West). U-1, a guitar-toting cosmic kid, must sing and play to defeat absurd-looking bosses in a formula that uniquely blends timing and stick motion. A standout original soundtrack from Tomohiko Kira.
Gitaroo Man review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Snappy cartoon line, pop colours and frenzied musical staging: every track unfolds like an animated clip overflowing with energy. The singular character design and the visual rhythm fit the music perfectly. This graphic whimsy, lively and original, makes the game an unclassifiable cult gem.
Deliciously eclectic, Gitaroo Man's music strings together rock, Latin, reggae and ballads in a joyful, inventive patchwork. The famous legendary-guitar theme sticks to the musical battle with an irresistible energy. This singular sonic whimsy, full of heart, is the whole charm of this cult rhythmic oddity.
The Korean edition of this cult rhythm game, from a market with narrow physical distribution, which makes it markedly rarer than its Western and Japanese counterparts. This local release appeals to collectors attentive to thinly documented regional runs of a genre gem. Its desirability rests mainly on this geographic scarcity rather than on the game's distribution.
An underrated gem
Few music games radiate as much personality as this zany epic, where a shy teen becomes a hero through guitar solos. Hard and resolutely offbeat, it never aimed for the mainstream and proudly so. Its pop art direction, catchy tracks and quirky humour make it a little treasure for music lovers after originality.
