After failing to find it at both Future Shop AND Best Buy (despite their most recent fliers stating the contrary), I found a copy of Guitar Hero: On Tour at the "other" EB Games I go to, and while I can't post photos or video of myself talking to an imagined audience like some of you can, I can still give my impressions. After opening the box and discovering the little DS game case and GH stickers, my primary concern was modding the guitar grip so I can play it on my DS Original. Two too-large screwdrivers and a box cutter later, I was ready to go nuts.

First, the grip itself. It feels very nice to hold on its own, and the stylus-pick is also cool (if not a bit tacky). I had to adjust the strap several times before I got it feeling comfortable in my hand, and the buttons feel a bit too small, like the solo buttons on the Rock Band guitar. Even so, it's impressive that they could pull this off so relatively well.

As for the actual game itself, well...it's Guitar Hero. I made the mistake of jumping to Hard mode right away, because even with no orange button this game is no slouch. Maybe I just suck at strumming so far (which has to be right-on on the touch-screen strings), but the window for hitting notes feels like the first Guitar Hero: there's very little time. Also, because of the angle I have to hold the DS at to keep my hand from cramping, I have to tilt the top screen all the way back to fully see the notes. The visuals are pretty good for DS: lower than on PS2, but I'd still recognize Judy and Axel anywhere. The audio quality is rather superior, as well: put on some headphones and you might think you've got an MP3 player going. The quality is good enough for me to realize that the version of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" is a re-recording and re-affirmed my notion that "All the Small Things" is blink-182's best song.

I hope to have more impressions once I stop sucking at this game so much.