By Fred Topel

With any band as prolific as Aerosmith, you'll never please all the fans with any compilation. Someone's favorite song will be left out. For me it's Cryin'. For someone else it may be Deuces Wild or Crazy Amazing Cryin' Amazacrazy (SNL fans anyone?)

Accepting that, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is an honorable representation of Aerosmith tracks. It actually favors the '70s classics which should please old school Aerosmith fans. I even discovered Nobody's Fault which I'd never heard before.

I was skeptical about including non-Aerosmith songs to hedge their bets. I still say there are enough Aerosmith fans to sell a truly all Aerosmith games, but the other tracks fit in well. Joan Jett and The Kings represent the same classic rock style with guitar jams.

I really like all the note patterns of these songs. I'm up to hard and they feel comfortable. Each song is unique too. Livin' on the Edge and Dream On are more steady chords while Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way are fast riffs.

Die hard Guitar Heroes may say they're too easy, but they can play expert. I still want to finish the song, not practice for weeks. Although, all of these songs on hard are easier than the one Aerosmith song on Guitar Hero III, Same Old Song and Dance.

With only five stages, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith feels short but I'm hoping there are more songs to buy in the shop. Or maybe I'll just have to learn to play expert to keep challenging myself.

Seeing the animated Aerosmith rocking in the background is cool, though really I'm mainly watching the notes. The interviews between stages aren't for me. I don't expect a video game to be VH1 Behind the Music, but they might as well include it if they have access to the band.

New Guitar Hero material can't come out fast enough, so Guitar Hero: Aerosmith will easily satisfy the demand. I'd download 15 Aerosmith songs in an instant so getting 10 more non-Aerosmith tracks are a bonus. I'd lament the absence of Cryin', Janie's Got a Gun, the newer Jaded, or Dude Looks Like a Lady but maybe we'll be able to download them later.

If you can't wait, here are the 15 Aerosmith tracks, in the order that they appear in the game: Make It, Uncle Salty, Draw the Line, No Surprise, Movin' Out, Sweet Emotion, Livin' on the Edge, Rag Doll, Love in an Elevator, Nobody's Fault, Bright Light Fright, Walk This Way (Run DMC version), Back in the Saddle, Beyond Beautiful, Dream On.