Recent Images News Videos Community Guides

Gitaroo Man is a unique rhythm/music game that tells the everyday tale of a boy, his talking dog, and their amazing save-the-world musical instrument.

Story


Gitaroo Man is a game that follows the story of a young boy named U-1 as he tries to impress the girl he has a crush on named Pico with skateboarding. Unfortunately for him his dog, Puma, starts to talk and brings down the biggest responsibility of them all on him. He must save another planet using magical items known as Gitaroos.

Gameplay

Gitaroo Man is an interesting take on the rhythm game genre for the PS2. The plot, such as it is, features our hero U-1 and his dog Puma as they fight their way across the universe to power up their Gitaroo - a slightly odd looking sci-fi guitar. With Gitaroo in hand, U-1 takes on all comers in all genres - from jazz with a bumble bee right through to reggae with giant robot, all via J-pop with a fleet of flying saucers.

The game combines the more traditional "hit the button at just the right moment" style of rhythm play with a more innovative "follow the wiggly line with the analogue stick" mechanic. Said wiggly line roughly moves around to correspond to the pitch of note, and pressing a button on the controller starts and stops the note. The player is rewarded for closely following the line as well as accurate start and stop of the note. Mistakes drain your health meter, but in most tracks the game gives you the opportunity to refill this meter by playing well during a 'charge' section of the music.

There is also a two player versus mode in which one player can take the role of Gitaroo Man and the other can play as one of the bosses.  In this mode you have the option of using many of the side characters as avatars while you play.

Modes

There are 5 different stages of game play during each stage.


Charge

During charge you must fallow the line coming towards the center of the screen with the analog stick. When you see a thick orange bar on the line you hit O to start the note. In charge if you miss you will not be hurt but you will not gain any life. Charge is almost always at the start of the stage.

Attack

Same as charge but instead of gaining life for each note hit you will hurt you opponents life for each not hit. Also now instead of nothing happening on a missed note you will lose life. Attacks sections are almost always broken up by Guard sections.

Guard

Guarding is a different game play mode where circles fly to the middle of the screen from the top, bottom, left, and right. They all match the shapes on the PS2 controller therefore a circle coming from the top will have a triangle on it.  In this mode you primary goal is to not take any damage as you can not do any to your opponent or gain life. Every one missed will slightly drain your life bar.


Harmony

Same as attack but there are no defend sections in between.

End

Same as Harmony but you can not lose life for missed notes. This marks the victory point for the stage.

Song List


Soft Machine

This is the opening theme song that plays before the title screen.

Boogie for an Afternoon

Tutorial.

Twisted Reality

Genre: Rock
Here you fight the demo Panpeus in a twisted version of U-1's bedroom.

Flyin' to your Heart

Genre: J-Pop
In this level you fight the mind controlling spaceship Flying-O in the city.

Bee Jam Blues

Genre: Blues
While walking through a swamp that you have crash landed in you are ambushed by Mojo King Bee.

VOID

Genre: Hip-Hop
Traveling through space you are attacked by the Giant shark Ben-K.

Nuff Respect

Genre: Reggae
Now that you have made it through the battle with Ben-K in his shark form you can now battle him in his giant robot form.

Legendary Theme (Acoustic)

Genre: Folk
After landing on the planet Gitaroo you encounter Kirah who you must woo with your guitar skills.

Born to be Bone

Genre: Latin Guitar
You have been imprisoned by the Sanbone Trio, you must escape and free the residents of planet Gitaroo.

Tainted Lovers

Genre: Metal
You have infiltrated Gregorio "Siegfried" Wilhelm III castle and must defeat him to gain the power of his Gitaroo.

Legendary Theme (Album Version)

Genre: Rock
You have made your way to Gitaroo Arena and must now defeat the champion of planet Gitaroo, but it is not as simple as it seems.

Resurrection

Genre: Metal
Now that you have collected the power of all the legendary Gitaroo you must face the evil king of planet Gitaroo to bring peace to the planet.

Game Name Gitaroo Man
Platform(s)
Publisher(s)
Developer(s)
Genres
Add a new genre

Themes
Add a new theme

Original US Release Feb. 20, 2002
need a fuzzy date?
Original US Release


know the real date?
Aliases
Obscure Classics
a list of 31 items by oraknabo
Favorite Music Games
a list of 8 items by maxx77
Overlooked games
a list of 51 items by raddevon


LtColJaxson
39 points

RJPelonia
38 points

LCad
30 points

GoodAssLettuce
25 points

Kevan
25 points


You are in Edit Mode. Make sure to save your work at the end!!
  • Submissions can take 24 hours to be moderated.
  • Please leave a comment to explain why you're making this change.
Save Changes Cancel