Gitaroo Man

About

Gitaroo Man is a rhythm game where you play as a shy kid who gets a magical guitar from a talking dog. The action revolves around hitting notes in time with music, using button combos to unleash special moves. The story follows U-1 as he transforms into a guitar-wielding hero to save Planet Gitaroo, balancing schoolyard drama with intergalactic rockstar antics. Split-screen co-op lets two players team up, making it one of the few rhythm games of its era with local multiplayer. The game stands out for its oddball charm and ahead-of-its-time features. Mitsuru Nakamura's visual style gives it a distinctive anime flair while COIL's band supplies the soundtrack. Though largely overlooked at release, its quirky narrative and multiplayer options have gained cult attention over time. A 2007 PSP sequel added new levels but the original remains a niche oddity in the rhythm genre.

Storyline

The player character is U-1, a young boy who is frequently ridiculed by classmates and passed over by Little Pico, the girl of his dreams. The story proper begins when Puma, a dog with the ability to speak, teaches U-1 to play the guitar, simultaneously teaching the controls of the game to the player, and subsequently revealing to him that he is the last legendary hero of Planet Gitaroo, and the possessor of the Last Gitaroo. When they are then attacked, Puma transforms into Puma AC-30 and gives U-1 the Gitaroo, transforming him into Gitaroo Man.