You remember the plastic peripherals, right? Those clunky, clicky guitars and the drum kit that always felt like it was one aggressive fill away from shattering. Back in 2008, when Guitar Hero World Tour—aka Guitar Hero 4—dropped on the Wii, it wasn't just another sequel. It was an arms race. Rock Band had already moved into the full-band space, and Activision had to answer back. They did it with a massive 86-song tracklist that, honestly, defined a very specific era of music culture.
If you’re digging through your attic to find that white Wii guitar, you’re probably looking for the guitar hero 4 wii song list to see if it’s worth the effort of syncing those remotes. Short answer: yeah, it is. But there’s a lot more to this specific version than just a list of names.
The Massive 86-Song Setlist (On-Disc Only)
Unlike previous games where you had to deal with "as made famous by" covers that sounded like your local bar band, every single track here is a master recording. That was a huge deal at the time. You aren't playing a knock-off; you're playing the actual stems from Nirvana, Metallica, and Michael Jackson.
The variety is honestly kind of chaotic. One minute you're strumming along to Willie Nelson, and the next you’re trying not to fail out of a System of a Down song.
The Heavy Hitters and Classics
- Michael Jackson – "Beat It" (Yes, the Van Halen solo is in there, and it's a nightmare on Expert).
- Bon Jovi – "Livin' on a Prayer"
- The Eagles – "Hotel California"
- Nirvana – "About a Girl" (Unplugged)
- Linkin Park – "What I’ve Done"
- Fleetwood Mac – "Go Your Own Way"
- Jimi Hendrix – "Purple Haze" (Live) and "The Wind Cries Mary"
The Nu-Metal and 2000s Staples
- Korn – "Freak on a Leash"
- System of a Down – "B.Y.O.B."
- Paramore – "Misery Business"
- Blink-182 – "Dammit"
- 30 Seconds to Mars – "The Kill"
- Rise Against – "Re-Education (Through Labor)"
The "I Can't Believe This Is On Here" Tracks
- Willie Nelson – "On the Road Again"
- Los Lobos – "La Bamba"
- Steely Dan – "Do It Again"
- Tokio Hotel – "Monsoon"
Why the Wii Version Was Actually Unique
Most people assume the Wii version of Guitar Hero World Tour was just a downgraded port. Visually? Sure, it didn’t have the HD shine of the Xbox 360 or PS3. But Vicarious Visions (the devs for the Wii port) actually put some sweat into this one.
The Wii version featured something called Mii Freestyle. It was this weird, casual mode where you could just mess around on the instruments using your Mii. It wasn't about hitting notes perfectly; it was about "jamming." Kinda cheesy? Maybe. But for a console that lived in the living room for family gatherings, it was a smart move.
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Also, we have to talk about GHTunes.
This was the "Music Studio" where you could actually compose your own tracks. On the Wii, this was huge because the console’s online infrastructure was notoriously clunky. Yet, you could still share your songs and download tracks from other players. It was the Wild West of MIDI-sounding rock songs.
The Guest Stars You Forgot About
This was the peak of the "Rockstar Avatar" era. The game didn't just have songs; it had digitized versions of the artists. When you played a Paramore song, Hayley Williams was there on stage.
You had Travis Barker behind the kit, Zakk Wylde shredding, and Ted Nugent... being Ted Nugent. There were even "Guitar Duels" against these guys, which were basically boss battles. If you’ve ever tried to beat the Zakk Wylde duel on Expert, you know the literal physical pain of those "Battle Power" attacks.
The Tool Venue: A Total Trip
One of the coolest parts of the guitar hero 4 wii song list wasn't even the music itself, but the "Tool Venue." Tool is famously protective of their art. They didn't want their songs played on a generic stage with pyrotechnics and a dancing singer.
So, Activision built a custom, psychedelic level specifically for the three Tool tracks:
- "Parabola"
- "Schism"
- "Vicarious"
You don't see the band members. You see weird, abstract visuals that look like they were pulled straight from their music videos. It’s easily the most atmospheric part of the entire game.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Song List
There's a common misconception that the Wii version was missing songs. It wasn't. The 86-song core list was identical across all platforms. The only real difference was the DLC (Downloadable Content).
Back then, the Wii didn't have a hard drive. You had to use SD cards. It was a massive pain to manage memory. You’d download a song, play it, and then realize your "Wii System Memory" was full, forcing you to move things back and forth. But in terms of the "out of the box" experience, Wii players got the full 86-track buffet.
Is It Still Worth Playing?
Honestly? The guitar hero 4 wii song list holds up better than most of the later games. It hit that sweet spot before the series became over-saturated with too many spin-offs. You get the classic rock icons for the parents and the pop-punk/alternative hits for the kids of the 2000s.
If you’re looking to get back into it, remember that the Wii instruments are actually some of the easiest to find today. Because everyone had a Wii, the market is flooded with those old white Les Pauls. You just pop your Wii Remote into the slot, and you're good to go. No weird proprietary dongles like the PS3 or 360 versions usually require.
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Actionable Tips for GH4 Wii Players Today
If you're dusting off the old console, do these three things first:
- Check your SD card capacity: If you plan on trying to find any legacy DLC (though the shop is officially dead, some people have "creative" ways to get content), make sure you have a 2GB SD card. The Wii is picky about larger cards.
- Calibrate your lag: This is the #1 mistake. Modern TVs have way more latency than the old CRT tubes we used in 2008. Go into the "Options" menu and run the manual calibration. It will save you from "hitting" notes that the game says you missed.
- Use a wired connection if possible: If you’re playing the full band, the wireless interference from four Wii Remotes in one room can sometimes cause dropped notes.
The setlist is a time capsule. It’s a mix of legends like Hendrix and the brief moment when Tokio Hotel was a global phenomenon. It might not have the "prestige" of the modern rhythm games, but for a Friday night with friends, it’s still an absolute blast.