A love letter to the Guitar Hero X-Plorer Controller

Simple by design

The X-Plorer’s enduring appeal lies partly in its mechanical simplicity. Unlike newer controllers, the 20-year-old design requires no proprietary software or wireless dongles to function on modern systems. It is a plug-and-play device, a stark contrast to the Guitar Hero Live guitars released in 2015, which require remapping software such as RB4InstrumentMapper with VJoy to emulate the controller on Windows.

The author, who owns multiple guitar controllers across generations, said no modern instrument matches the X-Plorer’s feel. “My fingers glide across those buttons, man. It just feels right,” they said.

“It still bloody works. I use it all the time. It’s still in good shape… More than that, it’s great.”

[Author, on the X-Plorer’s durability]

A new explorer for a new era

While nostalgia drives much of the X-Plorer’s enduring appeal, the rhythm-game controller market shows no signs of cooling. A new explorer-style controller, announced at Gamescom, drew an unusually eager response from veteran players. “I’ve never preordered anything faster in my entire life,” the author said. “A brand new explorer. I’ve never been more the target audience for a thing.”

The renewed interest coincides with the rise of free, open-source rhythm games. YARG and Clone Hero, both available at no cost, have cultivated large communities of players who use guitar controllers to play throwback hits. The author credited frequent contributor Hope Corrigan with introducing them to YARG.

More than a controller

For longtime players, the X-Plorer represents more than a piece of gaming hardware. The author recalled playing as a child alongside a friend, attending their first large concert where audiences played Guitar Hero on stage, and spending nights shredding solos to bands including My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Guns N’ Roses and Black Sabbath.

“Truth is, though, it’s not just about the controller, or even the games. I’ve got so many good memories with these things,” the author wrote. “So, in honour of the X-Plorer’s upcoming 20th anniversary, I wanted to do something special. I’ve given it my all, on that same 20-year-old X-Plorer, with one of my favourite songs from that time.”