Guitar Hero III Promises Epic Performance
Jimmy Colston
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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For those unfamiliar with the series, each Guitar Hero title lets players imitate their favorite song or band by using a guitar controller with five buttons on it to play the notes as shown onscreen, similar to Dance Dance Revolution of the fingers.
Players progress through the game's setlist of songs through one of two career modes that both get progressively harder. Players can also challenge friends through local face-off and pro face-off options, a new feature for all platforms. Downloadable content with new songs will make its way onto every system except the Nintendo Wii.
The most impressive thing about this game, and what might give it edge over the upcoming title Rock Band, is the sheer number and quality of tracks provided.
Over half of the tracks in this iteration, unlike previous Guitar Hero games are master tracks, meaning that no horrible cover band will ruin a song (anyone remember "Killing in the Name" from Guitar Hero II?) The covers that are included, usually reserved for classic rock tracks such as Heart's "Barracuda," are very well done and live up to the originals.
The game's mechanics have been altered slightly from previous games, but they generally remain the same. The biggest difference is the increased ease of the hammer-on/pull-off system from previous games, which is an added comfort and welcome change as it makes solos much more playable than they have been.
The new controller, a wireless Gibson Les Paul has a better feeling also, with less noise created by pressing the button or strumming the bar, and fret button positioning that should relieve those weary of possible carpal tunnel syndrome created by the Gibson XPlorer controller in the second game.
In order to unlock all the song's games, career mode must be completed twice, with one of the times being done with a friend in co-op. Boss battles against rock legends Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Slash (Guns 'N' Roses) and the devil himself test players abilities to ward outlast Mario Kart-style powerups. Playing through "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," you may find yourself repeatedly pressing a fret button or twisting the whammy bar to get back into the game, or force your opponent to do the same.
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