Living room rocking hit the top of the charts when Harmonix and Red Octane unleashed their headbanging masterpiece Guitar Hero back in 2005, but that was just the opening set. Their inspired sequel was an instant seat-filler, leaping from the small stage of the PS2 to the Enormo Dome of the Xbox 360 and cementing the series as the best live gig in town.
But something not so funny happened on the way to selling out the forum -- the band broke up. Red Octane was bought by Activision, who was unable to keep independent developer Harmonix from stage diving into the waiting arms of MTV. To say that millions of Guitar Hero fans were worried would be putting it mildly. Without its lead songwriter, what would become of their new favorite group?
A lot, actually. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has been slung over the solid shoulder of Tony Hawk developer Neversoft, a team that certainly knows a thing or two about sequels. With the third iteration spanning the PS2, Xbox 360, PS3 and -- gasp -- Wii, they've got plenty of new stages for their upcoming rock god to conquer.
And this time, the six-stringed deity assumes human form as that bushy-haired snake charmer, Slash; the Velvet Revolver axeman just recently signed on as the road-tested face of the franchise. A self-professed fan of the series, he's also provided a ton of music for the game and will even appear as an end-level Boss character for players to duel against. While the specifics are still a little murky, you can find out more about his involvement in our exclusive producer interview.
Even if you don't burn frets like the ex-Guns 'N Roses guitarist, you'll be able to shred away the night courtesy of the game's intuitive mechanics. Though it's the third game in the series, Guitar Hero III doesn't stray far from its original recipe; other than some fresh graphical upgrades, it's intent on keeping its fans happily strumming along as they once again follow familiar colored notes blazing down a virtual fretboard.
But this isn't just a cover song. Neversoft has added a slew of new ways to play, most notably when it comes to multiplayer. You'll finally be able to play online and post scores to leaderboards, proving to the world that your weird, three-finger-plus-thumb technique is, in fact, superior. You'll also be able to tackle Career mode cooperatively, so no more fighting over who gets to rock the single-player.
The team is most excited about Guitar Battle mode, which takes the Pro Battle mode from Guitar Hero II and cranks it to 11 with a variety of wicked, game-changing power-ups. Overload your opponent's amp to make their fretboard wobble and become unreadable. Interrupt their mojo by breaking one of their strings, forcing them to rapidly pound on the right fret button until it snaps back into place. In the cruelest twist of all, you can flip their guitar from righty to lefty (or vice versa), turning the fretboard upside down to completely change the layout of the notes. Good luck wrapping your fingers around that.
Still, a band's only as good as its songs. Though the final song list hasn't been revealed, expect over 70 tracks in Guitar Hero III, the largest set yet for the franchise. It also should be the most diverse; the dozen tracks announced so far includes artists like Pearl Jam, Heart, Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones, Weezer and The Beastie Boys. Best of all, many of those aren't sound-alike covers -- they're the original master tracks, adding authenticity to your axe-work.
Speaking of which, the titular instrument itself finally lives up to its next-gen potential by ditching the wires. Next-gen users can kick it old-school with the redesigned wireless Gibson Les Paul model, including swappable faceplates and a breakaway neck for easier transportation. Though not wireless, the PS2 version comes with a decidedly rocking Gibson Kramer. Either way, it's a step up from both the original cheapo controller and Guitar Hero II's decent Xplorer.
We don't envy Neversoft's task of somehow improving a game that twice now has made countless best of the year lists, but so far they're keeping it real by keeping it intact. Getting the nod from a real, flesh-and-blood guitar icon certainly helps its street cred, and the brutal Battle mode should make a welcome addition to the series. We'll see if it has the chops to again go platinum when it storms the stage this fall.
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Maybe its just me, but this is the most anticipated game for me lol. I cannot WAIT for this game to come out. What sucks is I JUST baught Guitar Hero II about 2 months ago and it cost me $90....Guitar Hero III comes out in October. Pretty crappy but oh well. Just can't WAIT!
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