Xbox 360 Game Review:
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Reviewed by: Jason Gillard
Guitar Hero 3 is now out and here is a review from a Guitar Hero newbie. I can honestly say I have never played one of the games in the Guitar Hero franchise before. I was really looking forward to trying this game out because I had heard how much fun it was. This is the 3rd entry in the series and the first by publisher Neversoft. Neversoft has built this game from the ground up using no previous code. The other titles in the Guitar Hero franchise were developed by Harmonix which is coming out with Rock Band. This is my first review of an Xbox 360 game and what a way to start off.
First off let me talk about some of the new features you’re going to find in Guitar Hero III. There are over 70 new songs and over 70 percent are master recordings. There is also a Guitar Battle mode where you can take on people like slash from Guns N’ Roses. There are also some game exclusive recordings including a re-recording of “Anarchy in the UK” by the original members of the Sex Pistols. There is also a career co-op mode which has exclusive cut scenes and alternate ending encore songs. Plus there is now online play available. So as you can see there is a lot new here, but Neversoft did not stray too far from the original formula.
Let me start off by saying I am amazed at how much fun I have had with this game. I find myself coming back to it every day just enjoying playing the different songs. I started off on easy which you only use three buttons. I actually did pretty well, considering I have never played with the guitar controller. I can’t describe to you how it feels to play this game; you really have to experience it. I know I am not playing anything remotely close to what it would be like to play a real guitar, but it sure feels like you are. I could totally imagine thousands of screaming fans and it really feels like you’re playing the songs. This game is fun with a capital F! After completing the tutorials I decided to start a career. You start off in small little clubs, and from there you progress to bigger stadiums with more special effects. You have to complete 3 out of the 4 songs to move on when you’re in easy mode. Sometimes when you complete that third song you get to play an encore. Other times you will have to battle it out with someone like Slash from Gun’s and Roses or Tom Morello from Rage against the Machine.
This is the first version of Guitar Hero that is online. They have a co-op mode, face-off mode, pro face-off, and battle mode up for play with a friend or stranger around the world. The game runs smoothly and is a fantastic edition to the franchise. Also the game is linked through a community site that compiles stats, and manages tournaments.
One thing I wish they could have included would be a character editor. It would be a lot of fun to create yourself as a wannbe rocker. This type of feature is in a lot of different games and I would have to think it would not be too hard to implement.
The graphics in the game are mediocre. But really you’re not buying the game for the graphics. There was even some slowdown, which is inexcusable with all the horsepower that the Xbox 360 has. When your just starting out with the game you will miss a lot because you are concentrating on getting the notes right and don’t have the time to watch what’s going on. But really the system should not be pushed with what is displaying on screen. The slowdown does not affect game play though.
I should mention the guitar as well. It just rocks! It feels really sturdy and I had no problems hitting the buttons and I was really surprised how fast I was able to pick it up. The guitar for the first time is wireless and this is great for when your jumping around and making a fool of yourself. The other new features you will find on the guitar are that the neck is detachable. This makes it easier to transport when you’re heading over to your buddies house. I know there was talk of making customizable necks for your guitar which would be cool. The other cool feature is that there are customizable faceplates. So if you’re the type of person who wants to have a different looking guitar than your friends this is a great way to do it. It also comes with some pretty cool stickers which you can apply until you get a new faceplate. The only thing I would say is that I wish the guitar strap was a little bit higher quality, but the entire guitar is well built and I did not have any problems with it at all.
This is the type of game that requires a lot of practice to full appreciate. But it is well worth it if you can stick with it. If people see you playing the game they may laugh at you, but give them the guitar and you will find it hard to get them to stop. This game should be under your tree this Christmas, if you can wait. If you can’t run out to your nearest store and pick it up, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Very Highly Recommended