Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
© 2007 RedOctane/Activision
If you liked past versions of Guitar Hero and want more songs and harder challenges, Guitar Hero III is a good choice. Note that not all Guitar Hero peripherals are compatible with every platform, so make sure you call first if you plan on using your existing controller. The game follows the format of all other Guitar Hero games, using a "follow the moving notes" technique developed by Harmonix (who was not involved in the creation of this game). If you don't like hard rock music, you won't like this title. This game will not teach you how to play guitar, but it will help you better understand the structure of classic rock songs. Think of it as paint by number rock songs. This $100 package includes a wireless controller, modeled after the Gibson Les Paul guitar that comes with a detachable neck for easier transport to a friend's house. Game features include a multiplayer battle mode, grueling boss battles, and exclusive unlockable content. The tracks include songs from Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, and Metallica, as well as original music composed by guitarists Slash and Tom Morello. There are both career modes and head-to-head competitions, including an online option. Other features include detachable necks on the guitars for easier portability and storage. The Wii guitar incorporates the Wii Remote (you snap it into place) to give it a rumble feature. If you're looking for an excellent version of Guitar Hero, we recommend this title. The PS3 and Xbox 360 were developed by Neversoft for RedOctane; the Wii version is $90, by Vicarious Visions; the PS2 version is also $90 and was developed by Budcat. Note that RedOctane was purchased by Activision. Note that a Macintosh and PC version is available through Aspyr (http://www.aspyr.com/).
$100, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, Windows, Mac OSX
Teaches: hand-eye coordination, rhythm, music
CTR Rating: 92%