Australian Gamer Review :: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

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Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Reviewed on: Wii
Available on: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, Xbox 360

I believe there's a hero in all of us. Except you.

Players: 1 - 2 Players
Genre:
Release: 2007-11-07

Developer: Neversoft Entertainment
Distributor: Activision

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Here we are once again, ready to take the Guitar Hero series to a new level. After the rather uninspiring Rock the 80s, fans were eager to get their picks on a full-fledged sequel which finally hits every one of the new consoles. This review is based on the Wii version, but the songs and guitars are essentially the same. Ready to rock? Probably!

Most gamers (and non-gamers alike) should have had a go with Guitar Hero at some point. For the uninitiated group - all two of you - here's a quick rundown. Different coloured notes flow down the screen. Hold the corresponding guitar button, and strum when the note is centered within the little circle. Practice, then play notes faster. Hammer on and pull-off when available, and don't forget to deploy your Star Power by tilting the guitar vertically.

That's all you need to know about the gameplay, and the rest can be figured out on the road.

As far as additional content goes, there really isn't much. Play through each set in Career mode, either solo or co-op, and rock on with multiplayer using different bass, rhythm and lead combinations. I have to ask the question - does anyone actually care, even a little bit, about the unlockable characters, guitars and costumes? The different characters don't play differently, you can't even look at your surroundings while rocking - all attention needs to be focused on the notes. There's an overall larger quantity of characters and guitars to unlock, but there's no point or purpose for doing so. Money is better spent on unlocking the bonus songs, but you'll make so much during the Career it's never a problem.

I did take a few moments to check out the "visuals", and they are mediocre at best. The crowd still consists of the same two or three character models pumping their fists in the air using exactly the same animation. The graphics are passable on a technical level, but not many players will really care too much about world-class quality. The main problem lies in the art and ambiance of your surroundings.

There's a serious style conflict going on here, and each installment seems to focus more on craziness and less on what the guitar is all about. Everything is metal. Heavy metal. The art style features skulls, flames, devils, tattoos, big machinery and an overall lack of restraint. Since when did "guitar" exclusively refer to metal? I like metal, but I certainly have a respect for other artists who may not necessarily want their amps turned up to ear-splitting levels while worshiping the Devil. True to its name, this is all about Legends of Rock - but that is a very broad definition, one which could be explored intricately and with a number of different approaches. A good variety of songs are available to enjoy most guitar styles, but there's something severely wrong with playing When You Were Young by The Killers on a stage with a guy who has an axe sticking out of his head and a dragon breathing fire over the stage. That's certainly not the style of Tke Killers, and indeed many other bands who are misrepresented. Of course, this is all concerned with aesthetics over the music itself - but don't ignore the broad styles and influences that the guitar itself and the diverse rock genre embrace all over the world.

Power stance on the right, slightly-confused-about-my-sexuality stance on the left

Guitar Hero finally managed to make it online on the Xbox 360 with Guitar Hero 2, and for Guitar Hero 3 all next-gen consoles will feature online play. The PS2 version is the same as always (as in, strictly offline), although online play isn't a necessity for some who enjoy the social interaction of getting a few friends together in a room and rocking out. That element of fun remains the same as always, and for those who believe they will continue to have Guitar Hero jams, this is no less of a recommendation than the first two games.

The biggest difference in the Career mode involves boss battles. These are very strange and, for the most part, extremely lame. The first battle has you shredding against Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave fame. Morello starts off with a few notes (there is no accompanying music, it's simply a bunch of notes strung together), then you need to play your own little segment. The win isn't based on score, but rather by sending your opponent into the red and making him fail the song. This is achieved by using various "attacks", like doubling up the notes or causing the amp to freak out, giving a jittery note chart which is difficult to play on. You can collect attack powers by successfully playing specially labelled notes much like Star Power, and the attack can then be unleashed by tilting the guitar upwards. FOr the most part the boss battles are frustrating and overly difficult, which seems to cater to the hardcore demographic far more than casual players. Which brings me to my next point.

Guitar Hero is a pretty casual game. Anyone can pick up and play. It's become a success because of this accessibility, not because of the hardcore Guitar Hero groupies who can shred every song on Expert. The series has partly lost its way by catering far more to the skillful players, and alienating those who find themselves in over their heads. Most players fell in love with the fact they really, truly felt like a Guitar Hero the first time they started nailing the notes. I know I did, but now the fun factor is being overshadowed by the challenge and overall "serious" nature to satisfy the hardcore players. After playing through Guitar Hero 3, and butchering Through The Fire And The Flames, I just felt like a Guitar Loser.

Get a haircut, your mother would be ashamed.

After Guitar Hero 3, will I be buying another Guitar Hero game?

No.

I was pretty hyped about Guitar Hero 3. I was ready to buy. If I knew then what I know now, I would not have purchased this game for more than $100.

It's not much different from the first two games, and your overall enjoyment relies almost exclusively on how much you like the set list. I look at a game called Legends of Rock, and all I see is "overplayed, overrated dinosaur bands". Again, this is my opinion on the set list, which many would absolutely dig. Guitar Hero might have a bright future, but not by digging itself into a hole with a lack of innovation and tired songs. New and exciting developments are being made every single day within the rock world and indeed the entire music industry, and this is the best we can get after four games? A little disappointing.

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Oracle's Comments

Neversoft did a fantastic job of recreating and improving the formula which Red Octane used to make Guitar Hero what it is today, awesome. Most of you will recognise songs in GH3 straight away while others nearing the end of the set list may only be known to absolute rock fans. GH3 is essential to those who love Guitar Hero, no questions asked. For those of you who are new to the series it may be a little more harsh than the previous GH titles due to slightly more difficult songs. Props to Neversoft for continuing the Guitar Hero magic and keeping the game involving, enjoyable and most importantly, fun. Rock on!

Final Verdict

Theoretically just as good as it ever was, but one can't help but think so much more should have been done by now. Worth picking up if you are a solid fan of the series, but others need to take a long hard look at the set list and see if anything genuinely piques their interest.

Pros
Good controller, some gems in the set list, online play adds some longevity.
Cons
Severely dated interface, pointlessness of unlockable content, stupid boss battles and often punishing difficulty.