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Xbox 360 | Simulation | Guitar Hero III

Boxart for Guitar Hero III
Guitar Hero III 16 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.50
  • SOUND: 4.75
  • CONTROL: 4.50
  • FUN FACTOR 4.75
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.6
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.4
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

Preview: Guitar Hero III

Preview by Daphinicus | 06/12/2007 | 11:27:02 AM PST

Without drums or a lead singer, what will Guitar Hero III do to remain the best music act in town?

A year ago, when Red Octane was acquired by Activision and their ties with longtime partner developer Harmonix were effectively severed, the internet breathed a collective sigh of resignation. Sure, we all thought, someone would still make a third Guitar Hero, but it would just be more the same. When development of the title was handed over to Neversoft -- well known for the Tony Hawk series, but little else besides -- a lot of gamers passed it off as doomed to the horrible fate of those 'one-too-many' franchises.

It wouldn't be the first time the lot of us were wrong.

Determined to prove their worth, Neversoft is putting together a game that, from what we can tell, should be more than worthy of the Guitar Hero moniker. The original games' success has drawn a rush of support from the music industry; combine their new content with Neversoft's ideas on how to improve on one of the best rhythm titles in the world, and you have yourself the makings of one fine gaming experience.

*Image from Guitar Hero II Xbox 360*

*Image from Guitar Hero II Xbox 360*

Battle for Change

For a game like Guitar Hero III, making any significant changes to core gameplay would assuredly mark it with the kiss of death. So in lieu of major modifications (not counting graphical updates, which should be requisitely sweet), Neversoft has provided new gameplay elements alongside classic favorites. The biggest addition is GH3's new battle mode.

Like Guitar Hero II's pro face-off mode, players in battle mode fight to play the same notes to greater perfection than their opponent, until one of them fails the song. In battle mode, however, hitting successive star notes doesn't net you star power; it gives you a random attack that can be used against your opponent by tilting the guitar.


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