(The Xbox 360 version of the game with the wired X-plorer guitar was used for this review.)

Although I've never been all that good at it, I love the Guitar Hero franchise.  So when Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was announced, I was elated.  Now that I've played it, I can say, its everything I could have expected it to be.

Graphics – 85%
The look of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is exactly what it should be. It maintains the style established by the first two franchise entries, while fine tuning the character models, the fretboard, and particularly the venues.  The lead singer can be disturbing (his mouth is Steven Tyler-esque), but the lip-syncing animation is excellent and greatly improved from Guitar Hero II.  The addition of special “hammer-on” notes is a welcome addition as well.  They are designed to be easily distinguishable without being distracting from normal play.

But ultimately, graphics are not what this game is about.  Really, they are there to make it more appealing to someone watching you play.

Sound – 90%
With more recent songs than ever before, including 21 tracks from 1990 through the present, Guitar Hero III is sure to please fans of modern music. In addition, there are still a number of older tracks to keep classic rock fans content. Besides the already impressive catalog of 70 original and cover songs, downloadable content will offer even more play, a feature new to the PlayStation version of the game.  Only time will tell if the DLC will improve the game.
Aside from song selection, the sound quality of the tracks and ambient noise has been improved, taking greater advantage of Dolby Digital surround sound, particularly in between tracks. 

Gameplay – 85%
The gameplay is exactly what you expect from a Guitar Hero title, with one exception: it is less forgiving.  Although players can seemingly play a note earlier, God forbid if you are late, as GH3 has no patience for that.

In the single player campaign, ‘encores’ are back, but sometimes come after the new ‘boss battles’.  Playing against legends like Tom Morello or Slash has some appeal  of its own, but the gameplay was also a lot of fun, albeit a bit too easy.

The new Co-op Campaign was very enjoyable.  I found it more fun than simple multiplayer, because there was a purpose.  Some of the game’s tracks can only be opened in multiplayer, and what a great way to do it.  My complaint is that there is no co-op available in "regular" multiplayer mode now.

Online multiplayer is perfectly implemented.  Any fears of lag affecting competitive gameplay will be put to rest, as there are no issues.  But apart from being something of a perfectionist, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has solid gameplay.

Cut Scenes/Video – 90%
The cut scenes are much improved over previous versions, and although I love the new Gorillaz-inspired animation sequences, part of me missed the cheesy cut-out bus with voice-imitated tire screech and engine noises.  Regardless, these new scenes are a welcome addition to the game, and really add something to the Career modes.

While I certainly wouldn’t say it accomplishes its goal, it does attempt to create a storyline.

Controls/Interface – 80%
The standard GH-interface has been modified for Guitar Hero III.  I really like the new multiplier counter, and the addition of a note counter, while sometimes distracting, is a nice feature.  The new 'Star Power" meter is superb.  Having the light change colors when “ready” is nice for players like me who generally can’t afford to look away from the fretboard, even for a second.  The nice bright blue color is easily recognizable in one’s peripheral vision.  Gamers can even see how full the meter is without averting their eyes from the gameplay.

While most of the changes are an improvement, the new on-screen messages are obnoxious.  'Star Power' pop-ups as well as the new ‘note-streak’ notifications are distracting to say the least.  I am a solid medium-level player, and have little problem achieving 5-stars on most songs, but on more than one occasion I found myself missing a note after a message flew on to the screen.

Summary – 86%
If you are a Guitar Hero fan, you will love Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, because really, it is more of the same.  The gameplay has been mildly tweaked, and the catalog has changed, but its just Guitar Hero again.  By the same token, improved graphics, better cut scenes, and the addition of a co-op career and online multiplayer are great.

Honestly though, if I were Activision, I'd be a bit worried.  Having played the Rock Band demo and the full version of Guitar Hero III, I'd have to say Rock Band is more fun.  The GH folks are going to have to make some innovative changes if they plan to release a Guitar Hero 4.

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