The Ant Commandos (TAC), probably best known for their TAC line of Guitar Hero and Rock Band compatible guitars, have released an accessory that is long overdue to hit the market.  The Universal PS2 to PS3 Adaptor is the peripheral for which PS2 Guitar Hero gamers have long waited.

The adaptor claims to offer support for a number of guitars including:

• All TAC PS2 wired and wireless guitars
• All RedOctane/Activision PS2 wired and wireless guitars
• Nyko Frontman PS2 wireless guitar
• DreamGear Shredster and other guitars
• All React and Psyclone PS2 wired and wireless guitars

It also claims to support the following tested titles:

• Guitar Hero III for PS2/PS3
• Guitar Hero for PS2
• Rock Band for PS2/PS3

The Adaptor does not work with Guitar Hero 2 for PS2.

Using my 60GB model PS3, and a RedOctane PS2 Gibson Guitar, I set about testing the adaptor.  The first thing I noticed is, much like other third party PS3 USB peripherals, the Universal PS2 to PS3 Adaptor does not work with a USB hub; it must be plugged directly into the PS3. 

According to the directions, I plugged the adaptor into the PS3, connected my guitar, and moved the switch on the adaptor into the appropriate position and turned on my PS3.

The power indicator lit, as did the controller assignment LED, but only for a moment.  I found this strange, as the directions said it should stay illuminated.  It was a minor detail, but ultimately, immaterial.

Simply put, the adaptor works exactly as advertised.  There is no function equating to the PS button of a PS3 controller (you can use a Sixaxis or DualShock 3 in tandem with your guitar), but the PS button was not necessary to start these games, as it is with most PS2 titles on the PS3 (the games seemed to pass through this step when the adaptor was connected).  Every other function worked in Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band, including the start button and the tilt sensor for Star Power/Overdrive.  The control was absolutely perfect.  The faults seen in the Pelican adaptor are completely absent from this TAC version.

For the heck of it, I tried the adaptor with Guitar Hero 2 and Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.  The games responded much the same way the Pelican adaptor did, with partial functionality, but as the TAC version never claimed to work with these games, I cannot fault it for this.

For $19.95, the TAC Universal PS2 to PS3 Adaptor is a value, especially for PS3 owners who are still holding on to their PS2 just to rock out to the classics.  It is simply a shame TAC couldn't have released this to market before Rock Band guitars were available individually.  They would have made a killing.

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