Nintendo Owners Are Finally Ready To Rock!
Activision's Guitar Hero has managed to twice over win the world of gaming and pop culture during the past few years, granting such popularity that even hit TV show South Park produced an entire episode based on the ridicule of Guitar Hero's success. Its crazy to see how Guitar Hero has developed so far, especially as all it is a fake guitar with five buttons replacing the strings.
It has even enabled previously quiet players such as the older generations take to the centre stage to test out their skills. So when Guitar Hero III was released for Wii, it sounded like a match made in heaven. The most accessible game's console of modern times combined with the most accessible title of modern times, surely the two should join together and make one heck of a team? And in a sense, they do.
Although this is the first Guitar Hero to not be developed by Harmonix, but rather Neversoft of Tony Hawks fame, Guitar Hero III could easily be called the greatest in its series as far. The core gameplay remains the same, press the notes and fret bar at the right time to strum, but it's been made more authentic now with the ability to perform hammer-ons and pull-offs.
As well as having the regular career and head to head modes of the previous Guitar Hero games, Guitar Hero III also features the lovely additions of online play and a co-op career mode too, where you and a friend can choose between using either the bass or guitar. Guitar Hero III's career mode is also the first in it's series to have any narrative as between each gig you'll be treated to some delightful animated cut-scenes as you and your band progress in their route to fandom and glory. During it, you'll also have the opportunity to challenge famous guitarists Slash and Tom Morello, of Guns n' Roses and Rage Against The Machine fame, in a duel.
The new career mode is nothing too fancy or in-depth, but as said, delightful. Like in Guitar Hero 2 as well, you earn cash with each song passed which can be used to buy new guitars and designs as well as songs and even unlockable characters. Of-course, it couldn't be possible to continue this review without actually mentioning the songs in this feature. Guitar Hero III, by far, features the largest track-list (with 73 playable songs in total) with a varied list of hits such as "Paint It Black" by Rolling Stones, "One" by Metallica, "When You Were Young" by the Killers, "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against The Machine and even a completely new master of "Anarchy In The UK" by Sex Pistols.
Infact, the majority of Guitar Hero III's songs are now master versions rather than covers as with the previous games although there are still a few iffy covers such as "Holiday in Cambodia" originally made by Dead Kennedys. It is also impossible to buy new songs online from the Guitar Hero store with the Wii version of Guitar Hero III. Although Wii owners can have pride in knowing that their versions of the Les Paul guitar are designed with the Wiimote's motion capabilities, speakers and vibration features in mind.
The guitar you see is used as an attachment to the Wiimote and the Wiimote itself goes right inside the guitar. It is a very comfortable guitar with responsive buttons and a solid build quality. The guitar also has a small whammy bar and the connivance of sticking a Wiimote inside the guitar isn't very useful or inventive but these are two minor flaws to an otherwise great guitar. Guitar Hero III on Wii has perhaps some of the best Wi-Fi play expected from a Wii game. Finding games is very easy and it is possible to be specific in searchs.
Unforutnatley, the game relies on friend-codes like all the other Wi-Fi games as well but suffers from minimal lag. Visually it is quite an average game, with some ropey, and exaggerated, animations and stages/characters that perhaps could've benefited from a little extra detail - barely looking any better than they did on PS2. Although the presentation is impressive and the caricature visuals blend with the cartoon looks of the game on the whole.
Guitar Hero III isn't actually much different from its predessors, perhaps being a lot tougher to play too, but being it's first entry onto the Nintendo Wii it can be given a benefit of a doubt for not providing anything entirely different than it's Playstation brothers. Yet, the game is very addictive and the soundtrack is highly commendable. Guitar Hero fits under the case of practice makes perfect, with you often playing songs like Cliffs of Dover to get that extra 1% necessary in obtaining a 5* rating.
It goes without saying Guitar Hero III is fantastic at parties, which will come very in handy as the Wii works best with a group of friends. With consideration though, the game is a little short and pricey - which will fend off those otherwise interested in giving it a try and simply isn't the same experience without the guitar. But if you do have the money and will to actually put the Wii to some good use, both at parties and alone, don't give-up the chance of finally being able to play "Welcome to the Jungle" or "Before I Forget", it's a dream worth experiencing - and in your very own living room.
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