Guitar Hero, the phenomenally fun smash hit rhythm game series, has now had its third installment unveiled today by Activision. Apart from the updated graphics you'd expect with the current gen consoles, a new and much awaited twist has been added to the title: online multiplayer.

When Guitar Hero II was announced for the Xbox 360, many fans were sorely disappointed to learn they would not be able to compete online against others via Xbox Live. Not so this time around. Not only will players be able to compete in head to head "Battle matches", but each player will be able to unleash difficulty modifiers (i.e. the other player must play left handed for a time, double note modifiers, increasing the competition's difficulty level, or even breaking his or her strings and causing them to pause and repeatedly tap a series of buttons to restring mid match).

This new aspect makes the multiplayer competitions not only a matter of talent and skill, but of strategy. Players must choose the right moments to unload the modifiers on their competitor for maximum effect. This type of head to head battle will also take place in the solo career mode as well, only players will face off against actual guitar legends from time to time such as GNR and Velvet Revolver shredder Slash. Also part of the multiplayer game is a co op career mode in which players rise and fall in fame together, much like a real band.

The song list is as good, if not better, than any of the game's previous incarnations. As the game has become such a huge success, more bands are not only allowing their music to be used, but even providing their original studio master tracks for the best translation to gameplay. The following is a sample of what fans can expect in Guitar Hero 3 -

Paint It Black -The Rolling Stones

Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins

Sabotage - Beastie Boys (?!)

The Metal - Tenacious D

My Name is Jonas - Weezer

Knights of Cydonia - Muse

Rock And Roll All Nite - made famous by Kiss

School's Out - made famous by Alice Cooper

Slow Ride - made famous by Foghat

Cult of Personality - Living Colour (an all new rendition with new
shreds from lead guitarist Vernon Reid)

Barracuda -made famous by Heart

Even Flow - Pearl Jam

Welcome To the Jungle - Guns N Roses ('bout time!)

Lay Down - Canada's Priestess

There will be a new character in Guitar Hero 3 as well, a J Pop looking character named Midori. A neat twist to all of the axe slingers in this game is that motion capture technology was used to make the characters actually lip sync to the songs as they play. However, it's unlikely the player will have enough free time to watch that and play the song simultaneously. With the new tracks, new battle and co op modes, and wireless guitars all around (yay!), this game is shaping up to possibly be the best in the series so far.

Tags : activision : guitar hero : guitar hero 3 : harmonix : track list

Comments

By: Dragonfly On: 04:53 Jul 11th, 2007 Offline	I have to say, a lot of the stuff mentioned here is quite impressive. Not only does the game look absolutely gorgeous, but it's a very impressive tracklist too, and the idea of end-level "bosses" which are actual real life rock legends is a nice touch. Not so sure about the multiplayer stuff though. The aditions seemed a bit tacked on, as opposed to adding any real skill to the basic challenge. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

By: Samuel On: 04:58 Jul 11th, 2007 Offline	Me likey. Although I have to disagree with Words. Incorperating those modifiers into online play is hardly a feat that can be acheived with a 'tack-on' approach. They must have been planning it since before GH2.