Neversoft's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, X360) and its
massive tracklist hits stores Sunday, October 28. If you've already made the choice to buy the game, but don't know which version to get, this official Shacknews buyer's guide will give you the scoop. I've chosen a best version, in addition to a runner-up, and put together a
handy table to compare all five renditions.
The winner, being the most right-on Guitar Hero III version: Xbox 360 (by Neversoft) Far and away, Neversoft made the Xbox 360 edition of Guitar Hero III its flagship version. Some of the credit should actually go to Microsoft for Xbox Live's robust online services, as the 360 version supports the most online functionality out of any other edition. The online co-op and multiplayer modes are enhanced by Xbox Live's persistent community mechanics, allowing gamers to invite specific friends to join in their online endeavors--a feature some of the other versions lack. And Guitar Hero III players on 360 will be the first to receive downloadable content updates in the form of new tracks, whereas other versions either don't have their content delivery systems worked out yet or lack downloadable songs altogether. Like all of RedOctane's newest guitars, the bundled Xbox 360 axe modeled after a Gibson Les Paul now features enhanced buttons and a Star Power-sensing accelerometer. It also comes apart where the neck joins the guitar body for easy transport, like the other revised guitars. But unlike the other wireless shredders, the Xbox 360 Les Paul makes use of the 360's proprietary wireless technology, meaning you won't need a USB dongle or Wii remote to make use of its wire-free sweetness. The Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero III will also be available for $59.99 as a standalone game at launch, giving owners of a Guitar Hero II wired guitar a cheaper option than shilling out a full C-note for the slightly absurd $99.99 wireless bundle. That said, if you've already made the decision to spend your bankroll on rocking, the Xbox 360 version is your most excellent option.
The runner-up and considerably less righteous Guitar Hero III version: Wii (by Vicarious Visions) I'm giving the Wii edition runner-up because of Vicarious Visions' impressive work within the confines of the Nintendo Wi-Fi service. It's more of an "E for Effort" kind of thing, but truthfully this version is no joke, and a very viable option for certain gamers. The one caveat coming with this version is the lack of downloadable content. It's purely Nintendo's fault, as the company hasn't set up anything to support this kind of feature. Regardless, if downloading new tracks is important to you, you'll want to grab a different version. Vicarious makes up for this lack of content in the online multiplayer, and the developer has given the Wii version of Guitar Hero III the most robust online component seen in a Wii game to date. It's still implemented within the troublesome friend code system, but once you've completed the task of swapping codes with fellow Guitar Hero owners, the Wii version has point-for-point the same features as online play over Xbox Live. The game has you set up a user profile for online play, so you can invite specific friends to co-op matches or multiplayer battles. And just like Xbox Live, an on-screen notification in the form of a tiny guitar pops up if a friend invites you to a match while you're shredding away at the single player mode. Invites can even be queued up, and of course there's leaderboards and all that standard stuff as well. Wii gamers also get some added functionality, as the Wii's Gibson Les Paul actually cradles the Wii remote itself, using the Wii's own wireless technology. Vicarious added support for the Wii remotes rumble features during play, helpfully vibrating to notify you of Star Power and pulsing to the beat once it's activated. The jarring missed note sounds also fittingly come out of the Wii's crappy sounding speakers, though both of these features can be disabled. To top it off, the Wii version costs $10 less than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. Sure, it doesn't have the graphical fidelity of the other platforms, but it supports 480p and looks slightly better than the PS2 version. As I stated above, the Wii is obviously not the way to go for downloadable content seekers, but otherwise it's an extremely solid version, and a remarkable feat for a third party using Nintendo's Wi-Fi overall.
A Guitar Hero first: Guitar Hero III on PC/Mac (by Aspyr) So this version of the game won't be coming out this weekend, as it hits retail November 12. But if you've got a large monitor or don't own any consoles, it could be your best bet. It's the cheapest bundle of the bunch at $79.99, though it includes the wired Gibson Xplorer guitar rather than a new wireless Les Paul. When it launches in November, the retail box will only carry the PC version of the game, so Mac users will have to wait until OS X compatibility is added at a later date. The online multiplayer will be on par with online play over Xbox Live, using matchmaking tools powered by Demonware. Unfortunately, Aspyr is still working out the details behind downloadable content distribution, so it's possible new in-game tracks won't be available until some time after launch. Also, the game unfortunately sports some
fairly absurd system requirements, so owners of questionable rigs might want to mull it over. One bonus is mouse and keyboard support for playing when a guitar isn't around or when it would destroy any implication that you are actually working instead of playing Guitar Hero. The dual setup works pretty well, with strumming set to the mouse buttons and keys used for frets, but it's certainly not something you'd care to do on a regular basis. After all, a lot of the fun of Guitar Hero is about emulating as closely as possible a legendary guitar player.
Other versions: PlayStation 3 (by Neversoft) The PS3 version developed by Neversoft is the same as the Xbox 360 version in nearly every way, but lacks one crucial component: Xbox Live. Sony's flaky PlayStation Network has no in-game functionality for inviting specific friends to matches, making this version's online play fairly bare bones when it comes to matchmaking--though online co-op and multiplayer are certainly doable through standard lobbies. Also, Neversoft has stated it's unsure how timely new in-game tracks will be delivered on the PlayStation Store--a legitimate concern, considering other parties have had trouble putting content up on Sony's network as well. Then there's the wireless Les Paul, which for some reason requires a USB dongle. Add on the fact that it costs $100 just like the 360 version, and it's hard to say you're getting that great of a deal. At least it's in 1080p.
The old dog: PS2 (by Budcat Creations) If you don't care about any kind of online functionality or perhaps have amassed a large collection of PS2 Guitar Hero controllers, Budcat's PS2 version of Guitar Hero III might suit you well. You can buy the game on launch day for $49.99 without a guitar and use your old ones, pick up the
$109.99 Target-exclusive pack with two wired guitars, or opt for the new $89.99 bundle that includes the new generation Kramer Pacer, a new wireless guitar (using a PS2 dongle) exclusive to the PS2. There'll be no downloadable content of course and no online play, but if you don't care to tread these exciting new waters of online functionality, it's certainly an option. You should now have all the info you need for either an informed decision or pre-Rock Band impulse buy when Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock retails this weekend.
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