I had been waiting for months for Guitar Hero III to come out. And on the day it was released Devo and rmay snagged me a copy. I literally pounced on the box, opened it and found Slash’s guitar (the GH3 guitar was modeled after the famous rocker’s) in all of its wireless glory. I took care in putting on the stickers that fit my liking and finding a comfortable position for the shoulder strap (I highly doubt anyone reading an seo blog should be calling *me* a geek for this). Then it was time to play…
Unfortunately, between the kids and work, I didn’t have time to sit down and have a proper “junk out” with it. But, this week I was finally able to sit down and rock out. Additionally, I was also let down.
Now don’t get me wrong… the graphics are way better. The characters (along with the ability to style them) is way cooler. The wireless guitar, once you figure out how to sync it (hit the small white button on the front of the X-box and once the green lights starts rotating, turn on your guitar with the power button and THEN hit the small black button near where the shoulder strap snaps on at the bottom of the guitar) is fucking awesome. The sets are better. Presentation wise, this thing kicks Guitar Hero II’s ass.
But, play wise, it was a huge let down… to me. First, don’t get me wrong, some of the songs kick ass. Being able to rock out to Guns and Roses, the Stones and many more was great. But, I was able to five star almost every single song on the first try. Now, I play on medium, but I played Guitar Hero II on medium as well and there is *still* one song I can’t hit five stars on in that damn thing (it’s Psychobilly Freakout if you must know).
The “known” songs on GH three are better than those on GH two, but there were a ton of songs I didn’t particularly care for (and that is likely a taste thing)… but bottom line is that when I can ace a song with five stars on medium that I’ve never heard before on level seven, we have an issue with the “challenge” involved in the game.
Upon beating it on medium, the game gives you a cryptic message at the end letting you know you’ll find more songs if you play the game on hard. Well, I don’t have twelve hours a day to devote to learning the hard mode (98% on a song first shot in medium vs. not being able to get through the same song after 15 tries in hard mode is a big difference – I’m don’t want easy [which is what these songs were] and I don’t want hard – per the whole “medium” designation). I suspect this game is aimed at those playing on hard or expert level and not those of us who simply enjoy a good junk out session.
Another annoyance is that there are different encores in co-op career mode vs. regular career mode. So if you want to get the Beastie Boys (and others), you’ll need to go through the entire game in co-op mode to get access to them (of course, when the songs are that easy on medium, once could argue that it isn’t a huge deal). Co-op career mode of course requires two guitars, so if you don’t have any friends who plunked down the cash for the game, you’ll have to plunk down the cash for an x-box live membership to find someone else in the same predicament to play with.
Apparently, playing guitar and rocking out – the thing that made the first two games so successful, wasn’t enough, so they also added “bosses” this time. You have to beat the boss in battle mode. I think it’s fucking stupid, but it isn’t hard and then you get to play an encore of one of the boss’s songs (and yes, Slash is a boss). But, one thing about the bosses annoyed the hell out of me.
One of the songs I was most excited about was The Devil Went Down to Georgia. I couldn’t WAIT to get to the song. The song is the song you battle to with the last boss, the Devil (on medium anyway). Fine, I battle him and I win. I head back to the song list so that I can play my favorite song on the game without the interference of the battle crap (since it fucks up your play no matter what throughout the song, even if you do extremely well).
To my horror, you cannot. The only way to play The Devil Went Down to Georgia – on medium – is to do it as a battle. No score, no stars (though it does give a percentage at the end), no ability to play the song free and clear of the stupid battle shit. And for that Red Octane, regardless of anything else, fuck you. Fuck. You.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I play on Medium as well, and was able to five-star the songs on GH III once I started playing. The level of Medium doesn’t change from game-to-game. It’s still Medium. It’s just new songs and better graphics.
Come on! Hard is just one extra button, stop wussing out.
Darn it! I just ordered this for my boys for Christmas. I hope they will like it!
1. There are FOUR difficulty levels for a reason. If you’ve aced one, start practicing the next one. There’s your “challange”.
2. TDWDTG is coming (apparently) as downloadable content. I also hope this is true.
3. I do agree that this game seems more geared to hardcore GH players, as some of the achievements are absolutely ridiculous. Beat Through the Flames and Fire on expert???? YA RIGHT! I would take me 50 years to manage that.
1. My complaint I think was that Easy was super easy, medium was easy, hard is ridiculous and expert is impossible ;-) haha
2. I hope you’re right… cause that would make me retract my Fuck. You. at Red Octane :)
4. LMAO… but you’re damn sure gonna sit there and try Devo :P
I can beat it on hard, although Lou will be extremely tough. Expert is another story, not even Slick can beat Lou on expert.
the rights to guitar hero were sold off after II because the original developers are making rock band with mtv games. it has guitar, bass, drum kit, and microphone that rates your ability to sing the correct notes.
http://www.mtv.com/games/video_games/rock_band/
the mic also doubles as a cow bell for blue oyster cult rockage. guitar hero III doesn’t have a chance.
They could have just offered the songs as downloadable content on xbox live, The updates didnt really warrant a GH3.
The top level in GH is not impossible, but judging from this video you’d definately have to be some kinda freak:
http://www.youtube.com/PriestMLH
They’ve released the boss battle songs as free downloads on Live… so I’m thinking the Devil Went Down to Georgia is included.
I also dislike the “battles” – not very fun…
No idea if you’re a Halo fan, but they’re releasing the Halo 3 theme for free on Thanksgiving for Guitar Hero III. That should be fun….
I tried the 2nd game in this series and never really bought into it. I think people assume that if you play guitar, you will love this game and ROCK at it. Not true at all.
omg u guys are pussys just start hard if it is so easy i can easly get 5 stars on all the songs in gh3 but i have bin playing for a year and i am about 9th best in the world not only can i 5 star everysong but i can FC it which means full combo without missing a note and TTFAF is a bit hard u need to get 560k just to 5 star it and my best is 600k and TDWDTG is tough as well but u have to download it to play any of the boss battles with out the battle part and there are many better songs like there are 3 more songs from the band dragon force which did TTFAF