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Demo impressions - Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock |
Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Activision, RedOctane
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A few hours ago, the demo download for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock from RedOctane, Activision made its way to Xbox Live. Shortly after that, I found myself staring down a perpetually moving guitar neck, desperately trying to keep up with the mad riffs Even Flow is famous for. This was made all the more difficult by the fact I was using the 360's wireless controllers. It was an interesting experience to say the least, which brings us to the start of QJ's first impressions report for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
The GHIII demo gives players the option of three modes: quick play, multiplayer, and practice mode. Quickplay's self-explanatory - you just jump right into the fray, select a difficulty, and perform one of the five available songs. Choices for the demo include classics like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" as made famous by Scorpions, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" as made famous by by Pat Benatar, and - my personal fave - "Even Flow" by Pearl Jam. Guys looking for a more modern beat can also try out "Lay Down" by Priestess, and "The Metal" by Tenacious D.
The practice mode allows you to rehearse all by your lonesome, sans the (virtual) fans that'll cheer you on. Expert gamers who've played the previous Guitar Hero installments shouldn't have a problem knocking this demo down a peg or two. Beginners will be delighted to know that they can opt to adjust their song's speed and difficulty to something manageable. Hey, you gotta learn to walk before you learn how to run, right?
You can also take advantage of the game's ability to skip to certain parts of of the song, in case it's just one section that's giving you trouble. After after a quick warm-up over in practice mode, we'll be heading over to the concert proper.
The first thing players will notice with the visuals is the polished game graphics. Not really that big a deal for guys just out for some hardcore guitar-playing, but kudos goes to Activision for making this experience all the more immersive. And while the demo's only got five songs to work with, they're still plenty of fun for both beginners and veterans alike, and represent the more popular rock genres we've all come to love.
Newcomers are advised to try out "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." Its (relatively) light-hearted and melodic tunes are easy to pick up, making it a good means to build up your skills and confidence for more challenging songs, such as the heavy metal headbanger, "Lay Down". On the opposite end of the spectrum, hardcore players will want to make a beeline for "The Metal". This hot number from last year will prove to be a challenge for even the most dexterous fingers, given its unusual rhythmic phrasings.
You can also switch to the Bass guitarist role, which offers a completely different play style for those looking for extra game diversity. And come multiplayer mode, you'll be fully prepared to back up your buddy when he visits.
Being someone relatively new to Guitar Hero, I have to say I've thoroughly enjoyed the demo. And while it's just a teaser of things to come, we imagine fellow players out there will be practicing for hours on end to perfect their routine before the full version hits retail. But while we liked the demo, we did feel something was missing - no boss challenges. Being able to take on the likes of Slash, Tom Morello, or Bret Michaels would have made this demo all the more exciting. Although in retrospect, that probably would have spoiled the full course rockfest that'll launch this October 28 for the Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 3.
We'll be ending the first impressions review at this point, folks - consider this your cue to resume your practice for the upcoming Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend event this November 2 to 4.
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Still looking forward to playing though
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