The New Controller:

Before we get to the game itself, you should be aware that the Guitar Hero III bundles (except a few oddities at Wal-Mart) will include a newly designed, wireless Les Paul guitar controller. I had originally viewed the option to go wireless as more of a luxury than a necessity, but what I could not have foreseen was the fact that this new found freedom of movement actually enhanced the experience for me. Where I previously had played sitting on my couch within a few feet of my Xbox 360, I now find myself strutting around my living room, jumping on and off of the furniture, and even throwing in an occasional Stevie Nicks inspired twirl.

Keep in mind, going wireless is not the only improvement made to the instantly recognizable controller. There are a few other key differences that may influence your decision to purchase the new Les Paul model. With this iteration, Red Octane has redesigned the guitar with a removable neck so it can be more easily stored or transported. The lengths of both the neck and the whammy bar have been extended slightly, making for a more comfortable fit. The Xbox guide button and D-pad have both been relocated to a more convenient position, which makes it much more unlikely to be pressed by accident. The shape of the fret buttons have been rounded slightly, making it easier to slide your fingers across multiple buttons more easily. The brightly colored fret buttons of the past have been toned down with black surfaces in an attempt to make the controller appear less like a child's toy and more like an actual guitar

The last addition, which was a surprise to me, was the inclusion of a removable faceplate. Personally, I like the understated black gloss finish of the stock faceplate, but undoubtedly there are many of you who probably won't mind spending the additional $14.99, just for a change of pace now that the option is available.

Sights and Sounds:

While Guitar Hero III's visuals are quite crisp and detailed, there really isn't much new here aside from cameo appearances by Slash and Tom Morello in boss battles and as unlockables. The character models are still well done and their guitar-shredding animations seem a bit more varied and less repetitive than before. Fans will certainly appreciate the effort made by Red Octane in securing tracks performed by the original artists, and using fewer "as made famous by" song credits. The track listing (included below) contains a pretty varied selection that any music fan should be able to appreciate. While hardcore fans will always complain over certain inclusions or exclusions, developers have tried their best to please most of the people most of the time.

Gameplay:

Guitar Hero's standard Career Mode is alive and well, in both single player and new local co-op. The biggest draw for many veterans is the ability to go online and put your money where your trash-talking mouth is. Included game types are Face Off, Pro Face Off, Battle and Co-op. In Face Off and Pro Face off, you and an opponent simply play for high score. Battle is a new gameplay mechanic (also used in Career Mode boss battles) in which Star Power is replaced by Battle Power. Play the battle note phrases successfully and you are awarded various attacks that can be used on your opponent in an effort to drop their Rock Meter into the red. These frenetic matches can be frustratingly fun as you desperately try to maintain accuracy while recovering from attacks made by your opponent.

Conclusion:

There is no question about it. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a standout title that will likely see millions in sales this holiday season. With a track list full of both old classics and new favorites, and with online play that will keep you rocking for months to come, it's hard to argue its replay value. So whether you are thinking about picking up the game alone for $59 or you decide to pay the $40 premium and take the wireless plunge, you will be hard pressed to find a better value this gaming season.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Setlist

• Slow Ride - Foghat
• Talk Dirty to Me - Poison
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
• Story of My Life - Social Distortion
• Rock and Roll All Nite - Kiss
• Mississippi Queen - Mountain
• School's Out - Alice Cooper
• Sunshine of Your Love - Cream
• Barracuda - Heart
• Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine
• When You Were Young - The Killers
• Miss Murder - AFI
• The Seeker - The Who
• Lay Down - Priestess
• Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones
• Paranoid - Black Sabbath
• Anarchy in the U.K. - The Sex Pistols
• Kool Thing - Sonic Youth
• My Name is Jonas - Weezer
• Even Flow - Pearl Jam
• Holiday In Cambodia - The Dead Kennedys
• Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions
• Same Old Song and Dance - Aerosmith
• La Grange - ZZ Top
• Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N Roses
• Black Magic Woman - Santana
• Cherub Rock - The Smashing Pumpkins
• Black Sunshine - White Zombie
• The Metal - Tenacious D
• Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Before I Forget - Slipknot
• Stricken - Disturbed
• 3's & 7's - Queens of the Stone Age
• Knights of Cydonia - Muse
• Cult of Personality - Living Colour
• Raining Blood - Slayer
• Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson
• The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
• One - Metallica
• Through the Fire and Flames - Dragonforce
• Avalancha - Heroes del Silencio
• In the Belly of a Shark - Gallows
• Can't Be Saved - Senses Fail
• Closer - Lacuna Coil
• Don't Hold Back - The Sleeping
• Down N Dirty - LA Slum Lords
• F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X. - The Fall of Troy
• Generation Rock - Revolverheld
• Go That Far - Bret Michaels Band
• Hier Kommt Alex - Die Toten Hosen
• I'm in the Band - Hellacopters
• Impulse - An Endless Sporadic
• In Love - Scouts of St. Sebastion
• Mauvais Garcon - NAAST
• Metal Heavy Lady - Lions
• Minus Celsius - Backyard Babies
• My Curse - Killswitch Engage
• Nothing For Me Here - Dope
• Prayer of the Refugee - Rise Against
• Radio Song - Superbus
• Ruby - The Kaiser Chiefs
• She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses
• Take This Life - In Flames
• The Way It Ends - Prototype