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HERE COME THE LEGENDS!
Lets start with the more well known game in this genre, "Guitar
Hero 3". "Guitar Hero 3" is the 4th installment of the series
(including Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s) The game boasts
a wide range of songs, including hits from "Kiss" "Alice Cooper"
"Rage Against the Machine" "The Killers" "Sex Pistols" and
many, many more.
The game, like past versions also includes original songs that
have been recorded especially for the game, including a guitar
battle from the god of rock himself "Slash"
X-Box 360 owners may also be happy to hear if they have access
to "X-Box Live" they will be able to download extra songs!
Guitar Hero 3's game-play remains much the same as the other 3
games in the franchise, the player must hit notes as they scroll
towards the bottom of the screen in time with music in order to
maintain their performance and to score points, they do this by
hitting the Corresponding Color fret on there Guitar controller
as is on the screen - A normal pad can be used - but this just
isn't the same!
The game, like past games in the series, features alot of
unlikeable goodies including the much enjoyable 2 play modes!
Lets start with the more well known game in this genre, "Guitar
Hero 3". "Guitar Hero 3" is the 4th installment of the series
(including Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s) The game boasts
a wide range of songs, including hits from "Kiss" "Alice Cooper"
"Rage Against the Machine" "The Killers" "Sex Pistols" and
many, many more.
The game, like past versions also includes original songs that
have been recorded especially for the game, including a guitar
battle from the god of rock himself "Slash"
X-Box 360 owners may also be happy to hear if they have access
to "X-Box Live" they will be able to download extra songs!
Guitar Hero 3's game-play remains much the same as the other 3
games in the franchise, the player must hit notes as they scroll
towards the bottom of the screen in time with music in order to
maintain their performance and to score points, they do this by
hitting the Corresponding Color fret on there Guitar controller
as is on the screen - A normal pad can be used - but this just
isn't the same!
The game, like past games in the series, features alot of
unlikeable goodies including the much enjoyable 2 play modes!
| The long awaited "Guitar Hero 3 - Legends Of Rock" hits Europe this November, but it may have a little more competition than expected by the newest addition to this popular music genera game with the new game from MTV "Rock Band" - also set to hit the Playstation 3 late this year. |
THE NEW BLOOD!
Theres a new band on the block, and there here to rock your socks
off!
Well, its going to take quite alot to impress after the Guitar Hero
franchise... But, that being said, looking at the overview of MTV's
"Rock Band" game, i think it may well have a shot.
"Rock Band" isn't just a guitar based game but a full round band
simulation experience. The player not only gets to play lead, base
and rythm guitar, but also vocals and drums!
Unlike "Guitar Hero" "Rock Band" also has a co-op tour mode, as
well as the normal solo tour mode. Rather than complete
predetermined sets of songs (like in previous releases in the Guitar
Hero series), players will be completing unique sets of activities at
each venue. Some performances will consist of single songs,
mystery setlists, or specific challenges - Gaining the band fans and
populatity.
Like "Guitar Hero" "Rock Band" also boasts quite a large aray of
talent on its setlist, including tracks from: "Fall Out Boy" "Metallica"
"Queens of the Stone Age" "Nirvana" "Coheed and Cambria" and
many more
Theres a new band on the block, and there here to rock your socks
off!
Well, its going to take quite alot to impress after the Guitar Hero
franchise... But, that being said, looking at the overview of MTV's
"Rock Band" game, i think it may well have a shot.
"Rock Band" isn't just a guitar based game but a full round band
simulation experience. The player not only gets to play lead, base
and rythm guitar, but also vocals and drums!
Unlike "Guitar Hero" "Rock Band" also has a co-op tour mode, as
well as the normal solo tour mode. Rather than complete
predetermined sets of songs (like in previous releases in the Guitar
Hero series), players will be completing unique sets of activities at
each venue. Some performances will consist of single songs,
mystery setlists, or specific challenges - Gaining the band fans and
populatity.
Like "Guitar Hero" "Rock Band" also boasts quite a large aray of
talent on its setlist, including tracks from: "Fall Out Boy" "Metallica"
"Queens of the Stone Age" "Nirvana" "Coheed and Cambria" and
many more
DEAFENING DRUMS!
The drum controller is similar to the DrumMania arcade game, It
will be based on striking one of 4 drum pads, and pressing a kick
pedal (representing the bass drum). The drum set will also come
with a pair of authentic drum sticks. The legs of the drum
peripheral can adjust in height or be detached if the player
wishes to place it on a table-top, while the kick pedal can be
adjusted laterally.
Drummers can improvise in special "freestyle drum fill" sections
of songs, indicated by the columns for each note turning a solid
color. Overdrive for drummers can be deployed by hitting the
crash cymbal (green note) that appears directly after a freestyle
drum fill.
Harmonix representatives have suggested, "If you can play the
drum parts on hard, you can pretty much play the drums [in
reality]"
From the looks of it, this is, in my eyes one of the most radical
things to come out of home consoles.
The drum controller is similar to the DrumMania arcade game, It
will be based on striking one of 4 drum pads, and pressing a kick
pedal (representing the bass drum). The drum set will also come
with a pair of authentic drum sticks. The legs of the drum
peripheral can adjust in height or be detached if the player
wishes to place it on a table-top, while the kick pedal can be
adjusted laterally.
Drummers can improvise in special "freestyle drum fill" sections
of songs, indicated by the columns for each note turning a solid
color. Overdrive for drummers can be deployed by hitting the
crash cymbal (green note) that appears directly after a freestyle
drum fill.
Harmonix representatives have suggested, "If you can play the
drum parts on hard, you can pretty much play the drums [in
reality]"
From the looks of it, this is, in my eyes one of the most radical
things to come out of home consoles.
| *Rock Band* - Cover |
| *Fender Stratocaster* - Rock Band Guitar |
| *Rock Band* - Drum Kit |
*Rock Band* - Stunning In game Graphics
MICROPHONE MAYHEM!
Rock Band's microphone instrument will be very similar to
the model used in the Harmonix game Karaoke
Revolution games and it will plug in via a USB plug.
According to an article in Game Informer, "Vocalists sing
along to the rock tunes as they always have. Additionally,
a phoneme detector will pick up the individual vowels
and consonants."
When there are no vocals, the microphone can also be
used as a tambourine and cowbell by tapping it or making
vocal cues. Overdrive for singers can be deployed by
singing in freestyle vocal sections of songs.
This also seems quite a nice feature, but this did prove
quite a difficult skill to master in karaoke games of the
past - easier than a Friday night down the pub thought,
and just as fun!
Rock Band's microphone instrument will be very similar to
the model used in the Harmonix game Karaoke
Revolution games and it will plug in via a USB plug.
According to an article in Game Informer, "Vocalists sing
along to the rock tunes as they always have. Additionally,
a phoneme detector will pick up the individual vowels
and consonants."
When there are no vocals, the microphone can also be
used as a tambourine and cowbell by tapping it or making
vocal cues. Overdrive for singers can be deployed by
singing in freestyle vocal sections of songs.
This also seems quite a nice feature, but this did prove
quite a difficult skill to master in karaoke games of the
past - easier than a Friday night down the pub thought,
and just as fun!
Writen By: Ian Russell / Uploaded/Edited By: Ian Russell
RAPID RIFFS!
All this fun does althoght come at a price, given
the addition of vocals, and drumming to the game,
means there are extra contorllers - a drum kit and
microphone.
The new guitar for the game will be based on a
Fender Stratocaster this controller will have 5
additional fret buttons located further up the neck
to be used in special solo sections (for these,
strumming is not necessary and all notes can be
played by hammer-ons and pull-offs)
Additionally, the guitar controller will also feature
an effects pickup switch that can toggle between
different effects. Althoght it has been confirmed
that 3rd party guitar controllers (including the new
Guitar Hero 3 controller) will be compatible.
All this fun does althoght come at a price, given
the addition of vocals, and drumming to the game,
means there are extra contorllers - a drum kit and
microphone.
The new guitar for the game will be based on a
Fender Stratocaster this controller will have 5
additional fret buttons located further up the neck
to be used in special solo sections (for these,
strumming is not necessary and all notes can be
played by hammer-ons and pull-offs)
Additionally, the guitar controller will also feature
an effects pickup switch that can toggle between
different effects. Althoght it has been confirmed
that 3rd party guitar controllers (including the new
Guitar Hero 3 controller) will be compatible.
| *Guitar Hero 3* - Cover |
| SO WHAT DO WE BUY? Well, hopefully we shall be reviewing both games shortly, for now... I would recommend if you don't want any disappointment, go with the established game "Guitar Hero" but we have very high hopes for "Rock Band" and hope it will bring in a new era of music game enjoyment! |
