Guitar Hero III : Legends of Rock

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a 2007 rhythm game in which players perform rock songs by matching scrolling note patterns with a guitar-shaped controller. It is the third main Guitar Hero game and the first in the series developed by Neversoft, with Activision publishing the release. The PlayStation 2 edition was ported by Budcat Creations.

Performances use colored fret buttons and a strum bar to play single notes, sustained notes, and chords in time with the music. Correct notes build score multipliers and help keep the Rock Meter from emptying, while designated passages fill the Star Power meter for a temporary scoring and performance boost. The game supports Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert difficulties, with tougher settings increasing the complexity and density of the note charts.

The single-player Career mode is structured around eight song tiers and a total of 42 main-setlist songs. Completing songs opens encore performances and new venues, while successful shows award in-game money for unlockable characters, outfits, guitars, finishes, bonus songs, and videos. The campaign presents a cartoon storyline about a local band that rises to fame before confronting its supernatural record producer, Lou the Devil.

Career mode includes three guitar battles against Tom Morello, Slash, and Lou the Devil. These confrontations adapt the competitive Battle mode, where well-played special sections earn attacks that can disrupt an opponent’s performance. Morello and Slash also appear as playable characters once their battles have been completed.

Two local players can take on a separate Co-Op Career as lead guitar and bass or rhythm guitar, depending on the song. Its six tiers have their own progression and encore songs, but do not include boss battles. Standard local multiplayer also offers score-focused Face Off variations and Battle mode for competitive play.

The soundtrack contains 73 playable songs: 42 in the main career setlist, six for Co-Op Career, and 25 bonus tracks. Most are master recordings, and the selection includes songs associated with artists such as the Rolling Stones, Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Tenacious D, Weezer, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Poison, Foghat, and Heart. Slash and Tom Morello recorded original music for their in-game battles.

The PlayStation 2 release was bundled with a wireless Kramer Striker-style guitar controller that uses a dongle, while compatible earlier Guitar Hero controllers can also be used. Characters perform on stage during each song and react to Star Power or failing performances. The game’s playable cast can be further customized with alternate guitar skins and outfits.

Guitar Hero III retains the accessible performance format of its predecessors while adding a more elaborate career presentation, boss encounters, expanded unlockables, and competitive modes. Its demanding charts, especially at higher difficulties, became a notable part of its reputation, and the title went on to be one of the most commercially successful music games of its era.