I find it a little hard to believe that anything I say in this review could possibly sway your opinion of Guitar Hero III one way or another. Even though GH3 was developed by Neversoft, and is obviously a bit different from the previous two games, it’s not likely to stop you from making the purchase. There are only so many ways in which GH3 could improve upon the formula, and what it really comes down to is the songs.

Forget for a moment that GH3 was built from the ground up by a different developer – what could have been done to make this series any less of an obvious cash cow? Every facet of the game could remain the same, with the only change being the songs, and people would still be flocking to stores to get it – myself included. There are only so many ways to rock out in a video game, most of which we’ve already experienced and loved. A few modes and features have been added to deter people from thinking that this is the same game that it always has been. For those that fancy to play the game by themselves, you can expect the same career mode, with the added feature of the guitar battles. While this is fun when playing against a friend, it’s more of a nuisance in single player.

One of the most noticeable changes in GH3’s gameplay is the margin of error you’re given. You have a slightly longer amount of time to hit each note than you did in either GH1 or GH2. This doesn’t necessarily make the playing of ordinary notes any easier, but hammer-ons and pull-offs can be performed in a much more forgiving manner. When it comes to the expert difficulty, a lot of the note changes are pretty ridiculous and will rekindle memories of frustration that drive you to better your performances.

GH3 is definitely a game to be played with a buddy at your side. The co-op career is an excellent addition and has some stellar songs that can’t be played in single player, which is fine if you’re not a social outcast, but otherwise, it’s almost cruel.

A good many of these songs are master tracks this time around, which does make the experience so much better than the sometimes sub-par covers. As well, the track list is probably the best yet – I can’t help but strut around the room and wail on my guitar. I still feel like a guitar hero.

I feel guilty buying a new game for full price when the only thing that really matters can be dealt with through DLC, or retail on a disc for a much more reasonable price. GH1 brought the innovation, GH2 brought it into the spotlight, and GH3 has more or less made it mainstream, with in-game advertisements and all. The only reason to buy this game is for the songs and the fact that it’s so ridiculously fun to play them. Nothing else matters.