Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock [X360]

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Living room rocking hit the top of the charts when Harmonix and Red Octane unleashed their headbanging masterpiece Guitar Hero back in 2005, but that was just the opening set. Their inspired sequel was an instant seat-filler, leaping from the small stage of the PS2 to the Enormo Dome of the Xbox 360 and cementing the series as the best live gig in town.

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But something not so funny happened on the way to selling out the forum -- the band broke up. Red Octane was bought by Activision, who was unable to keep independent developer Harmonix from stage diving into the waiting arms of MTV. To say that millions of Guitar Hero fans were worried would be putting it mildly. Without its lead songwriter, what would become of their new favorite group?

A lot, actually. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has been slung over the solid shoulder of Tony Hawk developer Neversoft, a team that certainly knows a thing or two about sequels. With the third iteration spanning the PS2, Xbox 360, PS3 and -- gasp -- Wii, they've got plenty of new stages for their upcoming rock god to conquer.

And this time, the six-stringed deity assumes human form as that bushy-haired snake charmer, Slash; the Velvet Revolver axeman just recently signed on as the road-tested face of the franchise. A self-professed fan of the series, he's also provided a ton of music for the game and will even appear as an end-level Boss character for players to duel against. While the specifics are still a little murky, you can find out more about his involvement in our exclusive producer interview.

Even if you don't burn frets like the ex-Guns 'N Roses guitarist, you'll be able to shred away the night courtesy of the game's intuitive mechanics. Though it's the third game in the series, Guitar Hero III doesn't stray far from its original recipe; other than some fresh graphical upgrades, it's intent on keeping its fans happily strumming along as they once again follow familiar colored notes blazing down a virtual fretboard.