Is it really necessary to keep pumping out more of the same? To some developers, apparently not. After two smash hits, Harmonix was bought by MTV, with Activision buying the license to Guitar Hero. Of course, Harmonix’s next project wasn’t exactly different- Rock Band is nothing more than an evolution of Guitar Hero- many fans stuck with the tried-and-true Guitar Hero formula. Now, though, the series is under the eye of Tony Hawk developer Neversoft.

Since many gamers can’t like more than one series (the skate. vs Proving Ground debate comes to mind), a sort of war is brewing between the Guitar Hero fans and the Rock Band hopefuls. Guitar Hero III features online play, more genuine songs, and a new “boss” mode. Is it enough to keep the name afloat, or does it bite of more than it can chew? Guitar Hero III features the exact same gameplay as its predecessors; however, this is perfectly fine.

The scrolling notes are really just a vehicle for a great soundtrack, with the same excellent multiplayer that the first two games had (the 360 version also supports online play). Thankfully, this iteration has a far better soundtrack that the previous games: finally, some classics are present. Welcome to the Jungle, One, Sunshine of Your Love, and Paint It Black are just a few of the universally beloved songs from decades gone by.

There are some great choices from modern times, as well, but the game predominantly features older hits. There are some songs that stick out like a sore thumb, however. Black Magic Woman? Santana is a fantastic guitarist, to be sure, but why choose that song? Still, this is the best soundtrack of the series and definitely benefits from having the master recordings as opposed to weak covers. The career mode now has “boss battles” which can be summed up with one word: random.