Guitar Hero: World Tour

PS3, also Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii
Rocking all over
Having recently become the first game in history to surpass $1 billion in sales, Guitar Hero III has done all right considering it was Neversoft's first faltering stab at the genre. Recently challenged by the originators of the series through Rock Band, they've responded in kind by adding drums and a mic to the mix. So, surely it should be Band Heroes now?
Things are essentially the same as ever, but with new music, a virtual recording studio and vastly more entertaining multiplayer. The new instruments are top notch too, with a bigger guitar allowing for a touch sensitive strip on the neck for fast finger work and the drums are particularly sturdy and responsive, with 3 large pads and 2 raised ones rounded off with a kick pedal.
The mic works in the same way as games like Singstar and everything manages to cram into one screen reasonably, with the score/star power meter unfortunately squished into a corner during 4 player sessions.
The translation of songs to gameplay has been handled better this time round too, with music from the likes of Modest Mouse, Beastie Boys, Interpol and Nirvana logically synced to the inputs required on the instruments. They're all master tracks too and the inclusion of Jimi Hendrix is a master stroke complemented by a music selection that generally seems better this time round.
And if none of those tracks are to your taste there's downloadable content for the online, with the dual CD/Guitar Hero launch of Metallica's latest album proving how potent a force this rhythm game business has become.
The presentation may not be to everyone's taste and the in-depth avatar/instrument editors mildly pointless, but the Recording Studio could prove to be its unique killer app.
With some basic sequencing software and nicely modelled instrument and amp sounds, it allows you to create your own music and upload to GHTunes to share with the world. Controls can be a bit fiddly but perseverance and a never ending stream of downloadable home-made music could keep the amp on fire long after purchase. Or at least allow me to give birth to Electro Hero.
8/10