When Guitar Hero made its way to the Nintendo Wii, it was a momentous occasion for Nintendo fans. Activision, known for their multi-platform dominance, brought the iconic rhythm game franchise to a whole new audience. However, the journey to get Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock onto the Wii wasn’t without its share of bumps in the road. Harmonix, the original creators of Guitar Hero, had passed the torch to Neversoft, with Vicarious Visions handling the specific development for the Wii console. Leading up to the release, concerns arose about the Wii version potentially lacking online modes and downloadable content (DLC).
Initial reports suggested the online feature might be absent altogether, and DLC was uncertain, described as something to be included “if we get to it.” Fortunately, the online multiplayer functionality was eventually reinstated, although the downloadable content remained elusive for the Wii iteration. Despite these initial setbacks, the Wii version of Guitar Hero III ultimately delivered a robust experience, boasting more features than its PlayStation 2 counterpart and capitalizing on the unique motion controls of the Wii Remote. For those unfamiliar with the phenomenon, Guitar Hero places you in the shoes of a guitarist, tasked with shredding through rock anthems.
As songs play, a stream of notes descends on-screen, color-coded and corresponding to buttons on the guitar controller. Depending on the chosen difficulty level, up to five different colored notes will appear. When these notes reach the fret bar at the bottom of the screen, you must press the matching colored button(s) on the guitar neck and strum the strum bar in time with the music. More complex songs introduce techniques like holding multiple buttons simultaneously and executing “hammer-ons” and “pull-offs.” Notes with a glowing aura indicate hammer-ons and pull-offs, where you don’t need to strum again, a crucial technique for conquering harder songs. If this sounds daunting, rest assured, Guitar Hero III on Wii includes a comprehensive and user-friendly tutorial mode, along with a practice mode that allows you to slow down song sections and master challenging parts at your own pace. The game offers a genuinely scalable difficulty curve, from “Easy” suitable for beginners and younger players to “Expert,” designed to test the skills of even the most seasoned rhythm game veterans.
Image alt text: Guitar Hero Legends of Rock Wii gameplay screenshot showing the note highway and player interface during a song, highlighting the immersive rock experience on the Nintendo Wii.
The heart of any Guitar Hero game is its music, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock truly delivers a stellar soundtrack. Many consider this installment to feature one of the best tracklists in the entire series. The game predominantly features original recordings from iconic artists, with some covers that are so well-produced, only die-hard fans might notice the difference. For a complete list of the 71 songs, numerous online resources detail the full tracklist. Beyond the main setlist, the game also includes a selection of bonus songs. However, as previously mentioned, the Wii version of Guitar Hero III launched without downloadable content support. This meant Wii players would have to wait for future Guitar Hero titles or potential expansion discs to expand their song libraries.
One aspect unique to the Wii version of Guitar Hero III is its guitar controller. It incorporates a slot for the Wii Remote, making the Wii Remote essential for guitar functionality. While most Wii owners likely possessed a Wii Remote, this design choice meant that purchasing a second guitar for multiplayer required not only another guitar controller but also an additional Wii Remote. Despite this, and despite not being a “proper” guitar in the traditional sense, the Wii version retailed only slightly cheaper than its counterparts on other “next-gen” consoles at the time.
Image alt text: Close-up of the Guitar Hero Wii guitar controller with a white Wii Remote inserted, showcasing the unique integration of Nintendo’s motion control into the instrument peripheral.
The Wii Remote integration, however, does offer some advantages. The guitar draws power from the Wii Remote batteries, eliminating the need for separate batteries in the guitar itself. Despite the cavity for the Wii Remote, the guitar controller remains robust and durable, retaining the collapsible neck feature found in other versions. Another benefit is the utilization of the Wii Remote’s rumble feature, which activates during “Star Power” mode, adding a tactile layer to the gameplay experience. Furthermore, when a player misses a note, a distinct “clang” sound effect is emitted through the Wii Remote’s speaker, providing immediate audio feedback, mimicking the sound of a missed note on a real guitar.
These Wii Remote-specific features, while not game-changing, contribute to the overall immersive feel and presentation of the game. The motion sensor within the Wii Remote is also mapped to Star Power activation. However, activating Star Power through motion requires a rather aggressive tilt of the guitar, which can be somewhat distracting during gameplay. Fortunately, the “select” button provides a more easily accessible alternative for Star Power activation, reachable with the palm or pinky finger, depending on hand size. Interestingly, the analog stick on the Wii guitar controller serves a singular purpose: navigating the Wii menu to launch the game. It has no in-game functionality.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on Wii includes a wealth of game modes. It features the familiar career mode from previous Guitar Hero titles, allowing players to progress through songs and venues, and a cooperative career mode for playing with a friend (though local co-op only, as online co-op was not available on the Wii). A minor addition to the career mode is a light narrative element presented through brief cartoon cutscenes interspersed throughout the progression. The new “Battle Mode” introduces competitive gameplay, enabling players to face off against each other. During battles, players can unleash attacks on their opponents, such as “Broken String” or “Speeding Up Chords,” temporary debuffs designed to disrupt their performance and potentially cause them to fail the song.
Image alt text: Guitar Hero III Battle Mode screenshot illustrating two players competing head-to-head, showcasing the competitive aspect of the game and the on-screen attack indicators during a battle.
The online mode, while functional, is somewhat basic compared to modern standards. It utilizes friend codes and lacks voice chat functionality. Despite these limitations, it still provides a fun platform for online competition. Players can easily see which friends are online and join matches, or play against random opponents. Leaderboards are also included, allowing players to track their scores and compete for global rankings, although reaching the top echelons requires considerable skill and dedication. Graphically, Guitar Hero games have never been at the forefront of visual fidelity, as the focus is primarily on the note highway and rhythm gameplay. Guitar Hero III on Wii visually resembles the PlayStation 2 version. While it supports widescreen and 480p resolution, the graphics are not significantly enhanced. The game prioritizes a functional and clear user interface and menus over graphical polish. The character animations of the in-game band members are somewhat simplistic, but the overall presentation is effective for the gameplay experience.
Advertisement
Ultimately, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on the Wii stands as a strong entry in the rhythm game genre and a worthy addition to the Guitar Hero franchise. It holds its own against versions on more powerful consoles of the time. While the Wii version lacks downloadable content and in-game voice chat for online play, the unique Wii Remote integration adds enjoyable features, and the slightly lower price point offered some compensation for these omissions. For players new to Guitar Hero, particularly those not concerned with downloadable content, the Wii version is an excellent entry point. However, players already invested in Guitar Hero on other consoles with existing guitar peripherals might find it less compelling. In conclusion, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on Wii delivers a fun, engaging, and worthwhile rock and roll experience that is well worth its price.
