(continued from previous page) ...four tracks and an encore. After the second, fifth, and eighth set list, an all-new game mode has been added called the Guitar Battle. In this neat mode, you are pitted up against a famous guitarist in a battle of rock. The song at this time is a riff made specifically for the battle, in which there are no star power ups, only battle notes. You must beat your opponent before the song is over, or else you lose. Upon defeating your opponent, you will then play alongside them in one of their songs for an encore. After all is said, you will unlock that character in the shop, where you can purchase them and use them whenever you feel obliged.

Also new to Legends of Rock is the Co-op career. In this mode, you and a friend play through six set lists to beat the game. There are no boss battles here, but you can unlock a few songs that are only attainable through this mode. This mode adds a sense of achievement for those who like to get friends together and play. But there are still more than an ample share of songs to unlock; throughout the single and co-op career modes, you obtain money by progressing through the set lists and performing well.

Upon completion of a full set list, you "milk" your sponsors for bonuses as well. So, with all of that money its time to hit the Guitar Center shop. Here you will find twenty-four more tracks, new guitars and new paint schemes, new characters, and videos of some of the famous bands that have met in the studio to help on the game. The store provides loads of unlockable goodies, with so much to buy; it will take several trips through the set list before you will be able to get it all. But be sure to unlock the new songs first!

Soundtrack aside, what has really set this series apart is its unique controller. When Guitar Hero first came out, many were skeptical about a game that used a plastic guitar to simulate the real thing. Well, based on sales numbers and the massive popularity of the series, it is obvious that Red Octane found a golden ticket. While the guitar controller wasn't an entirely new idea (there was actually an arcade game that used a guitar first), bringing one home to a console was, and it hit big. So what's new with the guitar in Legends of Rock? And how does it stack up?

The new guitar for the PlayStation 3 is, for the most part, a wireless peripheral. A USB "dongle" plugs into one of your free slots and syncs the guitar with your console. Red Octane obviously felt the need to save a few bucks by not going Bluetooth on this one, and it has sort of come back to bite them on this one. Reports of interference issues have been widespread across the Internet within days of the games release.

We at PSU did not encounter this problem, but the dongle does look a bit tacky hanging off of the most powerful console. This is only minor though. The guitar is actually very well constructed; it even disassembles at the neck to facilitate transportation for those on you on the move. Also, customization is a breeze, as the faceplate slips right off and can be replaced with one of many stylish designs that are on store shelves now.

The only downside one can really put to this new guitar is the lack of rechargeable battery options. With Guitar Hero being a big time party game, be sure to keep plenty of AA's around for the inevitable death of the batteries in the guitar. Basic gameplay has been left almost completely unchanged. Players still strum to the music and rock to the song, all while attaining star power and maintaining a good multiplier. Neversoft did listen to fans and add a streak meter, letting the player know how many notes in a row they have hit without missing a beat. This is put near your multiplier and star power sensor, making it easy to see while playing. Other than this, the developers have clearly stuck by the well-worn ... (continued on next page)