bit-tech Shopping: RedOctane Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock Bundle (Wii)

Rating: 10

Time with product: 7 Days

Strengths: Sweet soundtrack (everything from Foghat to Metallica); good tutorial (lets you master different sections of songs). Never gets old (just tiring to play after a few hours...kinda like real guitar).

Weaknesses: If you aren't used to playing music or listening to music from start to finish, it could get monotonous, but that's more personal preference. Guitar is difficult to use for a lefty, though possible.

Summary: After seeing all the fun that can be had playing Guitar Hero on the Playstation, Wii users finally get their chance and thankfully they hit the mark with GH3. With lots of opportunity to master songs from the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's, this game is good for both the young and old. It's tutorial allows you to slow down any song you wish to more easily master the notes and you can do so with any song on the playlist. All songs are full-length and songs that aren't from the original band are well-done and sound very close to the original. A left-handed person may want to deal with playing right-handed as the guitar is designed that way or else you can switch the setting, play left-handed and just deal with the whammy bar being slightly in the way. Over all, a sweet game. Can't wait for future versions!

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Guitar Hero

Weaknesses: no DLC/mono sound

Summary: Guitar Hero has finally arrived on the Wii, and it's as fun as one would expect. Activision has delayed downloadable content until WiiWare is launched on the system, and the first print of discs had mono sound for some reason, but if you don't care or don't notice these issues, go ahead and buy the game everyone else is enjoying without you. Heck, buy 2 since the $60 standalone guitar is highway robbery.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Rumble & sound through wiimote.

Weaknesses: No stereo sound. No downloadable content yet. No extra guitar available yet.

Summary: Guitar Hero III is a flatout, great party game. For the Wii version, you insert the wiimote inside the guitar controller, so you'll actually hear a short squealing noise when a wrong note is hit. If you own an XBox 360 or PS3, I recommend shelling out the extra $10 and buying GH3 on that platform instead--the graphics are better and you can download more songs. Another issue with the Wii version is that the early shipments included a disc with only mono sound. You can send out for a replacement disc with stereo sound to Activision. If you only own a Wii, don't let these problems deter you from picking up GH3--it's still an awesome game.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Wireless guitar, great songs,

Weaknesses: The buttons seem a bit flimsy but thats not too bad.

Summary: I've never played the previous games in this series but this game is addictive! Instead of strings you have a bar you push corresponding to how fast the notes move. And the placement of buttons is perfect. The song list is huge, I have still to get through the basic list. Then there is the level of difficulty, as you become at ease with lower levels you can try the upper levels and the game turns out to be a whole different thing with more notes to hit!! Its like having endless gaming time! Its really hard to put the guitar down once you start playing. The guitar is light and is easy to hold. The only bad thing I would say is that they havent come out with just the guitar attachment for the game so you have to buy another bundle if you want to rock out with someone else who doesnt own the game. ROCK ON!!!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 28 Days

Strengths: Works with no problems

Weaknesses: None found

Summary: Bought for my eleven year old daughter. She loves it and has no problem with how to use it.I have enjoyed as well.We had to move the wii to her room from the den becausewe wanted to watch tv.