 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
- Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
- Price: $50-$60
- Genre: Music
Common Sense Media says
Edgier sequel still rocks the third time out.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this very engaging musical rhythm game is best played on a guitar-shaped controller. The game includes sexual innuendo and alcohol references in the lyrics. One of the game's venues is a bar, and several of the characters are in sexy bar garb. More so than in the previous versions of Guitar Hero, name brands are everywhere, including branding the guitar controller as a Gibson guitar; most of the commercialism is confined to music-related products, but you will also catch a Pontiac truck.
What's it about?
GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK is the first truly cross-platform Guitar Hero, with versions for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii. Using a special guitar controller, you play along to a song by pressing the neck and "strum" buttons in time to the music. The career mode now features a beefed-up story that follows your band's rise to fame: You start out playing backyard parties and dive clubs and move up to shooting music videos and headlining sold-out venues overseas. The money earned from playing gigs can be spent on new characters, outfits, songs, videos, and guitars including Gibson's iconic Les Paul, SG, and Flying V (thanks to an in-game endorsement by the guitar maker).
Is it any good?
A music game is only as good as its song list, and Guitar Hero III delivers a steady stream of guitar-driven classics from the likes of Metallica, Black Sabbath, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rage Against the Machine, and the Smashing Pumpkins for a total of 42 songs. Guitar Hero III features a new co-op mode that lets a second person play along to the same song on a rhythm guitar or bass, and the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions support the ability to jam with friends online. Boss songs, where you must out-duel another character on the guitar to continue, are another new addition.
Guitar Hero III features four levels of difficulty ranging from Easy to Expert, which means that both music game veterans and guitar newbies can rock out comfortably. If players have guitar controllers from previous games, they can buy the game only for $49.99 (PS2) or $59.99 (Xbox 360). Bundles that include a wireless controller cost $89.99 (PS2 or Wii) and $99.99 (Xbox 360 and PS3).
What families can talk about
Families can talk about product placement. Did you notice the name-brand rock equipment? Would you look for those products in a store? How about the Pontiac truck? How do these products benefit from this type of advertising? Why do you think they're targeting kids? Did you enjoy "battling" other characters or would you have preferred that the game was only about playing songs?
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AGE
A good start to the Guitar Hero games on the Wii...should have been updated like the fourth or fifth was by now (except without all the other instruments).
My rating: E10+: mild lyrics; suggestive themes; alcohol reference
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Kid, 12 years old
June 13, 2010
AGE
Guitar hero Madness
I LOVE GUITAR HERO 3!!!!!!!! most people say that girls suck at it but I am amazing!! not to brag.But this game is awesome. way better then the other ones.
Sexualality: the girl usually dance in cages and they wear bras and fish net leggings. I hae that. so thats bad about the sexualtity part.
Messages aren't positive- they aren't. well some of them are but most of them are bad. Like Number of the beast. I HATE THAT SONG!! I am a christain and that song talks about how ### is the number of the beast and they are prasing the devil so i hate that song.
One by Metallica talks about war and living there lives in H3ll.
Raining Blood is also bad.
Those songs mainly talk about the devil and those are the song si mostly hate.
Language: there are many songs that have curse words like h**l b***h and a$$ and many differnet other kinds. But they usually block it it's pretty obvious that It's a curse word.
Drinking, drugs, smoking- They usually have ladies dancing in bars and songs talk about
drinking and drugs. But if your kids no how not to take those and stuff then it's all good.
so I love guiar hero 3 but sometimes it's gives a stong messgae but as long as you and your kids know that some of that stuff is wrong then it's ok.
ROCK ON!
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AGE
GOOD GAME!!!
This game is awesome! The song list will not disappoint anyone, or bore them. It may feature some anti-religious material "The Number Of The Beast". But other than that everything is fine. Ages 6+
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Kid, 12 years old
July 30, 2010
AGE
weird
it is an ok game but i like rock band better.
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AGE
Sport'n a pretty solid track list.
People should know that the Guitar Hero games aren't just filled with thrash'n hater songs. There's a pretty wide deal of music, like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and then there's "Raining Blood" by Slayer. You see the wide audience of appeal? Now chances are, if you like rock, you'll find something to like in this game. If you like classical music or don't have fingers this game is not for you. Some songs contain edited cuss words (i.e. "f---" in the song "Bulls On Parade" by Rage Against The Machines). Enjoy the game, and don't fool yourself and think you can play the guitar after this.
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AGE
Like it a lot but it depends...
I always played it and my parents didn't point anything inappropriate out, but some people are sticklers for some of the things. All of my concerns are just warnings, you know...
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AGE
goiod for 8+
great. some lyics have some swears but other wise ok for any one who can stum the plastic thing and press the buttons.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 25, 2011
AGE
guitar hero rocks!!!!!!
i love guitar hero! i have been playing it since third grade. it does have some smoking and it might have people dressed inappropriately and some lyrics are inappropriate too.
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AGE
Pretty good...a few bad things...
Language: Many swear words appear throughout the whole game, e.g.: "s--t", "f--k", "b--ch", "a-s", "h3ll", "d@mn". Every single swear is omitted, but sometimes it is sort of obvious to tell that it's a swear.
Sex: One or two mentions of "wh--es" and "h--s". The characters also wear risque clothing no matter how you dress them. One of the songs is called "Suck My Kiss".
Drugs/Alcohol: Mentions a few drugs (pot, crack, etc.).
Violence: Some of the songs are called "Raining Blood", "Sabotage", "Paranoid", and "Through the Fire and Flames", and some of the bands are called "Slayer", "Rage Against the Machine", and "Black Sabbath".
Consumerism: Here and there, musical brand names are mentioned, such as Line 6, Yamaha, etc.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Music |
| Developer: | Activision |
| Release date: | October 28, 2007 |
| Price: | $50-$60 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes |
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