Zero Punctuation wails on Guitar Hero III

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 12th 2007 at 2:55PM }

Yahtzee puts in plain speak during the latest Zero Punctuation review that Guitar Hero III is when the Guitar Hero series stopped being fun. Because you see, there's this wall that players hit and the game becomes impossible. Yahtzee doesn't want to hear it -- and neither do we -- if you're the only guy in your village who beat everything backward and forward. You aren't average, normal, or in any way a part of the natural order of sheep that make up the population of our little planet. Also, in this very special episode of Zero Punctuation, Yahtzee puts questions about his sexuality to rest.

Find your weekly dose of (NSFW) unhinged rage after the break.

[Thanks Mromson]

Tags: escapist, gh3, ghiii, guitar-hero, yahtzee, zero-punctuation, zeropunctuation

Related From Joystiq

One million heroes fighting crime in Champions Online
12 days ago
Activision: Guitar Hero 5 launch 'probably' franchise's best, DLC sales getting 'interesting'
27 days ago
Activision: DJ Hero's 'diversity' key in attracting 'Hero' newcomers
27 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Marty @ Dec 12th 2007 3:01PM

In an age where every other game tends to hold your hand throughout the entire experience, I think there's room for a little challenge here and there. I mean, if a game is made so everyone can win, no matter what their skill level or ability, what's the point of playing it in the first place? Where's the sense of accomplishment that comes with getting better?

Ignatius @ Dec 12th 2007 3:07PM

There's a difference from making a game insanely difficult to making it impossible.

Try Vietcong on Vietnam difficulty, doubt you'll get past the first level.

aristokrat @ Dec 12th 2007 3:11PM

While I like a challenge, I also like when developers put a natural progression of difficulty, not half a game that is an easy grind-fest that runs directly into a straight vertical wall of difficulty? That's bad game design. Like if a platform game started you off with no power ups and jumping over nothing but tiny gaps, then at level 3 they give you all your upgrades at once and expect you to link using all those new skills at the same time while jumping from pinhead to pinhead as a giant boulder chases you.

All games have a progression (even Contra went from hard to harder to hardest), but GH3 had me thinking I had miraculously become a GH-god as I sight-read my way through the first 7 levels of expert, only to get thoroughly put back in my place by level 8 with some songs (Raining Blood and the long-intro'ed One) that I had no desire to conquer (though Cliffs of Dover is my new favorite guitar hero song).

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 12th 2007 3:13PM

The reason for playing an easy game is fun.

sifer2400 @ Dec 12th 2007 4:07PM

i still cant beat legendary by myself in halo..... dam snipers to many and all you get is like mid range weapons

Patrick @ Dec 12th 2007 4:21PM

idk maybe for fun? possibly

Qwirk @ Dec 12th 2007 7:10PM

You have to remember that all content must be playable to some degree by most of your target audience. I really have no interest in paying $60 for a game that has areas (or achievements) that are only accessable to 1% of the player base.

Dormammu @ Dec 12th 2007 9:33PM

Yeah, I disagree with you too. I have always beat every Guitar Hero/Rock Band game on Hard with little difficulty. There are usually 2-5 songs on Expert that are too hard for me... that's where I cap out.

I CANNOT beat GH3 on Hard. I can do everything until the battle against Lou and I can't even come close to beating him. It's stupid. I'd rather have to beat Raining Blood 10 more times than have to get through that battle.

Hannibal @ Dec 12th 2007 3:01PM

Haha, what a fruit

Roddie @ Dec 12th 2007 3:02PM

He summed up my opinion of the game perfectly.

aristokrat @ Dec 12th 2007 3:05PM

I agree with the ridiculous wall of difficulty. Raining Blood isn't good enough to justify the amount of time it would take to get through it. And is anyone else sick of them throwing really hard songs with really long easy intros (One) at the end so that you have to play the stupid intro over and over and over again as you try to get through the song (and I know there's practice, but it's not as fun).

ozzzy @ Dec 12th 2007 3:06PM

Absolutely fucking hilarious.

dizzy @ Dec 12th 2007 3:06PM

I lol'd @ the thought of flossing oneself to death with razor wire. GJ to Yahtzee.

Grant @ Dec 12th 2007 9:12PM

yup,
my new favorite ZP moment.

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 12th 2007 3:08PM

Tom Morello sucks so bad... really.

deaftly @ Dec 12th 2007 3:43PM

He doesn't suck but is definitely a 1 trick pony

Patrick @ Dec 12th 2007 4:26PM

hey i like rage and that the battle licks he played were fun damn it

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Dec 12th 2007 7:12PM

For once, I completely agree with the Rocker. Not sure what Morello is doing in there, other than he probably came cheap.

Raikage (ROFLBERRY PWNCAKES Defence Force) @ Dec 13th 2007 3:00AM

Come on, just because he doesn't play guitar the way Slash does doesn't mean that he doesn't belong in the game. He is extremely creative in his playing and has fun doing it, that's why I think he is in the game. "For example People Of The Sun is entirely played with an allen-wrench"

He makes me want to play guitar more than any other player because of his creativity...

Well my 2 cents.....

Raikage (ROFLBERRY PWNCAKES Defence Force) @ Dec 13th 2007 3:00AM

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Dec 12th 2007 3:09PM

I'm glad he didn't go the "wannabe rocker" route.

DiddlyKong @ Dec 12th 2007 3:10PM

Bloody brilliant govenor.

rTwelve @ Dec 12th 2007 3:12PM

LOL, Gerstmann-gate reference at 1:47

ThornedVenom @ Dec 12th 2007 3:52PM

Nice eye: I didn't even notice that!

Kyattsuai @ Dec 12th 2007 4:02PM

Perhaps he just generally dislikes Gamespot.

arrrgh @ Dec 12th 2007 3:12PM

AHAHAHAHAHAHAH "cock slapping the mona lisa"

"....IM NOT GAY"

Eric @ Dec 12th 2007 3:12PM

Look i don't mind that they decided to make it harder. but even med is stupid hard. The reason i like Guitar hero so much is the fact that it gives you the feeling of being a rock star, but failing a song because they threw in button presses that shouldn't even be and don't flow with the song is just wrong. I am just glad rock band came out, better songs and better time spent.

Cesaria @ Dec 12th 2007 3:12PM

Wow, funniest ZP yet. I agree as well with the difficulty. I breezed through everything on hard, and came to the last tier, and can only beat "Cliffs of Dover." That song rocks my face, btw.

Sam K @ Dec 12th 2007 3:19PM

"Try Vietcong on Vietnam difficulty, doubt you'll get past the first level."

Neither did most of the real soldiers.

...

What?

losttoys @ Dec 12th 2007 3:35PM

I think I have permanently damaged my nose, as my entire can of soda was just processed through it. Well played.

WiNG @ Dec 12th 2007 3:41PM

You are a repugnant, vile human being.

[+] for you!

Shagittarius @ Dec 12th 2007 3:23PM

I can't get past the devil on expert.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 12th 2007 3:55PM

I can't get past the Devil on Hard. I can 5 star all but the last 2 tiers, and then I can 4 star those, but the devil always wins right as I get to the end of his solo.

I can even 5 star the first 2 tiers of expert. But devil on hard just isn't fair.

And neither is Dragonforce on any difficulty but medium.

Obie @ Dec 12th 2007 3:24PM

"Swallow razorwire and floss myself to death"...LMAO this man is a God.

Danny @ Dec 12th 2007 3:32PM

When he separates himself from the world via a wall, did anyone else immediately think "PINK FLOYD"?

Eto @ Dec 12th 2007 4:50PM

No. Eat your meat.

meledeo @ Dec 12th 2007 3:33PM

This makes me feel better actually, because I thought I sucked since I can't beat Raining Blood on hard. I never played GH1 and only played GH2 briefly at a friend's house. Anyway, I guess I'll keep plugging away at it.

I hate Raining Blood now. It was the last song I five-starred on both easy and medium. And it's not even a good song.

deaftly @ Dec 12th 2007 3:45PM

I have every song on hard beat except fucking raining blood, and since i got rock band im never gonna play gh3 again probably. Damn you Slayer

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 12th 2007 3:57PM

Glad I'm not the only one who can't fucking stand that song.

Wilson @ Dec 12th 2007 3:35PM

Gird our lions!?

LOL XD this was awesome

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Dec 12th 2007 3:36PM

I agree
Where the hell is Clive Winston?!

remis @ Dec 12th 2007 4:32PM

yea i totally agree, somehow I think I will never be able to strum fast enough to even get past the intro of holiday in cambodia on expert. fuck i hate that song.

and i probably will never beat one and raining blood on hard.

Banana Kid @ Dec 12th 2007 3:40PM

wah wah guitar hero is too hard, i'm going to bitch about it

suck it up and go down a difficulty level

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 12th 2007 3:58PM

I've 5 starred all but 2 songs on hard, but I can't beat the devil. Thats a spike in difficulty more akin to a wall or mountain than a gradual progression.

Bad game design. The devil on hard is like freebird on expert.

jsn @ Dec 12th 2007 3:43PM

I agree with his review completely. Gh3 is like 1/10th the fun of gh2 and not even in the same universe as rock band. It was a cash in game by people who liked the series, but obviously didn't love it the way Harmonix did. 7 sets of easy songs, 1 set of semi-hard songs with 2 ridiculously difficult ones thrown in so you wouldn't feel cheated.

with that said, this guys shtick has run its course with me.