Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock has become a monstrous hit for Activision, despite the departure of series developer Harmonix. Now the company has a huge encore waiting in the wings with Guitar Hero Aerosmith, a game that combines the popular guitar-playing franchise with one of rock's greatest bands. All five members of the group &ndash- lead vocalist Steven Tyler, lead guitarist Joe Perry, rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford, bass guitarist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer signed on for the video game tour. However, don't expect another case of Revolution X, as this game has deeper substance than you might expect.

GH Aerosmith chronicles the band's back-story, starting with some of the smaller clubs they've played in before moving on to newer venues. You'll play along to several decades' worth of the band's music, starting with selections from the '70s and working your way into its more modern library. Activision hasn't finalized the complete set list yet, but we do know the soundtrack includes such favorites as "Dream On" (recently released as a free downloadable track on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network), "Love In an Elevator," "Rag Doll" and "Sweet Emotion." We certainly hope that Activision will consider some more of the obscure guitar-heavy favorites, such as "The Grind" and "Road Runner" from the Honkin On' Bobo LP.

Dude looks like a rock star!

While the game will have a substantial focus on Aerosmith and its history, several favorite characters from the Guitar Hero franchises will return, playing as opening acts. Other bands inspired by the legendary Boston rock act will also supply songs, including Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes", Cheap Trick's "Dream Police," "I Hate Myself For Loving You" by Joan Jett and "All Day and All of the Night" by the Kinks. No word yet on what kind of downloadable content we can expect, but don't be surprised if several Aerosmith-devoted packs get released for the game months following its release.

Most of the familiar Guitar Hero controls will remain the same for Aerosmith, although there will be a few touch-ups. First off, hammer-ons and pull-offs will be easier to execute, so they don't feel so stiff as you move your fingers up and down the fret bar. In addition, the game will have online support and two-player competition, although the co-op career mode is surprisingly missing. We're hoping for some kind of Jam Session Mode where Joe, Brad and Tom can let loose with their rhythmic thunder.

As far as presentation goes, Neversoft stuck with what works. The game resembles its old Guitar Hero counterpart, complete with roving stage camera and an easy-to-read interface with the five fret streams. However, there will be slight improvements. Guitar Hero characters will now be more life-like, as indicated by early screenshots from the game. Aerosmith band members have also been faithfully rendered, right down to Steven Tyler's larger-than-life lips (that's a compliment) and Joe's guitar stance. Their outfits change as well, depending on the venue and era.

Guitar Hero fans shouldn't miss this game. The story, inclusion of several classic and current Aerosmith hits, other bands and rock-themed goodies could send Guitar Hero Aerosmith to the video game hall of fame.

Related Links

Guitar Hero Aerosmith Xbox 360 Game Guide

Guitar Hero Aerosmith PlayStation 3 Game Guide

Activision