We’re massive Guitar Hero fans at PC Authority. Few games can entrench such satisfaction, or douse the flames of a stressful meeting, or provide a little reward for a hard-written review with just a five minute thrash. And we’re not alone.

Guitar Hero II captured the imagination – it was easier to play than its predecessor and the songs were better. Some were even originals – not just high-quality covers. Guitar Hero III offers more of the same (strike the coloured buttons in time with the scrolling ‘notes’ on screen) but more polished. But this time the real bands have been queuing up to get involved. Most notable is the Sex Pistols who reformed specially to re-record Anarchy in the UK. But also the singer’s movements are moulded on Poison’s Brett Michaels plus Tom Morello and Slash are both unlockable characters.

The latter two introduce us to Guitar Hero’s new trick: battle mode. Now, when playing with a friend (or even someone online), the aim is to beat them into submission. Instead of ‘Star Power’ points multipliers, nailing certain phrases gives you ‘weapons’ to hurl at your opponent. These include reversing the button order, broken strings and double notes. However, it’s too easy to survive such attacks in Easy and Medium modes and impossible to survive more than a couple in Expert: it only really works in Hard. We’re also sad to see cooperative Quick Play vanish – you have to unlock all of the songs all over again if a friend pops over.

The wireless Gibson Les Paul-shaped controllers are a step up from predecessors and nailing hammer-ons and pull offs is a more simple process. As before, Easy is ridiculously simple, Medium is a slight step up, Hard is (again) a big jump, but we reckon Expert is harder than ever.

With original songs coming from Metallica, Pearl Jam, The Stone Roses, Aerosmith, Muse, The Who and Iron Maiden to name only a few (more will be downloadable from Xbox Live), Guitar Hero III is great fun to play (for five minutes or five hours) and keeps you coming back again and again. It’s more rewarding than air guitar and will even teach tragic ‘Gen Y’ers some proper music. Our only qualm is: wot no Zep?