Halo 3 theme hits 360 version of Guitar Hero III

Mjolnir Mix featuring guitar virtuoso Steve Vai will be available for free on Xbox Live Marketplace on Thanksgiving.

Some Guitar Hero fans have been unhappy with the cost of downloadable songs for the series since its debut on the Xbox 360 earlier this year. Microsoft and Activision are set to silence those complaints for at least one day, as the pair announced that in appreciation to their fans, they will offer the "Mjolnir Mix" of the Halo theme song as a free downloadable track for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on Thanksgiving.

Written and partly performed by Martin O'Donell and Michael Salvatori, the track also features some guitar shredding courtesy of real-life guitar hero Steve Vai. Vai got his start playing with Frank Zappa, has since played with Whitesnake, participated in the guitar-centric G3 tour, and showcased his skills in the 1986 film Crossroads, where he was the devil's surrogate axe man in a guitar duel for the soul of Ralph Macchio's character.

This is the second time Activision has produced free Guitar Hero III track downloads. The first such offering allowed players to play the game's three boss battles all the way through as standard songs apart from the game's career mode.

281 Comments

  • aedelman

    Posted Nov 28, 2007 9:34 pm PT

    rose_please, while bungie may no longer be owned by microsoft, halo still is. The IP rights belong to Microsoft.

  • rose_please

    Posted Nov 28, 2007 3:58 pm PT

    Halo is not closely related to microsoft, as bungie recently seperated from microsoft.

  • PTK7

    Posted Nov 28, 2007 9:46 am PT

    i've heard it and it's awsome!!!

    Steve Vai = Legend!

  • GamerErman2001

    Posted Nov 28, 2007 1:25 am PT

    I liked this song. Never played Halo, I might someday. But still, it's a cool song. And it's FREE! I bet this won't ever be on the other consoles because Halo is so closely related to Microsoft.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 9:10 am PT

    Dammit, I LOVE freebies! Can I still download this?

  • Zestytoaster

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 7:25 pm PT

    reddevild -> no.

  • reddevild

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 12:58 pm PT

    Will the Wii ever get any love for DLC

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    Yay! I got the song for free! ^_^ I'm SO GLAD I saw this story ON Thanksgiving or else I'd have missed out!

  • kintzer

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 9:19 am PT

    AHHH!!! Xbox is...yep, you guessed it....broken. That stinks; Vai is a guitar god.

  • localgod325

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 7:07 am PT

    what! no tea-bagging bonus star power?! ga!

  • diddyj

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 6:56 am PT

    i think that the song is boring and very very easy...but a cool song nonetheless!!!

  • Haloferret

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 2:19 am PT

    I just want everyone to know, I'm the one that suggested this to Red Octane.

  • BigDaveyDogz

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 8:32 pm PT

    if you did not download this on thanksgiving will it still be free or available? I do not have GH3 but I plan on getting it and will download before hand just in case.

  • Evanrocknuma

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 6:04 pm PT

    Atleast I got this on Thanksgiving whether or not I actually buy guitar hero 3 or assassins creed. Atleast it was free and I could give it to my friends when I go over there.

  • mercenar3

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    i've heard of steve vai awesome guitarist that went to my moms high school.

  • pokemon_rox

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 1:00 pm PT

    w00t STEVE VAI!!!

    plz tell me you've heard of Steve Vai!!

  • ObjectiveTruth

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 5:29 am PT

    Whether you like Halo or not, this song rocks!
    My girlfriend doesn't play videogames but she loves this song

  • Shinkada

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 12:03 am PT

    Ex-Guitar Player here. No, not the same thing. Yes, does improve critical skills. No, you can't play Guitar Hero then pick up a guitar and be good. Yes, you can play Guitar Hero and pick up a guitar and be much better much faster than someone who's just going straight off the bat.

    BACK TO THE TOPIC. I hate Halo. But I'm not going to let my dislike for the game ruin what's an absolutely awesome song. Don't be fanboys. Just because it was in Halo doesn't change whether the song is good or not, and the fact of the matter is, it's a damn good song.

  • valcrist09 posted Nov 25, 2007 12:02 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    valcrist09

    Posted Nov 25, 2007 12:02 am PT (hide)

    who cares...

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 11:16 pm PT

    xbox 360 is broken.

  • masterchief375

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 5:34 pm PT

    i got the MJOLNIR MIX and its awesome!!!

  • im-a-roustabout

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    Why do people who don't even play guitar hero even bother posting here? Oh well, now that I gotta 360 I wanna get this GOtta buy a hard drive first i bought the cheapy one

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 1:49 pm PT

    I don't care for Guitar Hero, but that's kind of cool, especially since it's free.
    For how long though is a better question?

  • Dawn_Patrol

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 11:39 am PT

    I notice all the negative comments on here about this get major minus point ratings- goes to show how mature the Halo fanboy crowd is when it comes to accepting a different view on something!. There is only one thing I hate more than Halo and that is the crowd it draws in.

  • skateboard1587

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 10:18 am PT

    now all they need is a master chief playable character.

  • cosmothehound

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 9:30 am PT

    its kinda boring but the solo is pretty cool.

  • football_legend

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 8:41 am PT

    Nice.

  • Strap_happy

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 3:12 am PT

    Actually as a guitar player myself although its not the same as playing a real guitar it is actual quite good at improving guitar techniques. Sure you cant play chords structures but to thrash on a real guitar you need to have incredibley quick fingers and the ability to hammer on and pull. Sure on a real guitar you would normally go across the fret board but it is still practice all the same. I think that it also pushes you to play faster which might not do yourself if you were practiceing a solo...just my opinion

  • shortster1 posted Nov 23, 2007 8:42 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    shortster1

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 8:42 pm PT (hide)

    UGH how many exclusive dlc tracks are 360 owners gonna get, jeez they even get the boss battles :@

  • Merl57

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 7:55 pm PT

    cool thanks danis

  • littlestreakier

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 6:18 pm PT

    definately gotta dl this

  • danissuperman

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 5:06 pm PT

    just to settle peoples worries, i downloaded this song today (friday), so it will probably be available permenantly

  • airg6

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 1:57 pm PT

    I bet ps3 owners are furious they dont get a free song.

  • quiquebabel

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 10:51 am PT

    Good song, let's wait for more...

  • super_slonik

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 10:02 am PT

    to NinjaMunkey01

    You are probably the first guitar player EVER on this web-site who actually gave objective explanation without bashing the game and not just "Hey N00b, pick up real guitar and try it if you are so awesome in GH3" comment. Good job bd

    Oh, BTW, I played that Halo theme yesterday. I never thought that Halo and GH can go together, but this one is just great. Very good remix, hard one too. People who enjoy Halo will probably like it. If you dont like Halo... just try it, its free, you know

    I have to agree with you, real guitar is fun, but IMO GH is more fun, just because its a cool party game. Nevertheless, this game has inspired me to learn playing real guitar, and im getting the electric one for X-mass

  • SteveBIRK

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 10:00 am PT

    o man i missed it and i only have GH2

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 9:10 am PT

    not trying to contradict you ar anything but D6rkFire I play my Guitar for fun, not to become the next big rockstar. I am not telling you to get one, get the game if you wish. I am jsut saying we guitarists dont play the guitar beause we have to, but because its fun.

    Now I am guessing you will all give me minuses just because you dont agree with me and you hate other views, but I think a real guitar is more fun, I can play ANYTHING I want, make my guitar sound like ANYTHING I want. I can make my own songs, learn the newest songs out, on the day of release if I can learn by listening. it may take longer, but its really rewarding when you learn something difficult.

    The game is fun, its great but just because someone likes a guitar more it doesent mean they are saying the game is bad, (well most people)

  • D6rkFire

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 8:51 am PT

    This game is for fun. I don't want to buy a real guitar and I don't plan on ever getting real guitar. This is nothing like playing a real guitar. It's a game and ppl love it. So whoever says that ppl should just go play real guitar, can go **** themselves because I play guitar hero for fun not to become then next big rockstar.

  • jodyben

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 7:12 am PT

    Did you hear about the new map pack for Halo 3 on December 11th. 3 new maps (one specific for the forge) one primary for big team battle and the other mid sized. It'll be free in spring but cost 800M$ points for december early downloaders.

  • WarriorSoze

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 3:37 am PT

    Did you hear about the Romantics sueing Guitar Hero makers Activision. They say they want Guitar Hero removed from stores. What a load of bull**** . They cant make any money from their recent greatest hits compo so looking to make money the easy way.

  • Manatassi

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 2:57 am PT

    Moan Moan Moan.... I mean seriously STOP MOANING.

    my god what is wrong with you people?

    "play a real guitar"

    NO! I DONT WANT TO ITS NOT AS FUN. got that?

    "Theyre charging me money!" Oh whine whine whine I mean FFS if you dont want it then dont buy it. And if you cant afford it then why on earth did you buy a hugely expensive luxury item like the 360? I mean what are you?

    Get over it! things cost money! *SHOCK*

    Whats with this bratty baby immature attitude thats permiated the internet culture? You do not have a right to be given ANYTHING for free, people work their backsides off making thios stuff so that you can play with it. Oh My God they want to get paid? Wouldnt you? The whole point of making something that somone else wants is so that you can make MONEY!

    What? are you going to go into the grocery store and shout at the manager because his frozen pizza is overpriced?

    No you just dont buy it!

    Stupid people annoy me

  • PiNwOrM

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 1:31 am PT

    People still use the "learn real guitar" argument? How about instead of playing FPS's you stop real alien invasions.

    That's so stupid. I don't care if Guitar Hero doesn't require the skill of playing guitar, it's a game. It's for FUN. There's no difference in this.

    You guys are just posers because you won't GTA IRL.

    Pathetic.

  • ElJuego07 posted Nov 23, 2007 1:05 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ElJuego07

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 1:05 am PT (hide)

    They make you buy the game, the guitar, then all the songs? You may as well go buy a real guitar. Atleast then you dont have to pay to play a song. smh at Activision.

  • tbarbuch posted Nov 23, 2007 12:54 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    tbarbuch

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 12:54 am PT (hide)

    Maybe you all should learn how to play a REAL guitar.

  • pigman239

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 10:45 pm PT

    that's great, since my 360 is at college (california) and i am at home (connecticut). thanks M$

  • ctg867 posted Nov 22, 2007 10:44 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ctg867

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 10:44 pm PT (hide)

    That's great, now if you can put out a free downloadable song that MS doesn't own the rights too, I'll be impressed. Really, this is pathetic. GH and Rock Band pricing is so much, way more then it should be. $1 a song, $10 an album. You can't use these songs for anything BUT the respective game you're playing them on, and next year you wont be able to use them on the next sequel of the game. You can't put them on your PC or an iPod or anything, so you're not getting the same value you'd get out of a $1 iTunes download. Each song can be down with one guy in a day, that doesn't justify doubling the price when you can't use it for anything else but the game.

    At this rate, GH/Rock Band DLC will drive itself into the ground and away for gamers. Let's hope it does.

  • hchir

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 10:20 pm PT

    I have a friend who works in a halfway house and she said many people play guitar hero to kill time, it is so popular that mentally challenged people have a blast playing it, they later on called the game "Retar Hero". rofl.

  • sandswipe

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 10:07 pm PT

    Cool. I hope they put it in Rock Band later. I don't even have a vocalist most of the time anyway, so it wouldn't really matter.

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