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Guitar Hero and Rock Band have become two of the biggest modern gaming franchises in their short lives: the former by perfecting guitar-based gameplay and producing several hit titles filled with classic hits and the latter by shaking up the market, with superb gameplay and plenty of great tracks, and the addition of drum kit and microphone.

Activision has responded to Rock Band’s all-encompassing title with Guitar Hero: World Tour. The latest installment — which is released either at the end of October or the beginning of November, depending on where you live — includes a drum kit and microphone as well as the famous guitar that we’ve come to expect.

How does it play, though? We were invited to test World Tour on stage at London’s famous Electric Ballroom — complete with light show, smoke machines and everything turned up to 11 — and we’re pleased to report that it’s pretty damn fantastic.

Firstly, the instruments. The drum kit is the most intriguing new addition and, if you believe Activision’s statements, they’ve been working on the drums for years — since before Guitar Hero, in fact. That’s a lot to live up to, but on first impressions, they’ve done a good job. Whereas the Rock Band set includes the familiar four pads — and will stay that way unless you spend extra cash on a premium kit — World Tour’s set instantly looks more realistic thanks to its three pads and two cymbals.

The pads do seem more solid when compared to Rock Band’s sometimes flimsy kit, and they’re certainly more authentic — but they’re the most difficult to play. A few practice sessions may result in you drumming a bit like Dave Grohl, but it’s initially pretty intimidating and certainly more demanding than getting used to the guitar — or bass, which is often the easiest to play. They’re superb when you’ve got the hang of them, though, and make you feel more of a drummer than with Rock Band’s kit.

The guitar is now 25 percent bigger than Guitar Hero 3’s axe, although the strap does seem to have stayed the same length — or even shrunk a little. Nevertheless, the increase in size means that it feels a little more realistic, and the buttons seem to be less prone to breaking.

The whammy bar now offers a bit more resistance, and the new inclusion — the pressure-sensitive set of notes below the main fret buttons — works well. When you’ve activated a note that allows for it — we found one in the midst of the furious solo in Beat It — you can switch to the pressure pad and create a slightly more free-form solo than the ones that are programmed into the game.

The microphone is the only instrument in World Tour that isn’t wireless, but any USB mic will work with the game. Singing is similar to SingStar — the lyrics, positioned according to their pitch and tone compared to the surrounding words — scroll, right to left, across the top of the screen.

The rest of the instruments, in-game, follow Rock Band’s lead, with the famous fret bars for lead guitar, drums and bass guitar being positioned from left to right across the bottom of the screen. The rock meter has now moved to the top left and includes smaller measures for each individual instrument as well as an overall rating.

This means that plenty of information is included on screen, but it makes certain elements — such as the Star Power meter — difficult to see. It’s not terminal, but people playing on a smaller TV may find it harder to spot than others. The mass of information on screen also means that the stylized graphics and on-screen antics get somewhat swallowed by fret bars and lyrics.

The core gameplay has stayed much the same, barring the inclusion of two new instruments and the pressure-pad solos. Career mode sees the inevitable inclusion of new venues and guitarists, and Quick Play mode now allows you to pick a small set-list of up to six tracks to progress through. It’s a small touch, but it’s nice to avoid going back to the track listing every time you finish a song. Each individual player also can choose their own skill level, so you’re not necessarily tied in to playing on the new “beginner” level just because someone isn’t very good.

So the instruments — including the new drum kit and microphone — are excellent, and the superb gameplay remains unchanged and still just as addictive, especially at a party. What are the songs like, though? In our hour with the game, we were treated to songs from the Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Oasis, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Sublime and Bon Jovi.

While the quality of the track listing is entirely subjective, few can argue with the number of influential artists — or the range of genres covered — in World Tour’s 86 tracks, all of which are master copies. Downloadable content is sure to be provided: The latest Metallica album will be available, and R.E.M and Smashing Pumpkins track packs have already been announced.

A quick scan of the track listing — which is available on Wikipedia for die-hard fans — reveals a ludicrously high-quality list. Modern bands like The Enemy line up alongside Nirvana, System of a Down and Michael Jackson. The list of artists involved is mind-boggling: Ozzy Osbourne, Blink 182, The Eagles, Steely Dan, Korn, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, The Doors, The Cult, Jane’s Addiction, Stone Roses, Motorhead and the Sex Pistols. It’s a fantastic selection, and there’s even more.

So, worth buying? If you’re living, perhaps, in a shared house or flat, then it’s surely going to be an essential purchase. We’ve been assured that World Tour won’t be dogged by any of the supply problems — or high prices — that have blighted Rock Band’s availability, especially in the UK, but only time will tell if that really is the case.

If you don’t fancy buying all of the instruments, then the game and instruments are all available to buy individually, so the Guitar Hero 3 guitar will work fine if you just want to pick up the disc. You could even turn World Tour into “Drum Hero,” should you choose.

Whatever configuration you buy, though, our time with the game would suggest that you won’t be disappointed. Each instrument is hugely enjoyable — even though the singer needs to hold a tune and the drums are, initially, pretty difficult — and the fantastic core gameplay remains, along with the commitment to providing a sterling set-list. Whether it’s worth all your hard-earned cash — because it will be expensive, at least compared to games without all those peripherals — is a decision you have to make. But if you do end up buying World Tour, it’ll be an extremely wise, and rock-fueled, investment.