There was a time when almost no band cared about appearing in Guitar Hero. Suspicious record industry types would seek clarification: “So, the kids play along with our artist’s music on a Fisher Price plastic guitar?” Then they’d politely decline the offer before toddling off to snort the last of their terminally ill industry’s profits off a weary, soon-to-be-unemployed hooker’s back.

But by the time Rock Band rolled around, every band, manager, song publisher and record industry head was smashing down Harmonix’s gates for the opportunity to be in the game. Everyone wanted a stake in this brave new interactive musical world where profits went up, not down, and where piracy was virtually impossible.

Despite the meteoric rise of the rhythm action zeitgeist, Metallica, those Luddite, Napster-killing metal heads remained not only disinterested but also positively hostile to the idea of their music being cheapened by a mere videogame. They blocked offers from all of the music game makers, denying teenagers across the globe the irresistible chance to spandex up and role-play as Lars Ulrich from the comfort of their living rooms.

Who knows what it took to change the band’s tinnitus-addled minds: a generous royalty offer perhaps, or maybe just the sight of their bank manager stabbing his finger furiously into some imbalanced books. Whatever the reason the worm has turned and the Thing That Should Not Be has become a reality: a special edition release of Guitar Hero featuring 28 of Metallica’s songs alongside another 20-odd guest acts “hand-picked” as influences by the band.

You can read the rest of the review over at Eurogamer here.