The storyline follows a band's journey to become a leading act by following in the footsteps of Metallica. The game features band career modes, competitive modes online, and various instruments such as guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Players progress by completing sets of songs, unlocking new content, and rating performances with stars.
The gameplay is similar to previous Guitar Hero titles, but with the added bonus of Expert+ difficulty mode where players must drum using a second bass pedal to mimic Lars Ulrich's playing style. The game also features various modes such as Drum Mode and Battle mode, which offer new ways to play and experience Metallica songs.
The game includes 28 master recordings by Metallica, along with additional tracks from other artists, including Alice in Chains, Bob Seger, and Queen. Players can unlock new content by completing sets of songs and rating performances.
The release date for Guitar Hero: Metallica was May 29, 2009. The game was initially packaged with a guitar controller and Metallica faceplate in Europe, but only a solus edition was released in other regions.
The tracklist includes 28 songs by Metallica, as well as guest tracks from various artists. Some of the notable tracks include "Enter Sandman", "Fade to Black", "Creeping Death", and "One".