Moose
The Wookie
sh0ebox said:actually no, they didn't change it. the notes without the black ring around the white circle (a.k.a. glowing white top) have always been hammer-ons/pull-offs (meaning they can be played by just tapping the colored fret, saving you from having to strum the note as well). what you're describing as star power notes are indeed the notes that are not circular, but star-like in shape.
it has been this way through all three games in the series.
I'm fairly certain that there were no star shaped notes in GHI or II but i haven't played either in a while. The HO/PO notes never "glowed" in the previous titles. you just sort of had to judge by how fast the notes were moving. but the star power notes you had to nail did infact glow.