Rock Band 2

The first Rock Band was revolutionary in one way or another. Having four friends rocking it out as one band in a video game was a farfetched dream before the release of the game. With the peripherals on hand, you were blessed with basically four games in one. The game play itself was not a major attraction; after all it was very similar to Guitar Hero, simply hit the notes rolling your way. The game lacked in its online offerings too and people complained about how it was a bit too forgiving and that the music selection falls below the standards expected. With the majority of those problems fixed in Rock Band 2 and with a larger music selection, this is by far the most complete party and music videogame out on the market.

You will not be noticing any major differences between both Rock Band 1 and 2 instantly. The characters look nearly the same but you will slowly start to appreciate the different camera views and sequences offered this time around. The biggest advantage this game delivers is in the form of the music selection on hand. While quality is more important than quantity, Rock Band 2 made sure it acquired both. You have 84 new songs in total from the get go. All those songs are carefully picked and represent a wide range of tastes and musical preferences. You will definitely face a few songs that you will loathe, such as those slow country tunes maybe, but overall your favourite’s lists will grow larger as you play on. If 84 songs were not enough for you, any DLC you bought for the first game will be instantly available for you to play in Rock Band 2. Still not satisfied? If you are willing to cough up $5 (around 400 MS points) you will be able to add every song from the first game too, accumulating for more than 200 songs overall. Impressive we must say.

Gamers playing both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band last year noticed the discrepancy in the level of difficulty. Guitar Hero III was harder and offered a list of more challenging songs to complete. Rock Band was simpler and apart from the last song on Expert, everything else was a piece of cake. This time around, to delight of some and frustration of others, Rock Band 2 is a bit harder. The drums especially have become a harder instrument to master in Rock Band 2. This will only add to the overall value of the game considering the time you will spend training on a song and retying it until you master every single note it throws at you.

With all the little tweaks we mentioned and yet to mention, Rock Band 2’s main mode, World Tour, was not enhanced in any form worth pointing out. Yes, you will be able to play it solo and conclude it on your own this time around, but other than that the mode is identical to what we have experienced a year ago in the first game. You will be moving from one location to another competing in different cities worldwide.

Your band no longer needs to be located in the same time zone for you to enjoy the game together. Thanks to the new online band mode, forming a band with members located in different locations all over the world is now possible. Adding to the already rich online options, the game also introduces the new Battle of the Bands mode. Every week, Harmonix promised to release a new challenge for you and your friends to scrap over. It might be a certain score your band will need to obtain or a leader board you will have to conquer, this mode on its own will surely keep fans of the series busy until the next instalment hits the stores. The challenges will be a mix of the new songs with any tunes you obtained from previously downloaded DLC or transferred songs from the first game.

The extras in the game are pretty sweet too. You have a no fail mode tailored to make Rock Band 2 a more party friendly game. Most of the time when you tried to introduce your uncle or best friend to the first Rock Band, they got beaten down and ended up storming out of your house. In the no fail mode no matter how bad the players mess up the song will just keep playing which means that now even the less experienced bands will be having fun after all. The game comes with a set of improved character customization options. More faces, hair styles and a huge collection of apparel to dress up your virtual rock star with. One more really awesome addition is the drum trainer which is a mode that will surely come in handy as you progress through the game. This mode will help you master the instrument efficiently, converting you into a priceless asset in your band.

As you might have noticed from the review, the main additions in this game come in the shape of the highly rated online features. The gameplay is generally identical to last year’s effort. If you consider the purchase of this game logically however, the music included alone is worth the full retail price, in both the quantity and quality perspective. You will enjoy playing this game on your own, online and with a group of friend’s offline. With the difficulty level higher this year, don’t expect to be begging for Rock Band 3 anytime soon.  If you enjoyed playing the first Rock Band, this is a game you much obtain.