Rock Band 2 Review (Xbox 360)
EA and Harmonix Deliver Improvements to their Acclaimed Music Title
Sep 24, 2008
Rock Band has been out for less than a year, but has already gained as much popularity as Guitar Hero. The game originally broke new ground by adding drums, bass, and singing to guitar playing and simultaneously having all play at once. The simulation of being in a music group went well with gamers and critics alike. With the latest installment, Rock Band 2 delivers more of the original with some well deserved updates and extras.
The instruments have been updated in addition to the game. The drums are now wireless, have better sound when hit, and the kick pedal is now made of metal. For those who can afford it, the Ion Drum Kit offers a realistic drummer experience for a price of about $299. The guitar, while wireless, is essentially the same Stratocaster controller with a wooden neck.
Track List
Rock Band 2 adds 84 new tracks to the list, but has a few extra perks. First, all but three tracks from Rock Band (Enter Sandman, Run to the Hills, and Paranoid) are playable on Rock Band 2 by transferring the songs to the hard drive. Second, any previously downloaded songs from the music store will work on Rock Band 2. Lastly, Harmonix plans on giving 20 more songs later in the year to Rock Band 2 owners, completely free of purchase. With the increasing music library, Harmonix has promised more than 500 songs by the end of the year.
The new soundtrack is a mix of famous artists and songs that gamers are sure to recognize and enjoy, but there are also some artists that will make people scratch their heads and wonder why it got put on there. For example, songs like "Let There Be Rock" by AC/DC and "American Woman" by The Guess Who are sure to please fans, but songs like "Feel the Pain" by Dinosaur, Jr. and "Cool for Cats" by Squeeze might have some players snoozing.
The overall comparison of great and mediocre songs is about half and half, however players with the original Rock Band and any DLC songs already have a large library. This, along with future downloads, makes it hard for anyone to not find something they like.
World Tour and Battle of the Bands
World Tour mode is basically the same as in the first game, however players can go online and play with their friends without having to be in the same room. Characters are no longer required to play one type of instrument and there is no band leader. Bands can also hire staff to promote their bands in World Tour, which leads to having more fans or cash per venue.
Battle of the Bands allows bands to take part in challenges online and compete with other bands based on score. These challenges vary between one player or a band, an instrument, DLC songs, or special rules. Harmonix will have new challenges every week as an effort to keep gamers motivated to play. While bands cannot actually battle each other in a song, Rock Band 2 still adds replay value with this mode.
Summary
Even with the major and minor changes to the game, the added tracks, and new instruments, Rock Band 2 is basically an updated Rock Band. The gameplay is exactly the same as before, so veterans won't have to expect anything new. The added tracks and features do give Rock Band 2 more replay value, so fans of the first game should have no doubts about picking this one up.
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