It's the classic dilemma. Two competing formats-which is better? Rock Band or Guitar Hero? Here's a brief comparison of game play, songs and instruments.
They look the same, sound the same, and even largely play the same. For those with a gaming console, and musical spirations, which the better bang for the buck?
For a while Rock Band wooed the party crowd with its multiplayer format in which up to 4 people could play together as a band. Guitar Hero, on the other hand, with its superior guitar instrument, was the obvious choice for the lone player.
Now the tables have turned. The makers of Guitar Hero no doubt noticed the financial success of its main competitor and also the resounding popularity of interactive party gaming (ie the overwhelming success of the Wii) and have now come out with Guitar Hero: World Tour.
Which game is better?
Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour: Same Cost, Format
A sensible place to begin is with the similarities. Both games and complete instrument sets come with a guitar, set of drums, and a microphone. Other similarities:
Cost: around $180
Available Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, and Wii
Allow players to customize their band members, form a band, and play at gigs around the world for money
Downloadable song content for a comparable price
Backward compatible with previous gaming versions
Really, with basics like these, both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 make great rhythm games, but there are some finer points, too.
Rock Band 2: More Songs, Smoother Play
Despite Guitar Hero: World Tour’s nifty touch-pad buttons on its wireless guitar, Rock Band 2’s guitar is still easier to play and its drum set is more intuitive and sensitive. It’s nice that Guitar Hero: World Tour has a wireless drum set but the drum pads are slightly off. This may be fixed with a firmware update at some point, but for now, Rock Band 2’s instruments win the playability contest. Here's another review of Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour drum sets.
Rock Band 2, however, comes pre-loaded with fewer songs, only about 45. Guitar Hero: World Tour comes with almost 90 songs. However Rock Band 2 already has an extensive list (500+) of downloadable content. All in all, Rock Band 2 wins the songs contest based on the sheer number and variety already available for download.
Of course the best part about each’s song list is that players may end up loving songs they hated before and vice verse, just out of ease of playing.
Guitar Hero: World Tour: Better Instruments, Worse Game Play
While Rock Band 2 plays more smoothly with its instruments Guitar Hero: World Tour certainly has more potential with its more complicated drum set, guitar design, and game play. It’s just that these features don’t necessarily make Guitar Hero: World Tour that great for when players have non-gamer friends over and want to bust it out for a party.
Bottom Line: Serious gamers will enjoy the finer points of Guitar Hero: World Tour, but Rock Band 2 comes out on top as the best party game with its simpler instruments and game play, and huge cache of songs.
The copyright of the article Rock Band 2 vs Guitar Hero: World Tour in Music Video Games is owned by Stephanie Cox. Permission to republish Rock Band 2 vs Guitar Hero: World Tour in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Great info Stephanie, but from my research Rock Band 2 actually comes with
around 84 songs, plus there are about 20 that will be free downloads as
well. If you already own the first Rock Band for only $4.99 you can add
them to Rock Band 2, which is a phenomenal deal. I put my own review
together as well, it's available here if you would like to compare notes,
http://www.squidoo.com/RockBand2orGuitarHeroWorldTourWhichWaytogo Regards,
Bill
Dec 14, 2008 11:44 AM
Guest :
i was wondering if u can play rock band instruments on guitar hero world
tour?
Dec 17, 2008 2:36 PM
Guest :
can u play rockband instruments on guitar hero?
Dec 18, 2008 8:26 AM
Guest :
I was told by a GameStop employee that GH World tour works with Rock Band
but not the other way around. So I guess the way to go would be to buy the
GH set, then add the Rock Band game. Hope this helps.
Dec 20, 2008 4:17 PM
Guest :
After leaving the last post, I purchased RB2 and am able to use it with my
GH World Tour instruments. There ya have it.
Dec 21, 2008 7:02 PM
Guest :
ROCKBAND IS THE WORST GAME EVER!
Dec 22, 2008 8:06 AM
Guest :
I don't know what one is the best.I'ved played ROCK BAND 2.But i haven't
played Guitar Hero World Tour.I relly want it for Chistmas Rock Band 2.Wold
someone write back.Sinserly,William Alden Beeman Peace!Dec.21 '08
Dec 22, 2008 5:17 PM
Guest :
ok people, this is how it is. first the drums, on GHWT the drum are
horrible because theres only 5 and it looks weirded out. RB2 brum only come
with 4 but for less than $30 you can get 3 cymbals added on summing up to 7
parts! the GHWT guitar has more features but look at them! the touch pad
sucks, and hammer ons and pull offs are useless. The RB2 guitar doesnt have
any problems, i dnt kno why people are complaining that it doesnt click and
that it throws them off beat. you dont need a click to keep you on beat, if
u do, you have no beat! on the game itself, RB2 has more than 500+ songs
availiable and 3 songs are added on the marketplace per week. you can also
transfer the songs from RB to RB2 for only $5 so then you can have more
than 200 songs on one disc. RB2 also features drum freestyle to teach you
how to play real drums. personally, i think the only reason GHWT is better
than RB2 is because it features an extended music studio that allows you to
mix your own music and the guitar customization is really cool.
Dec 27, 2008 11:16 AM
Guest :
guitar hero is better for wii because rock band cut tons of corners.
Dec 27, 2008 8:51 PM
Guest :
i have a wii. i have rockband 2 (just the game) and rockband 1 (full set)
and neither of them have been opened. i already have gh3 and a guitar.
should i exchange rockband 1 and 2 for guitar hero: world tour?
Jan 4, 2009 2:09 PM
Guest :
question... who actually buys songs online for these games? if u do then
also, how rich are you? lol GHWT all the
way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 8, 2009 1:54 AM
Guest :
This is what you do...Buy Rockband 2, they have a better drum set and more
songs. Then buy the Guitar Hero guitar only bundle (Costco had it as low as
$70). Now you have the best of both worlds...The best drum set, the best
guitar (GH Fans) and a 3rd guitar (RB's) to be used for Bass. Lastly, you
rent RB1 buy the export key and add to your library. You'll ultimately
spend about $250 but think about it...you can now play every song for both
games using the instruments that everyone claims are the best.
BTW...I've tested Rock Band 2's instuments with Tour and they work fine.
I also tested World Tour's guitar in Rock Band 2 and it works fine. They
are completely compatible (at least for PS3, not sure about 360).
Jan 10, 2009 2:46 PM
Guest :
ROCKBAND2 IS THE BEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 25, 2009 8:43 AM
Guest :
I own the guitar hero world tour for the wii. I like it but some of my
favorit songs are on the original rock band game. we got it yesterday and
found out that the insterments dont work. only the mic. Im still trying to
find an adaptor for the U.S.B to see if that would work.
Jun 25, 2009 6:51 PM
Guest :
Do guitar hero world tour instruments work on rock band2(xbox360)? Jose
Jul 20, 2009 10:48 AM
Guest :
I bought GHWT the whole set and did some research to see if i can play RB2
with GHWT instruments. Everywhere I went said that you can but when I tried
it RB2 game is not recognizing the instuments. When I turn on the drums for
example it doesn't let me join but if I hit a button on the set it makes
two buzzing sounds. When i do that withe the guitar it buzzes and the icon
that show if you join shakes on the image. Anybody have any suggestions as
to what's going on?
