Video Game Review – Rock Band 2

The Newest Installment of the Franchise Hits a Home Run!

Oct 22, 2008

Rock Band 2, currently released for Xbox 360 and the PS3, is a well-appointed upgrade to the already stellar Rock Band franchise.

Harmonix broke the mould when they released Rock Band unto a salivating crowd of gamers who were hungry for a fully-featured music based videogame that delivered a true band experience. The click-clack of Rock Band drumsets around the world introduced a new world for gamers to explore, singing at the top of their lungs and surely delivering headaches to room-mates and parents alike across the globe.

Rock Band 2 is a worthy successor to that throne, with many new features and a great new setlist.

The Setlist and DLC (Downloadable Content)

Harmonix has always been known for producing excellent setlists and this one is no different! Ranging from Anyway You Want It by Journey to Ace of Spades by Motorhead – this is certainly a very expansive list.

There is a total of 84 songs on the disc proper – a musical library that spans grunge, punk, pop, rock, heavy metal, new wave, and even folk. Notable appearances in Rock Band 2 include:

Almost all of the songs are extremely catchy – chosen from talented and iconic bands.

A new feature in Rock Band 2 has been added allowing the addition of all of the first game's tracks into Rock Band 2 for the price of five dollars – an extremely good bargain given that the average 3-pack of songs from the online store is in that vicinity. Five dollars for 55 songs is an amazing deal indeed.

Harmonix Offers Free DLC Package

Speaking of the DLC, Harmonix recently issued a statement thanking their customers for purchasing Rock Band 2 and have announced that in addition to the hundreds of songs available for purchase as of this moment, they will be offering 20 free songs for download by up and coming indie bands.

Hardware, Visuals, and Impressions

The new Rock Band 2 hardware line-up includes an improved, quieter drumset with a strongly reinforced kick pedal due to complaints about the original pedal being a bit brittle – along with improved guitars with a smoother strumming action. The visuals are also very similar to the first game with some improvements – stellar as always, making the guitar hero series seem cartoonish and childish by comparison.

The overall impression given by Rock Band 2 is that it is, by and away, an improvement upon an already stellar franchise. The co-operative nature of the game, combined with the fact that it is simply a load of fun with friends or partygoers makes it an instant attraction.