Rock Band 2 definitely rocked the world this Christmas. Expanding on the earlier edition, this offering ups the ante considerably and has become an instant classic within the genre. Here we take a look at what exactly made this game into such a hit.
With the announcement of Rock Band, the interative gaming scene was taken even further than the already innovative Guitar Hero (developer Harmonix's earlier musical franchise). Rock Band broadens the horizons a little by allowing for an entire band to be performing rather than just a singular guitar player.
Expanding the range of instruments from a single guitar to an entire band line up was no mean feat, and resulted in a few alterations having to be made. Guitar Hero guitar oriented songs like "Jessica" and "Cliffs of Dover" are no longer an option. Hardcore Guitar Hero fans used to their arduous and complicated solos may therefore feel slightly short changed.
What it may lack is instantly made up for by enabling such an immersive and downright fun experience to be shared by many players at once. The party game thrill is certainly worth the price of admission. This is a point which keeps recurring with Wii titles, the atmosphere and novelty of sharing the gameplay between friends helps take a game where it needs to go.
Rock Band 2 expands upon the set list of the original bringing a wider range of offerings. Well known bands from Megadeth to Journey, and Metallica to Fleetwood Mac are included and even includes That Handsome Devil's definitive hit, "Rob The Prez-O Dent". There are also many more recent bands featured, such as AFI and Lacuna Coil. In all, the setlist comes to a total of 84 songs, two less than Guitar Hero World Tour, which currently holds the record the for the most songs in a rhythm game. However, when considering the earlier points regarding expanded equipment, this is still a very commendable list.
If you're looking for an all round fun experience for you and your friends, then Rock Band 2 speaks for itself!