The original Rock Band really felt like it revolutionized the music rhythm based genre. With its teamwork driven style, it allowed pseudo rockers to play out their fantasy via a video game. Many games with yearly releases seem like the same old rehash of previous years (ala NBA Live), but that is not the case with this Rock Band sequel. Although Harmonix’s Rock Band 2 does nothing to revolutionize the bulk of the theme, its tweaks make it more appealing than its predecessor.

The gameplay in Rock Band 2 is definitely one of the most astonishing music games since Rock Band. There is a track list that exceeds eighty songs, and that is vastly improved over the fifty or so tracks of the first Rock Band. Additionally, there are twenty songs that are downloadable for free through Xbox Live online. If that was not enough, then be grateful there is more. For a nominal price of 5 dollars, the Rock Band tracks can be imported to Rock Band 2. The types of song tracks are categorized by various genres, so it is fairly simple to organize.

Rock Band veterans will certainly recognize the returning World Tour feature. In the prior Rock Band, gamers were coerced into playing the World Tour mode with other friends and stuck to one instrument. The sequel does not mandate that you have to stay with the identical instrument throughout the duration of World Tour mode, and you do not need to play with a friend to complete it.

For example, players can select to play the guitar for one part of the World Tour. After that, he or she can swap to the drums in a solo mode of the World Tour. Furthermore, you can even have your buddies join you at any moment. Do you have a friend or friends somewhere else? No Problem. Everyone can easily play with their pals through Xbox Live. Everything else in regards to the World Tour mode has remained untouched from last year’s adaptation of Rock Band.

Some new locations are available to take your crew, yet it still has that same tone to it. You will be taking your band and be playing concerts at cities all over the map. Progressing is done by bolstering your fan support and generating more revenue for your band. Performing well will make things easier for your assistants that you book you for more concerts.

Battle of the Bands is one of the new modes, and it entails you to partake in multiple challenges. Each challenge will require you to play against an unknown opponent or simply gaining points. Undoubtedly, the most arduous instrument to play was the drums (this will be further explained later on). Thankfully, another augmentation is the Drum Trainer mode. This works like a drum training video tutorial, and it will lecture you on things like hitting particular notes.

Creating your band will include selecting the types of cloths, gear, and make up. Like in Rock Band, Rock Band 2 has the same instruments we have come to love. Guitar, bass, drums, and a singer’s microphone are all intact. All of your instruments from Rock Band are usable in Rock Band 2. The caveat to that is that the new drums are a gigantic enhancement over the old drums.

As previously mentioned, the drums were the most laborious instrument to play in Rock Band. This was because the foot pedal was not durable at all. The slightest movement would lead to a broken foot pedal. That issue had been addressed in Rock Band 2; the foot pedal is made entirely out of metal this time around. As a matter of fact, the only instrument worth buying is the drums because of its sturdiness.

Without a doubt, the best new addition to Rock Band 2 is the no fail mode. It is intrinsically enables you to finish a song from start to finish without failing. This is brilliant for when being a part of a band with some players who are not necessarily the most musically inclined and further appeases the party game audience.

The graphics are not that much of an improvement over Rock Band. There are similar character models with a few new animations sprinkled in here and there.

The audio is where Rock Band 2 flourishes. Metallica, Linkin Park, Nirvana, etc. are included. There are well over 125 tracks, and it never gets insipid. Overall, Rock Band 2 cannot be considered a revolutionary music title. It is more along the lines of a refined musical delight. With those mild alterations, Rock Band 2 is still a near flawless game.   

Art direction 8
The graphics are not that much of an improvement over Rock Band. There are similar character models with a few new animations sprinkled in here and there.

Audio 10
The audio is where Rock Band 2 flourishes. Metallica, Linkin Park, Nirvana, etc. are included.

Gameplay 9.5
Rock Band 2 cannot be considered a revolutionary music title. It is more along the lines of a refined musical delight.  

Presentation 10
Menus are slick in design, and the download feature is simple to navigate. The types of song tracks are categorized by various genres, so it is fairly simple to organize.

Replay Value 10
There are well over 125 tracks, and it never gets insipid. Word Tour mode is playable online.

Final verdict 9.5 out of 10