My Bits & Bytes: New Rock Band gets good grades
Yes, I was one of the lucky ones. Not only do I have an Xbox 360 so I could purchase Rock Band 2 on day one, but I was also lucky enough to score a Rock Band 2 Guitar AND drumset within the first week of the game's release!
How does the “sequel” measure up?
Well, I put word sequel in quotations because the game really isn't a sequel, but more of an upgrade or expansion pack. The game comes with about 86 songs (I can't remember the exact number) but it also comes with a code for 20 extra additional tunes that should be released shortly (as of the time of writing, the website which allows you to enter this code had just gone live a week prior).
The set list (for the most part) simply rules. You can go on the net to see the entire list but I can just say that Megadeth, Metallica, Mastodon, Ratt and System of a Down are awesome while Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse, Dinosaur Jr. and Linkin' Park can cram it with walnuts. Not only do you get these songs, but for about $6, you can buy a code that lets you export all but three of the original Rock Band's tunes onto the hard drive for easy action and a HUGE amount of songs (not including any downloadable tunes that you currently have — those are accessed by Rock Band 2 for FREE).
If all that isn't enough, since the game launched, Megadeth's “Peace Sells…But Who's Buying” and the Red Hot Chili Pepper's “Blood Sugar Sex Majik” full albums were also released (along side other individual tunes). I'm happy about all of this…and broke.
There are some cool little upgrades to the game to boot: the menus are easier to sort through, created characters can bounce to and from any instrument you wish (a BIG headache from the last game is now solved!), you can tour as a band online, you can play drums and bass head to head online, backdrops for performances just don't stay at the clubs (cool surprises here) and more!
The one thing that I didn't like was the fact that in order to play all the songs with your friends, you have to actually unlock them during the tour mode. It wasn't that much of a bother because I unlocked them in a few days before the first official Rock Band 2 party happened at my place. If you pick it up and you have a bunch of friends ready to nail Metallica's “Battery” or Judas Priest's “Painkiller,” there is a code you can enter that will unlock everything and it won't affect your achievement points.
Speaking of Achievement Points, the tasks this time around are pretty cool. I'm not going to you most of the surprises but one of the secret achievements is to play the Neverending set-list WITHOUT pausing the game once. That's hardcore, baby!
As for the instruments, I returned the Rock Band 2 guitar the next day. I wasn't a fan of the first RB's guitar and while the main fret buttons are more comfortable and the strumbar isn't as loose as the first guitar, it just doesn't feel good to me. I never use the solo buttons and the whammy bar on this guitar is INSANELY high off the body. I'll stick to my Guitar Hero 3 guitar (the best so far) and hope that Guitar Hero: World Tour's guitar is the next evolutionary step in fake guitar playing.
The new drumset on the other hand, is even better. The wireless functionality is the reason you should upgrade. It's so nice being able to position and cart the drums anywhere without a cord. The pads themselves are a little quieter and a tad more responsive. The foot pedal is reinforced this time around so I don't think I'll be sending two back to the company within the first six months of playing the game. My main gripe is that I still can't position the pads exactly where I want them (or at least change the angles of the two end pads). I guess that may come down the line for RB3, right?
All in all, the game itself is a great value. The drum set is also a must have. If you don't need another guitar and have the mic from the first game, save yourself some money and don't pick up the entire bundle. Just get what you need.
The game gets a 10/10 while the drums get a 9/10.
How does the “sequel” measure up?
Well, I put word sequel in quotations because the game really isn't a sequel, but more of an upgrade or expansion pack. The game comes with about 86 songs (I can't remember the exact number) but it also comes with a code for 20 extra additional tunes that should be released shortly (as of the time of writing, the website which allows you to enter this code had just gone live a week prior).
The set list (for the most part) simply rules. You can go on the net to see the entire list but I can just say that Megadeth, Metallica, Mastodon, Ratt and System of a Down are awesome while Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse, Dinosaur Jr. and Linkin' Park can cram it with walnuts. Not only do you get these songs, but for about $6, you can buy a code that lets you export all but three of the original Rock Band's tunes onto the hard drive for easy action and a HUGE amount of songs (not including any downloadable tunes that you currently have — those are accessed by Rock Band 2 for FREE).
If all that isn't enough, since the game launched, Megadeth's “Peace Sells…But Who's Buying” and the Red Hot Chili Pepper's “Blood Sugar Sex Majik” full albums were also released (along side other individual tunes). I'm happy about all of this…and broke.
There are some cool little upgrades to the game to boot: the menus are easier to sort through, created characters can bounce to and from any instrument you wish (a BIG headache from the last game is now solved!), you can tour as a band online, you can play drums and bass head to head online, backdrops for performances just don't stay at the clubs (cool surprises here) and more!
The one thing that I didn't like was the fact that in order to play all the songs with your friends, you have to actually unlock them during the tour mode. It wasn't that much of a bother because I unlocked them in a few days before the first official Rock Band 2 party happened at my place. If you pick it up and you have a bunch of friends ready to nail Metallica's “Battery” or Judas Priest's “Painkiller,” there is a code you can enter that will unlock everything and it won't affect your achievement points.
Speaking of Achievement Points, the tasks this time around are pretty cool. I'm not going to you most of the surprises but one of the secret achievements is to play the Neverending set-list WITHOUT pausing the game once. That's hardcore, baby!
As for the instruments, I returned the Rock Band 2 guitar the next day. I wasn't a fan of the first RB's guitar and while the main fret buttons are more comfortable and the strumbar isn't as loose as the first guitar, it just doesn't feel good to me. I never use the solo buttons and the whammy bar on this guitar is INSANELY high off the body. I'll stick to my Guitar Hero 3 guitar (the best so far) and hope that Guitar Hero: World Tour's guitar is the next evolutionary step in fake guitar playing.
The new drumset on the other hand, is even better. The wireless functionality is the reason you should upgrade. It's so nice being able to position and cart the drums anywhere without a cord. The pads themselves are a little quieter and a tad more responsive. The foot pedal is reinforced this time around so I don't think I'll be sending two back to the company within the first six months of playing the game. My main gripe is that I still can't position the pads exactly where I want them (or at least change the angles of the two end pads). I guess that may come down the line for RB3, right?
All in all, the game itself is a great value. The drum set is also a must have. If you don't need another guitar and have the mic from the first game, save yourself some money and don't pick up the entire bundle. Just get what you need.
The game gets a 10/10 while the drums get a 9/10.
