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Rock Band 2 (Bundle)
How do you take something that almost perfect and improve it? Make it perfect!
So many new great things - where do I start.
The new peripherals are WIRELESS.
Now you can jump down, spin around without hobbling yourself in wire.
The body freedom is so important to being at one with the performance.
The guitar - a Fender Stratocaster with the upgraded wood finish, silent frets,
solo buttons down by the body - great for kids and smaller hands.
Everything much sturdier, there won't be the necessary "fixes" for the strum bar.
The drums - the kick pedal is well built and the drums sense impact
and are more resilient, giving better feedback to the drummer - now
the harder you hit - the louder the sound.
There's also a drum trainer.
I originally thought that the drums would be the easiest to play but after
watching a couple of sets - it's obvious that the band travels on the back of the drums
for good or ill, and good drumming carries the band, so a little instruction helps a lot.
Players are now interchangeable - tired of playing drums - want a go at the guitar - go for it.
Experimentation is also further encouraged by the No Fail Mode.
I was surprised to hear how much this option added to the experience.
When not playing Rock Band - these are mostly hard core gamers
guys who would sneer at this type of option, I take this as a civilizing influence.
So with the No Fail and the solo buttons - when some little tyke
is staring up at you with adoring eyes - you can hand her your axe and let her rip.
Online World Tour Mode seems to be the preferred mode, with so many venues and un-lockables
as you work your way up.
This time you can play solo on all the instruments, or go online to pickup a needed player.
For more challenges there is the Battle of the Bands or for the impatient there is Band Quickplay.
The game comes with over 80 songs on the disc, plus an additional 20 that you download using the code on the back of the manual. With the backward compatibility of the songs, and the number of songs always increasing the organization of the song list is important and Harmonix and MTV Games have thought that one through. Rock Shop has become more central and filled with more ways of making yourself and your band visually outrageous. The manual is good, gives tips and provides enough information even for a beginner.
Rock Band has had a great impact in the socialization and democratization of music.
Musicians are even working out the songs for the real guitar players.
Imagine that combo. More later when I can get my group to stop playing long enough to write a review.
Reviewed by: Editor - 09/08
Ages: Teen
Fun Factor: You deserve it.
Female Factor: OK for a start.
Player Friendly: Lots of attention to what players want.
