The WhatsNext verdict
Rock Band 2 remains one of the finest multiplayer music games ever made, especially for a group that wants to feel like a band rather than simply take turns. Play it for the setlist, the shared saves, and the incomparable living-room energy.
What it does best
The definitive living-room band game
A setlist packed with songs people genuinely want to play
Everyone’s mistakes and saves become part of the performance
A tour mode built to keep a band together for months
What might put you off
Requires specialized plastic instruments and a suitable group
The setlist is broad but uneven
The setup
What you are walking into
Rock Band 2 is the sequel to the 2007 musical simulation game Rock Band and offers similar gameplay. Directly competing with Guitar Hero: World Tour, the game allows different people to play together as in a band, with the same peripherals as the first game: lead guitar, bass guitar, microphone and a drum set. The new drum and guitar controllers for this version, bundled or sold separately, have been revised and older controllers are also supported. The guitar controller, modelled after the Fender Stratocaster, has five additional fret buttons near the neck, for fast fingertapping sessions. There is also an effect switch to toggle between five different effects. Players use the instruments to match notes on the screen, divided in different portions for different instruments, along with the lyrics for the singer who need to match the pitch.
Where it lives
Genre
Vibe
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