Rockband 2, developed by Harmonix Music Systems, is the newest release to the highly-acclaimed Rockband franchise. The sequel was released for the XBOX 360 on September 14th, and is scheduled to be released for both the Playstation 2 & 3 and Wii later this year.



Anything new to Rockband 2?

Harmonix has not altered the basic game from the original Rockband, but they have added several new features and songs in an attempt to provide a new gaming experience for veteran Rockband players.

Rockband 2's main attraction is undoubtedly its new song repertoire. 84 new songs await players to unlock and rock out to, including a Guns N' Roses song from their unreleased album, as well as a list of songs that players can download. Harmonix has also made it possible to import and play songs from the original game by choosing the 'Export Songs' option in the original Rockband's menu.

The sequel brings some slight changes to the gameplay, including new game modes and slight modifications to the instruments.

The 'No Fail' mode is a new addition to the game, allowing a song to be played without the threat of failing. Even though the mode is only available in Quickplay (so you can't progress in the actual game in the mode), it still provides a nice respite for those wishing to play more casually, such as in a party setting or those with small children.

The Tour mode has also been changed to allow any number of players to play in the band. A band leader is no longer required, allowing players to switch instruments without repercussion.

Basically, Rockband 2 is just a continuation of the first game. It doesn't seek to break any new ground or upset any conventions, but simply expands on an already tested game. Players who enjoyed the first will find the sequel to be as fun, if not more. Slight changes, like the addition and modification of game modes, the increased difficulty of instruments and the new songs to play will have players finding it a worthwhile purchase.