With sequels, fans generally expect the same classic elements with an added twist, and Harmonix Music System’s “Rock Band 2” is a lot like the original game. But nobody’s saying that’s a bad thing. Rock Band 2 keeps the guitar, bass, drums and vocals formula it carried through the original game.
“Rock Band,” a music rhythm game that involves hitting notes that flow down the screen with a virtual band, reached enormous popularity over the last year. One selling point of the new sequel is a “No Fail Mode.” If you have played “Rock Band” with a party before, you know that not everybody is an expert; people failing out of songs midway through can bring some fun times to a frustrating half-complete night of songs. Now, Harmonix has given users the option to turn off the fail switch and let the song go on.
Another new aspect is the drum trainer. Just like its name suggests, it’s a practice session that gives the user a drum pattern and lets him or her practice hand-foot coordination.
On the World Tour front, users now have the option to jam out online through Xbox LIVE or locally with up to four people; custom characters are no longer tied to specific instruments, and Solo Tour has been replaced entirely by the World Tour.
The feature all fans love, the song list, has been upped from 58 to 84, with songs by AC/DC, AFI, Duran Duran, Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park, Metallica, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Sonic Youth and The Offspring. While the tweaks improved game play, not every user is pleased. Lee Vilinsky, a music and psychology major, had some harsh words for the new game.
“It’s lazy for the company to charge $60 for what is essentially an upgraded song list, which is quite weaker than the original,” Vilinsky said.
Josh Schiller, an engineering student, disagreed. “’Rock Band 2’ is more diverse and the song list applies to more demographics,” he said.
One of the biggest changes is the upgrade of plastic instrument equipment. The drums experienced the biggest overhaul, adding velocity-sensitive pads and cymbals to the four-pad kit. The drums have also gone wireless.
Dan Weissman, a bio-engineering student and seasoned “Rock Band” drummer, gave the new drums a test run and gave them his seal of approval.
“The drums were more responsive and the new metal bass pedal felt sturdier,” Weissman said. “It definitely makes playing the drums a better experience.”