In just under a year, Rock Band successfully changed the face of music-based games for good and is already unleashing its second installment. The first was possibly the perfect party game, but had some definite room for improvement as a single-player experience. With that in mind, Rock Band 2 makes some small tweaks, but leaves much of the game identical to the last. More of the same has never sounded so good. Add all of these features to the brand new instruments (guitar, drums, and microphone) available for Rock Band 2 players and the overall gaming experience is unbeatable by anything in the music genre today.
The success of the sequel is wholly dependant on how well Harmonix listened to fans, which is exactly what makes it so amazing. The number one issue fans had with the first game was the lack of World Tour mode over Live. You are now able to continue your band's progress with your friends once they head home. Inviting friends or accepting strangers to fill your band roster is quick and easy. Playing songs online is smooth and lag-free, with decisions on venues and songs made easy thanks to open mics through the loading screens and menus.
The game uses the host's band as the one gaining all the fans and cash, with achievements tied to band performance, like one million fans or playing certain cities, awarded to all band members when unlocked. Joining a band online deeper into the tour than yourself can help you unlock songs a little faster, since any song you play online becomes available to you offline too. The way the World Tour mode tied a band to a single leader and instrument with no available fix was a nagging issue too. The revamped World Tour avoids this by allowing any player to pick up any instrument and continue the band's career. Tiring of the drums no longer sends you retreating to another band or game, since it is easy to switch up players and instruments.
The mode still works generally the same, and actually replaces the individual vocalist, guitarist, and drummer career modes of the first game. Single players looking for specific instrument challenges will find them in the aptly named 'challenge mode' under the band menu. With several layers of challenges created for each individual instrument and other band-centric challenges, there is plenty here to keep you mastering your instrument skills. Harmonix also delivers daily challenges through Live that show up automatically on your World Tour map with a trophy icon. Each features its own setlist and options, in a score versus score battle against the other community members.
