It's a nice day to start again
What can be said about Rock Band 2 that was not already stated in the first? Essentially, none of the core gameplay mechanics, the quality of the sound design, nor have the graphics made any amazing leaps forward. However, a few key inclusions to the overall gameplay package have made Rock Band 2 not only better than the first, but as darn near perfect as a rhythm game can get.
So, everyone should understand how Rock Band works by now, and if you understand that, nothing has changed in Rock Band 2. There have been slight tweaks in difficulty (many instrumentals are now more difficult, while many vocal parts are now far easier), but the gameplay remains the same. However, the addition of a few key modes make Rock Band 2 leaps and bounds above the original. A drum trainer can help the average player with playing the game's most difficult instrument, and the online community is now better established with challenges and a new battle of the bands mode that beef up the once puny Rock Band online features.
But by far the greatest addition is the ability to play Band World Tour online or by yourself. There is no more Solo Tour mode, instead the game allows you to run through the Band World Tour as a solo artist. If that's not your thing, and seeing as this is Rock Band, it shouldn't be, you can also grab a few people off your friend's list to help you conquer the world with the power of ROCK. This mode could also be played with strangers, but that's a far less attractive proposal.
Not much can be said about the graphical or sound design that weren't in the first already. The graphics maintain their cartoony look, but fit the game's over the top style perfectly. The game sounds phenomenal, really capturing the feeling of a band playing before a live audience with the songs sounding amazing, and audiences reacting to your band rocking out on stage. The soundtrack seems a bit more balanced this year, and although there still remain quite a few stinkers on the playlist, at least most of them are fun to play stinkers. Not to mention that your old DL'd songs from Rock Band are automatically included onto your Rock Band 2 game, and you have the ability to add all but three of the original Rock Band's setlist for a small fee. The song list has the ability to be truly epic.
Rock Band 2 certainly didn't need to come out, and the small additions it makes could have been included in a patch for the original. Still, Rock Band 2 is just as great an experience as the first, and by bringing new songs and gameplay tweaks to the classic formula, should have you rocking 'til the day is done.
