Customer Reviews:
 This is what video games are all about November 27, 2006
Mr. Ian A. Collier
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I may be 33 years old, but last night I unashamedly acted like a teenager with the aid of my old PS2 and a plastic guitar, and it's the most fun I've had for ages. We spotted this in town on Saturday, being demod in a store, so I went home, dusted off the old PS2 (religated to beneath the stairs), checked it worked and rushed back into town to grab this work of utter genius. Essentially it's guitar karaoke, and it's NOT easy. OK, the easy level (where you don't play every note but only the main ones that sort of tie everything in a song together) is not too hard, but medium then hard really test you, and you certainly feel like you're playing lead in a rock band. It's really adrenaline charging!!
Highly recommended, great songs, great versions, you can even pretend to be Nigel from Spinal Tap and play lead in 'Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight'!! Turn it up to 11 baby!
Best Rhythm Game Of All Time™ December 5, 2006
Mark Wright (uk)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
The original Guitar Hero came out of nowhere and rocked all our faces. And now, 6 months later, it finishes what it started.
I got the game this morning and played it on hard from start to finish. I know that's obsesssive and I wasn't even enjoying myself at the end when I developed carpel tunnel syndrome while playing Misirlou, but you have to understand this game steals your life when you pick it up.
Everyone in my house has played it, including my computer-shy friends and even their computer-shyer girlfriends. My dad bought the original after a few minutes play. Basically, anyone can play it. Everyone WANTS to play it!
The whole game oozes polish. The random badass drawings are even badasser. The characters look slicker and dance around more. The venues are AMAZING! Especially on the later levels with the sweet metal tableaus (Grim Reaper fighting a squid monster on stage). Loading times are almost halved too, thank God.
The track list: it's better. Probably not as recognizable as the original, but still better. There are some big classics like Sweet Child O' Mine and Heart-Shaped Box, but once again it's the little songs that make the game so cool. I dare you not to scream TROOOGDOOR!! after playing it, and if you don't give yourself whiplash to Cherry Pie then you have NO SOUL (injuring yourself to metal is generally respectable).
Something new I wasn't expecting at all was that the actual gameplay had improved. The game feels quick - actually manic - straight from the start. Hammer-ons and pull-offs are a lot easier and so are genuinely helpful in acing those rediculous solos (try the epic hammer sequence on The Light That Blinds).
The practise mode needs a special mention. If you're having difficulty with a song, just pause the game and select Practise. Now you can pick the parts you want to play and slow the tempo right down until you get your head around it (why oh why wasn't this available for Cowboys From Hell on expert!).
Now tomorrow I'll get my geek mate to come round with her guitar and we can rock out co-op style!
Brilliant!! December 9, 2006
anamatronic (northants, UK)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I was dubious when I first heard of Guitar Hero, and therefore didn't buy the original game. But, when I found myself looking for a different challenge to the Dance Mat games I thought why not? and bought Guitar Hero 2.
All I can say is WOW, everyone should own this game. The first day I bought it, I was sucked in by the sheer entertainment of it all. I played until my wrists were aching. My girlfriend had a couple of tries on it, and was so impressed that I rushed out (on a Saturday just before Xmas!!) to buy another controller so we could go head to head.
It is just so much fun, and although it requires a basic level of hand eye co-ordination, basically anyone can play it!. I'd never had any urges to be in a rock band, but playing this gives you such a buzz - it means you can perform really good guitar solos without having had years of guitar tuition - instant gratification!.
In terms of gameplay, there's a decent storyline for the 1 player side of things, you move from town to town performing more and more complicated tracks. If you stick to the easy level, the upside is that you only have three keys to play (and believe me when it's a fast track, you're grateful for that!), but the downside is that you can't buy new guitars, songs etc. For that you have to up the difficulty to medium or above. So far I've only attempted a few songs at the medium difficulty, choosing to concentrate on perfecting the easy difficulty first. The difficulty levels are spot on though; the problem with some games is that there's not much difference between them, but with Guitar Hero 2, that's not a problem. This gives the game good longevity, and also means that when you play multiplayer, you can each choose your own level.
To summarise, this is a top game; great fun on your own, but I'd highly recommend buying a second controller, as multiplayer rocks!
 As good as ever.... November 20, 2006
WalkerboyUK (Milton Keynes, UK)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
First thing to note is that my review is based on 20 mins play in a store at lunchtime.
As an owner of the original Guitar Hero, to say I'm salivating at the prospect of GH2 is an understatement. As soon as I saw the game up and running in store I HAD to have a go and check it out.
Gameplay in single mode hasn't changed at all. You can play individual songs (start with a handful and then unlock rest during career mode), or you can choose career and take your band to the top.
I played 3 tracks on individual mode, "You Really Got Me", "Message in a Bottle" and "Heart Shaped Box".
As a veteran of the original, I thought I'd jump in on Medium difficulty, using 2 fret buttons for chords as opposed to the easy level which involves nothing more than single fret buttons.
I'm ashamed to admit that I scored 96% on You Really Got Me, 97% on Message and 99% on Heart Shaped Box.... which points this out as being ridiculously easy for us seasoned veterans.
It hasn't dampened my desire though..... the prospect of rocking out to "Sweet Child of Mine" and bringing arthritis on early by attempting "Misirlou" is too good to ignore.
I'm also torn as to buying just the solus option, minus guitar, or the full set including guitar.... just to try out the 2 player options, which include taking bass, rhythm or lead guitar and working together.
Whether my wife can keep up with me is another matter!!
Brillant but 1 Fault For Me January 7, 2007
Mr. R. Clarke (Liverpool, Merseyside, UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Game Play Is Brilliat, The In Game Venues and Gigs are Better than Guitar Hero 1, The Only Thing That Disappointed me was the lack of well know songs. Guitar Hero 1 had a lot of bands and songs that everyone has heard of, but unless your a music buff, i don't think there is a lot of famous bands or songs.
It Still Rocks!!! though
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