Guitar Hero 2 Review

By Keza MacDonald Published 14 November, 2006

Rock 'n' Roll (part 2).

Version tested: PlayStation 2

I walked six miles in order to get my hands on an American copy of Guitar Hero this time last year. Despite having THREE separate pre-orders, the damn thing was so scarce at launch that come November 8th, 2005, I was completely lacking in miniature Harmonix-branded plastic guitars. I had to wander for an hour in search of a mysterious import shop in some creepy suburb, which had a sole unreserved copy left under the counter. Of course, now Guitar Hero is all popular, obtaining the sequel was an absolute breeze - two different copies made their various ways to my door before the game was even out. This is not how it should be. We should all have to walk six miles across some Godforsaken corner of Dorset at the beginning of November without a coat on, but nooo - now any old person can wander into a shop and buy eight copies of Guitar Hero, thanks to its tremendous and entirely deserved success.

Of course, six miles isn't even very far, and being able to buy Guitar Hero practically anywhere in Britain is an Extremely Good Thing, and I should probably shut up about having to walk about for a bit when I know someone who actually went to America for Guitar Hero, only to come home empty-handed because airport Customs men seem to fear tiny plastic guitars. However, it is important to note that although obtaining Guitar Hero 2 will be relatively easy for eager importers, completing it will be extremely hard. Guitar Hero 2 is excellent fan service - it caters superbly for top-end players, rewarding their dedication with a larger, faster and considerably more difficult selection of tracks and re-adjusted gameplay that seems specifically designed to bring those ridiculously fast solos just within the realms of human possibility. There is more of an emphasis on shredding rather than memorable riffs, which will please some tastes more than others, but considering the vastly improved multiplayer and the addition of a Training mode to offset the increase in difficulty, it really is difficult to complain. Guitar Hero 2 recaptures the exhilaration and obvious passion of its predecessor and, with the help of what must have been a much bigger budget, houses it within an altogether better framework.

'Guitar Hero 2' Screenshot 1

What is it with Rock and Death?

The changes to the gameplay are subtle; most only make themselves apparent on the Hard and Expert difficulties. Though Easy and Normal are about as challenging as they were in the original, Hard is a notable step up - it's only slightly less difficult than Expert used to be. Although this does upset what used to be a sublime learning curve, the step-up from Normal to Hard will be of little import to dedicated players, and the Training does ease the frustration of getting stuck halfway through songs. It quickly becomes apparent that the only way to get through many of the later stages of Hard and most of Expert is by learning to abandon the strum bar, and thankfully the hammer-ons and pull-offs have been tweaked enough to make even two-handed tapping entirely viable. The timing is more lenient and it is no longer necessary to hold down the preceding button whilst attempting them, which effectively means that Guitar Hero 2 feels even more like playing an actual guitar than its predecessor did - you can actually slide up and down the fret buttons, and indeed doing so is often the only way to pull off some of Expert's more evil chord transitions. There's also the three-button chords, which only ever turn up about twice in Hard, but make more frequent and even more unwelcome appearances in the middle of particularly cruel sequences in Expert.

There are more obvious differences, too. Instead of being readily available, the last song in each group has to be unlocked via an encore, keeping some of the track list a secret for anyone who has managed to resist poring over it online for the last few weeks. The uniquely, ah, 'irreverent' visual style has been tweaked a bit and expanded upon; the crowds and stages are more interactive and the animation is slightly better overall. The most significant difference, though, is definitely the multiplayer. Uproarious though the first game's two-player mode could be with two equally matched players and the volume turned up to max, the ability to play bass or rhythm alongside a friend's lead and to select different difficulties makes things altogether more inclusive. Completing Hard mode even unlocks Pro Face-Off, which pits you note-for-note against an opponent as opposed to trading sections.

Unfortunately, though, it's not all quite as incredibly brilliant as it sounds when you actually test it out with friends. Multiplayer matches are still only remotely competitive or genuinely impressive between two top-end players, as if you're playing Medium beside a friend on Expert you can't help but feel a bit superseded; it's like you're playing alongside someone rather than actually playing with them, which can be very frustrating, and even on the higher difficulties one or two of the bass lines are unbelievably boring. All things considered, though, it is hard to see how this discrepancy could possibly have been avoided without putting notes in that don't actually exist in the song, and when both players really nail their parts it sounds and feels fantastic regardless of who's playing at what level.

'Guitar Hero 2' Screenshot 2

This style requires seriously strong wrists.

The only other genuine issue with Guitar Hero 2 is the track list, which simply isn't as varied or all-encompassing as the original's (although it is arguably just as enjoyable to play). It's still an exceptionally good selection, and the cover versions maintain their quality, but the balance leans more towards the metal end of things and it hasn't got as many standout favourite tracks as the first Guitar Hero. Unless you are impressed by super-speed guitar playing to the point of actual sexual arousal, there is nothing here that will make you involuntarily drop to your knees like More Than A Feeling could on a particularly emotional night (except perhaps Carry On My Wayward Son, but even that's pushing it a bit). In catering so superbly for top-end players, Guitar Hero 2 also seems to somewhat leave behind the inept friends and vaguely embarrassing male relatives who used to want nothing more than a quick bash on Take Me Out on Easy after a few hours in the pub, which is a bit of a shame. For me, Guitar Hero's real genius was its universal appeal, its ability to cater for any taste and any ability with its varied track list, infectious enthusiasm and unique immediacy, and that inclusiveness is - arguably, I must stress - not quite so present here as it was before.

In every other way, though, Guitar Hero 2 is a better game, and it has clearly benefited massively from its predecessor's success. It still really and truly makes you feel like a rock star, and it still captures and conveys the incomparable joy of making music better than any other rhythm-action game out there. The Xbox 360 version's downloadable track selections and general customisability may yet prove it to be an even better option, and the first game remains the best introduction to the series thanks to its less severe learning curve and more accessible track selection, but as an established fan in search of a new challenge this is everything I could have hoped for in a standalone package.

It still gets an 8, then. But it's a really, really high one!

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
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About Keza MacDonald

Read more articles from Keza by visiting the Keza MacDonald archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wayn3h #1 5 years ago

    As good as gears then?




    first!

  • SeesThroughAll #2 5 years ago

    LOL, and THIS game will NOT run on the PS3.

  • Steroyd #3 5 years ago

    As good as Gea....

    Damn you Wayne... Damn you to Hell.

    I might eventually pick this game up if one of two things happen

    1)They sort out the B/C issues it's having with the PS3.
    2)They make a PS3 version.

    Might eventually get Singstar for the little sibling.

  • ecureuil #4 5 years ago

    So, worth getting then?

    Better than Gears, I'd say.

  • djchump #5 5 years ago

    Shoulda been a 9 :-)

  • AcidSnake #6 5 years ago

    Awesome....Awesome to the max...

    Really need this...
    When's it out again? Can't find it on the page...

  • FooAtari #7 5 years ago

    24th i think....

    Mine is on pre-order. Get me a nice cherry red guitar to go with black one.

    Cant wait for this.

  • Markusdragon #8 5 years ago

    Shouldn't this get an 11?

  • AcidSnake #9 5 years ago

    24th....10 days...
    Any word on the wireless guitars coming out over here?
    And how many batteries it'll require?

  • in5ane #10 5 years ago

    Woo, this is out the day I come off holiday, and if any one game will punish me for being jetlagged, it's Guitar Hero. I just hope I can play thru the tiredness :)

    Altho it's coming out on the Xbox 360, PS2 is a must purchase really, so I can make use of the last controller and finally do two player properly without relying one someone elses guitars.

    Actually, I really hope a video on youtube pops up with one guy playing both parts of mutliplayer with a guiter in each hand purely using hammer-ons... now that'll be hardcore, even for the GH community!

  • Inquisitor #11 5 years ago

    Might pick this up for the 360. Anyone know if a price/release date has been announced for that version?

  • reflux #12 5 years ago

    TROOGDOOOOR!

  • SwedBear #13 5 years ago

    I really liked the first game (also reviewed the TAC wireless guitarr which is really cool) so I definitely want this one. But I'm not sure if I should just hold on til the 360 version comes.

    Anyone have a date for it?

  • in5ane #14 5 years ago

    360 version currently down for Spring 2007 release :(

  • newt #15 5 years ago

    SOUL RADIATION IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT!!!

    11/10

  • kangarootoo #16 5 years ago

    Please lets not infect this thread with pointless talk of review scores. I've got a rusty pin here for every eye of every person who starts with all that, and I'll dip them in dog poo before I go to work. I promise.

  • brooza #17 5 years ago

    Carry On My Wayward Son

    SINCE WHEN HAS THIS BEEN IN THE GAME?!?

    The Yngwie version?

  • Stickman #18 5 years ago

    I agree with ManicMinerUK to be honest. GH1 was far and away my game of the year last year, purely based on the fun I had on it with non-gaming mates.

    The sweeping rhythms were what got people going, made them feel good about themselves. Fiddly solos were what made them give up.

    Personally, I think a move towards metal is a bad thing, but then again, I never thought 'More Than A Feeling' would be as immense at it turned out to be!

  • pjmaybe #19 5 years ago

    Y'know much as I'm all for innovation in games, sometimes all you want from a sequel is more of the same but with different content. GHII does exactly that.

    Encore mode is great, the bass/lead multiplayer stuff is great but really it's just a fantastic excuse to pick up that creaky placcy guitar again and just rattle through a few new songs.

    Love it. 8 is fair...

    /dons anti dogshit-pin goggles

    Peej

  • Toothball #20 5 years ago

    Just wait until you get to "Jessica". That song is tremendous.

    Another offering from Freezepop made me quite happy. It gets hugely difficult though.

  • the_sas_man #21 5 years ago

    i've cancelled my pre-order of gears and am gonna get this

  • asphaltcowboy #22 5 years ago

    Loved GH1... but so tempted to wait for the 360 version!

  • Valver #23 5 years ago

    Also waiting for the 360 version here too. Cant arrive soon enough as far as Im concerned.

    Heres hoping the songs from GH1 turn up on Live for download on Day 1.

  • BraveArse #24 5 years ago

    would it be an 8.81 or an 8.89?

    Give the reviewers a break for christ's sake.

  • AcidSnake #25 5 years ago

    "biggest game of the year"
    Says who?
    I'm looking forward to guitar hero II more than GOW...

  • nickthegun #26 5 years ago

    "you make sure you mention a PS2 game is a high 8 but don't say for the biggest game of the year?

    It was done precisely to piss people like you off. For reals.

  • Stickman #27 5 years ago

    Isn't it time we forgot about the GOW score and moved on with our lives?

    Did the 8 stop you buying the game? No, fucking shut up then.

  • TheMoonRat #28 5 years ago

    EuroSexMachine quit trolling every review thread now to complain about the score of GoW!! Wow you liked something more than somebody else... I'm sure there are lots of people who like you more than I do....... :p

    Anyway GH2: the problem with it is that the tracklist is a bit too far away from the mainstream. I know its a rock game and all, but I got all sorts of people to play GH1: but they weren't exactly great and found playing songs they knew helped them immensely with the timing and enjoyment. This meant often the same handful of songs were played over and over (if i have to hear I love rock and roll ONE more time grrrrrrrr)... unfortunately maybe those selections will be even smaller with GH2. I don't mind personally going through the songs that are there, but for playing with mates its not so good.

    The only other thing is the difficulty level. Hard is a tad too hard.... it shouldn't be so much harder than medium... it has the 5th fret to contend with which increases the difficulty naturally. There is an over-reliance to have sections of just mindblowing speed of reflexes - rather than have difficult combinations to reach around the fretboard.

    But there are lots of things to like, little things you wished were in GH1. Like being able to change between left handed and right handed setup within a song (GH1 you had to exit to menu each time) - how your career mode scores now go into the quick play scoreboard - how the hammer offs and pull ons are easier to play. 8 sounds about right to me :)

  • the_sas_man #29 5 years ago

    I do agree with the whole percentage first out of ten debate. Surely 7.6 is a VERY different game to 8.4 - yet both would receive an 8?

    When you get to the higher scores, these differences can matter big time.

  • Razz #30 5 years ago

    I don't like it as much as GH1. The music is crap save a few tracks. :/

  • Megapocalypse #31 5 years ago

    Can't wait for this. The new training stuff sounds excelent as there are certain tracks in 1 that contain stuff my fingers just can't do at that speed. :(

    I look forward to playing Hanger 18. And failing many many times.

  • Mr_Whacker #32 5 years ago

    I found some of the best tracks on GH1 were the ones I didn't know, like Godzilla. This looks ace to me but I really want to wait for the 360 version.

  • Mr_Whacker #33 5 years ago

    Keza, you don't mention much about the training features.
    Is isolating sections easy?
    Do you have to use predefined sections or can you specify?
    Can you slow down sections to learn them?

  • SteVader #34 5 years ago

    Yes you have to use pre-determined sections (but they are very sensible). Yes you can change the speed of the sections whilst you practise them.

  • Keza #35 5 years ago

    The Training mode is really very good - no issues at all with it, which is why it wasn't mentioned extensively!

  • nickthegun #36 5 years ago

    When you get to the higher scores, these differences can matter big time.

    It really doesnt. The score should be the full stop at the end of a review. You know yourself by reading the WORDS whether its a high or a low 8, for example.

    People need to brush up on their reading comprehension skills and stop investing so much in their lives in an incredibly small part of the review.

  • spongebob #37 5 years ago

    Stop it with the GOW nonsense. Seriously.

  • GitSomE_UK #38 5 years ago

    I wonder what score Killzone Liberation would get, I'll check the review... oh.... cmon EG !

  • mattigan #39 5 years ago

    Psst.

    EuroSexMachine

    FUCK OFF!!!

  • Azazel #40 5 years ago

    Someone had to say it really.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #41 5 years ago

    Cannot wait for this too, the 360 version that is. Never had a PS2 or played the first Guitar Hero and even if I had a PS2 and a 360 i'd still wait. The marketplace was made for games like this. I would not want to miss the content. (And it would be soo cool if they released a GH1 pack too.)

  • the_dudefather #42 5 years ago

    +1 eurogamer point for TROGDOR!!!

    think ill wait for 360 version, hope there is online leaderboards of some kind

  • pancho #43 5 years ago

    "It still gets an 8, then. But it's a really, really high one!"

    That really should have been chopped off the end of the review.

  • masterson #44 5 years ago

    Er - I think the intention with that comment was to mock/appease those who obsess over such things i.e. You :D

  • pancho #45 5 years ago

    Ok - it doesn't come across like that though. And besides, why get dragged down into all that nonsense?

    I don't really care about scores (get rid of the bloody things) or keep track of the debate surrounding them in these comments threads so I didn't get the reference - if indeed there was one. It just seemed really gamefaqqy to me.

  • mingster #46 5 years ago

    I prefer Amplitude.

  • chischis #47 5 years ago

    I have to agree with ManicMiner and other tracklist naysayers here... there are some good songs, specifically those by The Police, Heart, Alice In Chains, Sabbath, The Kinks (oh alright, Van Halen) and Rush. But the rest?

    With a few exceptions I've probably forgotton, what the hell is with all the alt-rock, grunge and noisy, messy metal? Not that Wavegroup have done a poor job, quite the opposite - it all sounds very authentic - and Harmonix have done a better job with the fret button arrangements. But... well... a lot of the songs are pants. Emo-ish vocals, unmemorable riffs, power chords everywhere. ARGH.

  • darkbhudda #48 5 years ago

    Love this game. Now trying to locate the first one for the different track list. I see the UK is going to get it soon.

    The first time I did an encore, they pulled out a Spinal Tap song.

    And they also have Cherry Pie

    Thank you Rock Gods.


    Carry On My Wayward Son

    SINCE WHEN HAS THIS BEEN IN THE GAME?!?

    The Yngwie version?

    Well it's an encore on the Aussie version at least. Play medium career mode to unlock it.
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/06 @ 05:14

  • Zastai #49 5 years ago

    Got the UK version in today (courtesy of Play.com).

    Was very dissapointed to find that the bundled guitar is not a red one as advertised everywhere, but just a plain old black one, like the one that came with the original.

    Has anyone found a PAL (European, apparently the folks down under did get the red guitar) version that has a red guitar? If so, what's the part number on the box (SLES 54442 in my case).

  • nny #50 5 years ago

    Same here. bit disappointed when i opened the mail package and there as black/white guitar just like the one I already have...was kind of looking forward to the red one..oh well.