Emperor Pan I
Respected Member
So I've managed to spend some time with Rockband 2. It isn't out for another 4 days, so I thought I would write a small piece about how the game is. If anyone remembers my write up for Guitar Hero vs. Rockband, I was particularily harsh with rockband for a couple reasons, and I will address improvements and such in the update based on my criticisms of the first game.
a. Soundtrack
The Soundtrack is better. There isn't much to say, since the list has been released, and I've had all the songs on my ipod for a few weeks now, but I will say a few things. Comparing Rockband to Rockband 2, the soundtrack is better. I haven't actually gotten to the really hard ones (Metallica, Dreamtheater, Testament,Judas Priest) but I already know these songs, and I want to run and unlock them as soon as I'm done typing. Unfortunately the problem with RB1 carries over to RB2, in that for every good song I get to play, there are several bad songs. I realize it is about variety, but whoever picked some of these songs really needs to be fired, and *accidentally* hit by a truck.
b. World Tour
RB2 has a few changes, and all of them centre around World Tour. The function of World Tour is pretty much the same as Rockband, i.e. Expect to play a bunch of really bad songs, and then expect to play them constantly. My passive indifference to Duran Duran has violently changed because they aren't very good, and I've played them 3 times in a short period of time. With a bigger song list (RB1,RB2 and DLC I assume) means random set lists will be less of the repetitive, but small comfort for the guy without the bonus songs, and has to suffer through just the RB2 soundtrack.
They've also removed the Single player system which was based off the GH career mode. I can't play tiered songs, and I am not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand I can now solo in WT, something I was extremely angry that I couldn't in the original RB. Otherwise now I'm lamenting the loss of the tiered songs, as it was quick and efficient way to play, that saved my scores (unlike quickplay).
c. The Actual Game
In terms of the core gameplay, I'm left wondering why this game needed to exist. Lets go over a couple things, No new instruments on release. The Same gameplay mode with slight modifications. Almost no differences in actual gameplay (okay there are like one or two hammer-on chords I've seen.) I'm confused why this is a sequel. Okay, to make money but everything else is just repackaging the original game with things which should have been present in the original. What so now the band system isn't as fucking retarded? That should have been a staple of the original game, you know the one about a ROCKBAND. You can play the game and anyone watching might not even realize it is RB2 compared to RB1.
d. Final remarks
Whether or not you or anyone should get Rockband 2 is based on a couple things. If you really love the soundtrack on the game, if you have no friends and constantly have to dual instruments or get your mom to sing, or if you are so sad you absolutely need to obsessively collect the game. Otherwise this game should easily be as pass as it doesn't do much that rockband didn't do. All the DLC will still work for rockband, and sacrificing a few songs that would be cool to play on the RB2 disc is probably the best choice. Sequels need to provide something new, not just repackaging. GHIII tried with boss battles, GHWT is adding instruments, and like it or no at least they try and add new things to the game, Rockband is just the same thing repackaged and that is infuriating. The small fixes aren't enough justification for buying a whole new game.
If you don't have Rockband, I definitely recommend it, otherwise this isn't worth it.
a. Soundtrack
The Soundtrack is better. There isn't much to say, since the list has been released, and I've had all the songs on my ipod for a few weeks now, but I will say a few things. Comparing Rockband to Rockband 2, the soundtrack is better. I haven't actually gotten to the really hard ones (Metallica, Dreamtheater, Testament,Judas Priest) but I already know these songs, and I want to run and unlock them as soon as I'm done typing. Unfortunately the problem with RB1 carries over to RB2, in that for every good song I get to play, there are several bad songs. I realize it is about variety, but whoever picked some of these songs really needs to be fired, and *accidentally* hit by a truck.
b. World Tour
RB2 has a few changes, and all of them centre around World Tour. The function of World Tour is pretty much the same as Rockband, i.e. Expect to play a bunch of really bad songs, and then expect to play them constantly. My passive indifference to Duran Duran has violently changed because they aren't very good, and I've played them 3 times in a short period of time. With a bigger song list (RB1,RB2 and DLC I assume) means random set lists will be less of the repetitive, but small comfort for the guy without the bonus songs, and has to suffer through just the RB2 soundtrack.
They've also removed the Single player system which was based off the GH career mode. I can't play tiered songs, and I am not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand I can now solo in WT, something I was extremely angry that I couldn't in the original RB. Otherwise now I'm lamenting the loss of the tiered songs, as it was quick and efficient way to play, that saved my scores (unlike quickplay).
c. The Actual Game
In terms of the core gameplay, I'm left wondering why this game needed to exist. Lets go over a couple things, No new instruments on release. The Same gameplay mode with slight modifications. Almost no differences in actual gameplay (okay there are like one or two hammer-on chords I've seen.) I'm confused why this is a sequel. Okay, to make money but everything else is just repackaging the original game with things which should have been present in the original. What so now the band system isn't as fucking retarded? That should have been a staple of the original game, you know the one about a ROCKBAND. You can play the game and anyone watching might not even realize it is RB2 compared to RB1.
d. Final remarks
Whether or not you or anyone should get Rockband 2 is based on a couple things. If you really love the soundtrack on the game, if you have no friends and constantly have to dual instruments or get your mom to sing, or if you are so sad you absolutely need to obsessively collect the game. Otherwise this game should easily be as pass as it doesn't do much that rockband didn't do. All the DLC will still work for rockband, and sacrificing a few songs that would be cool to play on the RB2 disc is probably the best choice. Sequels need to provide something new, not just repackaging. GHIII tried with boss battles, GHWT is adding instruments, and like it or no at least they try and add new things to the game, Rockband is just the same thing repackaged and that is infuriating. The small fixes aren't enough justification for buying a whole new game.
If you don't have Rockband, I definitely recommend it, otherwise this isn't worth it.
