Author: Daemon Hatfield | 
When Rock Band arrived on the PlayStation 2 a year ago it was a mere shell of its former next-gen self. Major features like World Tour mode, customizable characters, and downloadable content had been gutted from the package. Now the sequel, which is absolutely fantastic on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii, has been kicked over to the PS2 again, and…it's still a bit gimped.
While World Tour mode is finally here, there is still no character creation or online functionality. The lack of online is understandable as the PS2 wasn't designed to spend a lot of time on the internet. But it is very disappointing to find the customization options missing as they have been one of the most engaging aspects of the game on other systems. When you create your character, name them, outfit them, design their tattoo, and finally name your band, you feel a sense of ownership in your accomplishments and the fans you earn. Here, that is denied the player. "You'll play with these stock characters and watch this generic performance video and like it," the game says to us.
Could be hotter.
A welcome new addition to Rock Band 2 is the Tour Challenge mode. These can be played either solo or as a band and are often tailored to specific instruments. Unfortunately, the Battle of the Bands (BotB) challenges that appear on other systems is not present. BotB is updated daily and allows players to compete against other bands online, but the lack of any online functionality here means PS2 players will have to do without. Leaderboards are here that will record your high scores, but they only read your local save file and are populated with phony names and scores (until you add your own, of course).
World Tour mode's presentation is really slick. From a bird's-eye view of the globe it feels like you're touring around the world through different gigs and cities. But if you just want to play a few tracks of your choice, you can now create your own setlist in Quickplay so you don't have to pick a new song after each performance. It's more user-friendly than the original.
The game's difficulty is balanced better than the first Rock Band. Guitar parts are more challenging and, for the experienced players, more fun to play now. But good news for casual gamers: songs can be switched to "no fail mode" so people can play without worrying about failing out during some insane solo. You can't progress through World Tour with this mode enabled, but it's nice to have the option for those that just want a pick-up-and-play experience.
Rock Band 2 ships with a really good mix of 84 songs on disc. From AC/DC to Beastie Boys to Beck to The Who -- any music lover will find plenty tracks here that they love. It's a great collection of tunes that spans all eras of rock. Daemon Hatfield
While World Tour mode is finally here, there is still no character creation or online functionality. The lack of online is understandable as the PS2 wasn't designed to spend a lot of time on the internet. But it is very disappointing to find the customization options missing as they have been one of the most engaging aspects of the game on other systems. When you create your character, name them, outfit them, design their tattoo, and finally name your band, you feel a sense of ownership in your accomplishments and the fans you earn. Here, that is denied the player. "You'll play with these stock characters and watch this generic performance video and like it," the game says to us.
Could be hotter.
A welcome new addition to Rock Band 2 is the Tour Challenge mode. These can be played either solo or as a band and are often tailored to specific instruments. Unfortunately, the Battle of the Bands (BotB) challenges that appear on other systems is not present. BotB is updated daily and allows players to compete against other bands online, but the lack of any online functionality here means PS2 players will have to do without. Leaderboards are here that will record your high scores, but they only read your local save file and are populated with phony names and scores (until you add your own, of course).
World Tour mode's presentation is really slick. From a bird's-eye view of the globe it feels like you're touring around the world through different gigs and cities. But if you just want to play a few tracks of your choice, you can now create your own setlist in Quickplay so you don't have to pick a new song after each performance. It's more user-friendly than the original.
The game's difficulty is balanced better than the first Rock Band. Guitar parts are more challenging and, for the experienced players, more fun to play now. But good news for casual gamers: songs can be switched to "no fail mode" so people can play without worrying about failing out during some insane solo. You can't progress through World Tour with this mode enabled, but it's nice to have the option for those that just want a pick-up-and-play experience.
Rock Band 2 ships with a really good mix of 84 songs on disc. From AC/DC to Beastie Boys to Beck to The Who -- any music lover will find plenty tracks here that they love. It's a great collection of tunes that spans all eras of rock. Daemon Hatfield