Guitar Hero II Member Review for the Xbox360

This game is sooo much better than the first. The graphics are better, more content, better venues, more songs, ramped up difficulty, easier hammer ons and pull offs, a new practice mode and a better tutorial mode. It's all there and is triple what the first one was. The only thing that makes this just a bit better than the first instead of a lot is the dissapointing track list. There are big names in there: The Police, Guns N' Roses, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Kansas you name it. The 3 big songs in here are probably Sweet Child 'o Mine, Carry On Wayward Son, and Last Child. The problem is that the songs from these big artists are the less popular ones...more like grade C instead of the grade A songs from the first one. The game doesn't get challenging until you go on Expert mode then it's almost too hard...but it's still fun. The new practice mode saves this game all around by letting you choose the speed you want to play at and what sections of the song. Each song is split up into about 10 different 20 second bits and labeled appropriately. The new hammer on and pull off feature is better and easier. Instead of strumming every 3 notes you can now just strum once and play the whole section of close notes without having to strum again! Of course you do if you mess up but this makes life easier. You now, also, don't have to HOLD each one down you can release each button and hit the next in a series of hammer ons or pull offs. The new characters are cool and some of the new content are the alternate costumes and more guitars to buy in the shop. The multiplayer is even better than before with 3 modes. Face-Off lets each person pick an instrument they want. Most songs are just Lead and Bass but some are Lead and Rhythm. This adds replayability to the game and it makes it feel more real. I was dissapointed that you couldn't play bass or rhythm in the main game. I thought you could! Overall Guitar Hero II is worth the purchase even with the somewhat dissapointing track list. Go buy it and you'll be happy!