Developer: Harmonix

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Release Date: Sept. 14, 2008

Systems: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3, Wii (later release)

ESRB Rating: T

Official Web site

0:00 Considering I played the original game for at least 100 hours, the "more than an hour" verdict at the end of this is almost a foregone conclusion.

0:10 I'm not counting the 10 minutes or so that it took to import my original Rock Band songs to my hard drive, but I am counting the roughly 10 minutes it took to unbox and assemble the new wireless drums and guitar, so it's really a wash.

0:11 An intro movie plays with a beat-up car driving down a dusty road with a full band playing on top. Another, bigger car comes barreling down in the other direction. This one also has a band, including a big, fat, shirtless singer swinging a mace at the end of his microphone cord. They're both singing Cheap Trick's "Hello There". The cars swerve to barely avoid hitting each other and the singer with the mace dives forward. Some ill-advised riding on the undercarriage of the nearly sideways car follows as the cars turn around and bash into each other. In the end they all fly through a Rock Band 2 billboard, leaving cartoon silhouettes in their wake. ROCK!

0:13 Creating save files and we're to a mostly nondescript menu screen. "Did you check out the impossible Battle yet?" asks a message at the bottom. "Prove you are worthy of owning the game early." Heh.

0:14 I know this game is meant to be played with a large group, but no one is around, so I guess it's a solo tour for me. I start with the drums, of course.

0:15 Game suggests Elijah as a name for my character, and I like it so much I decide to run with it (plus, I'm not feeling that original right now). He's a New Yorker with a rock attitude, black sideburns and a pompadour. Actually, now that I've outfitted him, I think I'll rename him Elvis.

0:18 I name my band "Italicized Space." It's an inside joke, but also a good name for a rock band, don't you think?

0:20 "Congratulations! Your band has been offered a gig at Heebie Jeebies! Welcome to the wonderful world of touring." I know three of the first four available songs -- "Float On" by Modest Mouse is by far the best. I choose medium difficulty as a warm up. This shouldn't be too hard.

0:26 Actually, it was a bit too easy. I score five stars with 98 percent and a 122-note streak. I got $25, a city shirt, 70 fans, two new gigs and 10 Gamerscore points. That was easy!

0:27 The gameplay is very familiar, but the new drums are not. The pads are a bit softer than the old original Rock Band drums, but a lot of that comes from the fact that you don't have to hit them as hard because of the nice, springy bounce-back. I like how the game recognizes how hard you hit the pads during the solos, but it doesn't seem to affect the rest of the game. Overall, a real joy to play so far.

0:29 I crank the difficulty to expert for "Eye of the Tiger," which I hear is the easiest song in the game.

0:33 And sure enough, it is -- very simple, very repetitive rhythms for a good 95 percent of the song. The hardest part of the song is hitting the bass drum over and over, though the new pedal feels a bit sturdier than the old one. This song, though, is the new "Creep," (i.e., the song no one wants to play).

0:34 The booker at Ramp Arts thinks I'd be a better draw than "beat poetry, at least." Heh.

0:35 Looks like the "make your own set list" lets me play any "Apprentice"-level songs from RB2, plus all my original RB songs. There's a good dozen or two new songs available already, but I still don't like the idea of having to unlock stuff. Hey, Harmonix, I will play the game even if everything is unlocked at the beginning. Believe me!

0:37 "Hungry Like the Wolf" is the best of the unlocked songs so far. I take a "Double or Nothing" challenge on my fee that I can make a four-star review. On Hard difficulty, it shouldn't be too bad.

0:41 There were some tough sections in there, but nothing too bad. I get five stars easily. I notice the new drums make it a lot easier to do quick fills on one pad (where there are a bunch of notes bunched up together). The springiness leads to better reaction times and easier rolls.

0:44 OK, I think I've got a good feel for the drums-- time to switch to a random guitar play. I really like the fact that I can continue the tour I already started, rather than starting a whole new career mode, as in the original.

0:45 I'm feeling bold enough to go into the "Challenge" section to do some "Fender Warm-ups" at the "Local Upstart" level. All I have to do is play three songs in a row. That doesn't seem that challenging. I choose Expert difficulty because I am a plastic toy guitar GOD!

0:50 I get 4.75 stars on "Float On," which of course gets rounded down. What an awesome song, though. Immediate thoughts on the new, wireless guitar: The keys aren't nearly as clacky; the strum bar feels MUCH more solid and springy (great for fast notes); and I really like the freedom of not having a wire around. I'm dancing all around the room as I play and loving it!

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0:54 I rank 4.75 stars again on "Today." I blame bad use of Star Power. Also, it might be my imagination, but "hammer-ons" seems easier to do this time around. I'm not sure if that's because of a change in the software or in the guitar.

0:58 "New Kid in School" is the first song I've played today that I didn't know beforehand, but it seems to rock sufficiently. In fact, it's stuck in my head already. I unlocked three new challenges in the "Underground Favorite" level. Maybe they'll be more interesting. I'll find out soon enough!

Would I play this for more than an hour? Yes.


Why? Same old game, new songs and instruments. I'd elaborate, but I'm too busy playing it more!

This column is based on a retail copy of the game, complete with new drums and guitar, sent by the publisher three days before the official release. Yes, my job is awesome.

Don't miss Tom Chick's full Rock Band 2 review.

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