Guitar Hero II (Game & Guitar Controller Bundle) (Xbox 360, 2007)

Guitar Hero II
The PS2 mega hit comes to Xbox 360 with more reasons to rock than ever before.
Everyone should own a Guitar Hero game. If you haven't played it yet, you really don't know what you're missing. The music rocks. Playing with a guitar shaped controller rocks. Jamming with a friend rocks. Did we mention that the game rocks? Everything from the presentation to the gameplay in Guitar Hero II is universally appealing. If you haven't already played Guitar Hero II on PS2, this is a must own game. Even if you already have done all of this before, you may yet find a reason to grab the Xbox 360 re-release. With reworked graphics, sound, new songs, downloadable content and more, this is easily the best Guitar Hero game yet.

Introductions are in order. While PS2 owners have enjoyed the Guitar Hero franchise for a couple of years now, this is the first time any guitar music game has appeared on a Microsoft console. The premise behind the franchise began years ago with Konami's Guitar Freaks but didn't grip the mainstream in the US until RedOctane teamed up with developer Harmonix. The two companies put together a special controller to accompany the release of an all new franchise, Guitar Hero. If you haven't heard about it yet, it's high time you came joined the party. Guitar Hero and its sequel have been massive successes financially and critically and with good reason. Who doesn't want to step into the shoes of Keith Richards or Eddie Van Halen and shred some classic licks? We all do. And now 360 owners can join their PS2 brethren in rocking out.

All of the songs and sights from the PS2 version of Guitar Hero have made it over to Xbox 360, though they've gone through a bit of a facelift during the move. That means that the praises and issues with that game hold true for the most part. Rather than rehashing old news in this review or explaining gameplay mechanics laid out in previous releases, we'll ask that you head over to the PS2 review if you're unfamiliar with the game. If you need even more of a background, you can always start from the beginning with our original Guitar Hero review.

It should be noted that if you own a PS2 Guitar Hero controller, it isn't going to work on the Xbox 360 version. You'll have to buy a new one.