Guitar Hero II (PlayStation 2)

GAMEPLAY: 9/10
This game has some quality gameplay, but it could have been a tad better. Just a tad. The gameplay is not so quite... original. It has its own "flare", but it has the same way to incorporate sounds. What you must do is hit 1, 2, or 3 of 5 colored buttons to make the sounds of the guitar, this is NOT original, but it does have its own incorporation. For insatnce, the moving guitar handle and how the buttons you must press are specified in to a certain order. I also like the camera views that you (good luck trying this, Guitar Hero) or viewers can watch. I like the camera view of the one that has a camera right on the guitar's head.
There are four difficulties: Easy (for wimps and those truly are horrible at guitar), medium (those that have some skill, but cannot do those fast repetitive button pressing. For this, I say, do some finger excercises, man!), hard (those are good, but they are progressing through those hard to do songs), and expert (anyone that do ALL of the expert songs, are truly "Guitar Heros). These songs are incredibly difficult. Good Luck!

SONGS: 10/10
Though I cannot play story mode on hard or expert (yes I am a horrible Guitar Hero), I do know someone who can. The songs are very good and most are not as well known as those that made world hits. From Guns 'n' Roses to Lynnard Skinard, these songs are fascinating and sometimes challenging. I'm not sure about you, but to me, "Hanger 18" is the hardest to play song on Expert. You might have your own picks, but that is mine. There are of course songs that non-famous artists made, so you can believe there is originallity in this game, noetheless talent in the world. Maybe you can send in a tape of your best ceated song to Harmonix.

Sound: 10/10
Perfect. That is the only way I can describe the sound og Guitar Hero II. you can tell when the whammy bar is being hit. It has its distinct, real life sounding sound. Man, I love the whammy bar.
The songs have a awesome clarity of sound. You can actually hear the crowd cherring, the bass is just amazing, the singing is clear, not scratchy, and the drums are singlefied and clear. If you have an HD television, the sound is ten times better.

I highly reccomend buying this game, not just renting. If you buy it and find that you aren't that good at guitar, there is always (I don't want to sound cliche) practice makes perfect. My cousin practiced so much that he became INCREDIBLY good at Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II. Yet he still can't beat "Hanger 18". So, think about this game on a wish list or just leave right now to buy it.

Everything I wanted to do with the first Guitar Hero, they are putting into the second. Bass or Rythym guitar for second player, different difficulties for each player, a practice mode to slow down and learn the hard parts, more and more songs, non-cover studio tracks, colorful SG controllers.

The dueling banjo multiplayer is fun for a while, but gets old quick. Harmonix and Red Octane have really expanded the depth with co-op multiplayer. The ability to have each player on their own difficulty level and play different guitar parts is an answer to my prayers.

Practice mode is something I've become accustomed to with Beatmania. The ability to slow down the song and learn the hard parts is a big improvement to the Guitar Hero set list. I hope this feature is easy to use.

The creaters have announced there will be 40 licensed tracks and some 55 songs total. Even better is they are trying to get studio master tracks instead of covers for the songs. Primus has already announced they're song will be a master track and not a cover. Primus plus bass mode equals heaven.

The thought of jamming out Cowboys from Hell on a pink SG controller makes my eyes water with happiness. Red Octane says all of the styles at E3 will be available for sale. Let's hope so. Maybe I won't feel so weird playing a toy guitar if it's pink...

I cannot wait for this game. Wanting to play the game is the only thing keeping me from going into a drunken, cocaine-induced coma.

If you like Guitar video games, this is a great one to get.It has alot of great challenging songs.I am a big fan of all the Guitar Hero Games.This one is my fave!!