Are you a fan of the original Rock Band game? If you answered yes, you definitely want to check out Rock Band 2. (If you answered no, you still may want to!) Rock Band 2 is essentially the same game as the original, with much-needed updates, new instrument controllers and a ton of new songs. (The full track list can be found here) Rock Band 2 has been given a facelift - the track selection screen doesn't look the same as it did in the first game. It now looks like the music store used to download new songs in the original game. Rock Band 2 also supports all previously downloaded content - and you can even transfer about 97% ("Paranoid" by Black Sabbath, "Enter Sandman" by Metallica and "Run To The Hills" by Iron Maiden are non-transferable.) of the songs from your Rock Band 1 disc to your hard drive so when you want to play those songs you don't need to swap discs! (This has a one-time fee of $5 for all songs). Rock Band 2 supports all the instrument controllers from the first game, as well as bringing a new guitar, 2 different new drum sets (See: Ion Drum Rocker!), and of course, a new mic. New game modes are also present. These include "Battle of The Bands" (a 4v4 online game) and "Freestyle Drum Mode" in which you can play whatever you want with no limits! (You can even plug in your MP3 player and drum to songs played from it!) And of course, who can forget the thing that made the original game such a hit - downloadable content. Rock Band 2 will still see new music each week - and the developers have even boasted "500 tracks will be available in total by the end of 2008!" (This is to include on-disc songs.) Also, more full albums have been announced such as "Moving Pictures" by Rush, "Colour and The Shape" by The Foo Fighters, and "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers! And as a bonus, when consumers buy Rock Band 2, they get a code on the back of their instruction booklet good for 20 free downloadable songs - which have not been announced yet.

Bottom Line: Rock Band 2 builds over everything that was good in the first game, while still keeping it simple and fun. Anyone who likes Rock Band, Guitar Hero, or music or video games in general can get into this game. It's great for parties!

- George