Multiplayer adds a new dimension to
Guitar Hero, making the game even more addictive and fun when getting together with friends. Two modes are available, Competitive and Co-op. Competitive is your standard guitar face-off, where you and a friend challenge each other to see who get closer to the greatness of Slash without having to put up with Axl Rose.
Co-op play is easily the more enjoyable of the two multiplayer modes and of the two will probably get the most playtime at parties. Here, both players play the same song, though with completely different parts. One can take the Bass while the other Rhythm. Both players share combo and Star Power meters, which may lead to some broken friendships if one player isn't as good as the other. Luckily, players can set their own difficulty levels, allowing advanced players to play on harder difficulty levels while their partner sticks to easier ones.
It should go without saying that music selection is a major aspect of Guitar Hero II. Compared to the original, the sequel features a greater variety of songs, ranging from classics like “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Free Bird” to modern hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Monkey Wrench”. A few purely instrumental tracks, like “Misirlou” also make the cut along with rockabilly tunes “Psychobilly Freakout” and “Rock This Town”.
If you liked the first, there’s no reason you shouldn’t like the encore. Start planning your parties now.