CES 07: Guitar Hero II Hands-On

By Brian Ekberg, GameSpotPosted Jan 8, 2007 3:35 pm PT

We rock and roll with the 360 version of the popular rhythm game and get the scoop on a few new songs.

LAS VEGAS--These days, few industry secrets are better kept than the set lists for upcoming Guitar Hero games. We all has our favorite rockers we hope to strum to in the next game, and the folks at Red Octane are understandably protective of the information. The upcoming release of Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 will mark the debut of the game on the system, and we had a chance to rock out to a few songs to see how the game is shaping up.

In addition to all the tracks from the PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero II, GHII for the Xbox 360 will include 10 new songs not seen in the PS2 game. While we don't know the full list yet, Red Octane has announced five of the new songs that will be in the game:

Pearl Jam -- "Life Wasted"
Rick Derringer -- "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo"
My Chemical Romance -- "Dead!"
Deep Purple -- "Hush"
Alice Cooper -- "Billion Dollar Baby"

Due to limited time with the game, we only had a chance to try out one of the new songs: "Life Wasted," a song we weren't familiar with but one whose driving beat and clever, tricky meter in the chorus made for a challenge both on bass and guitar when played in co-op.

The other song we tried out was the Buckethead scorcher "Jordan," a song that's found in the PS2 version of Guitar Hero II. It gave us a great chance to take the Xbox 360-exclusive guitar for a spin. Right off the bat we can say that this guitar has some definite advantages over the Gibson SG models found in the PS2 game. For one, it's got a cool new X-shaped design based on the Gibson X-Plorer model guitar. It also feels a bit sturdier than the PS2 model, and the fret buttons are a marked improvement over the PS2 model--firmer and less liable to wiggle under your fingers. It didn't help us beat "Jordan" on "hard" difficulty, but then few things could have.

Red Octane is still staying mum on most of its online plans for Guitar Hero II, but we do know you will be able to download songs from Xbox Live. Whether that means older songs from the original Guitar Hero or entirely new song packs remains to be seen. We do know the game will include online leaderboards so you can post your high scores for definitive rock-and-roll bragging rights over your buddies. There's more to learn about Guitar Hero II leading up to release, including the release of the final five songs on the list of tunes. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

308 Comments

  • mustang03

    Posted Apr 2, 2007 3:54 pm PT

    or maybe scorpions, BTO, Stones, bob seger, thin lizzy expose some people to some exceptional classic rock

  • mustang03

    Posted Apr 2, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    hope some of the exclusive songs not yet revealed are classic rock. maybe some styx, led zeppelin, cream etc...

  • Domobran-

    Posted Apr 2, 2007 1:04 am PT

    Some Soundgarden would be crazy, maybe next time I hope

  • xombie5

    Posted Apr 1, 2007 6:53 pm PT

    Why can't they have any Beatles or Stones or anything good?

  • conkerblade

    Posted Apr 1, 2007 10:02 am PT

    they need slipknot, killswich engage, and unearth

  • Nakkie34

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 1:42 am PT

    I dont know if they have THE ACE OF SPADES in there but that would be great. They should also include Cold hard **** from jet

    I dont know if i'm gonna get this game but i think it is great

  • DarthRevan109

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 9:31 am PT

    jroder has got it right, some U2 would be great

  • Pangamaster

    Posted Mar 19, 2007 7:31 pm PT

    I AM THE IRONMAN I CAN"T WAIT TO GET THIS GAME
    I AM THE IRONMAN I WILL GET THIS GAME IF MY MY MOM SAYS I Can

  • BOSSMAN_2004

    Posted Mar 15, 2007 10:24 pm PT

    I have $30 worth of Best Buy Reward Zone gift cards that I have been waiting to use on something good and I will finaly put them to use to buy this game

  • kim_nielsen

    Posted Mar 11, 2007 5:29 am PT

    haloBoy04 - Will there bee Slipknot on the 360 version or is it just something you hope, It would bee so nice if there are...

  • haloBoy04

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 3:21 pm PT

    One word: SLIPKNOT!!!!

  • DesmondPills

    Posted Feb 27, 2007 1:19 pm PT

    is there going to be online mp? like 1 on 1 obviously

  • fuzzdawg69

    Posted Feb 20, 2007 7:10 pm PT

    why no pantera?

  • Mr_Butterworth

    Posted Feb 12, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    MCR freaken SUXX!!!
    They Better put some REAL punk on there!

  • jroder

    Posted Feb 12, 2007 12:19 am PT

    I Just beat the PS2 version on expert finally. And I just pre-ordered this one due to the downloadable songs. Thats going to rock. I hope they can get a steady pace of songs coming out though. I would love to play some U2 or Muse.

    And I hope I can hear the songs over my 360

  • Wolverine77

    Posted Feb 11, 2007 7:40 pm PT

    The wait is killing me. I already have mine preordered and half paid for at gamestop. I hope it is march 23rd instead of april tho

  • carlospellete

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 8:41 pm PT

    or stairway that be kick ass

  • carlospellete

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    they need some scorpions on there

  • hello12367890

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 5:57 am PT

    i just read in my new xbox mag that iron maiden the trooper was a song

  • ShellShocker42

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 10:26 pm PT

    hope theres some system in there! cigaro! shimmy! otxicity! chop suey! yeah ****

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