Battle of the Bands
Though this is technically the second time music games
Guitar Hero and Rock Band have squared off, this is the first time that they
both offer the full band experience. This fall, both franchises will be vying
for the space in your living room with new plastic drums and fake guitars. No
one has enough room or cash for both, so which one should you put on your
Christmas wish list? Check out our handy Guitar Hero World Tour/Rock Band 2
comparison to see which one better suits your imaginary rock star needs.*
The Guitar
GHWT- New improvements to the GH guitar include a bigger body, a touch
strip for intense solos, and a button by the strum bar to activate star power.
RB2- The original RB guitar worked well, so improvements to the new one are
minor. They include a nearly noiseless strum bar and buttons, and a sweet new
paint job.
The Drums
GHWT-The GH drums offer two adjustable symbols, velocity sensors, and a soft,
responsive material to insure your drum sessions don't wake the neighbors.
RB2- The Rock Band 2 drum kit doesn't look too different from the last one,
though there are a few tweaks that make it a little better, like softer pads
and velocity sensors. If you're willing to shell out some extra dough you can
get an advanced drum kit that actually works outside the game as a real
electric drum set.
The Extras
GHWT- New to GH is a music creation system rivaling Apple's iTunes in complexity. Users will be able to mix, record, and upload their own songs (minus vocals) to GH Tunes where other gamers can test them out and rate them. This insures that GH players will never run out of songs to play. GHWT also offers an in-depth character creation system, so you can play your custom songs with a customized rocker.
RB2- Not only can you buy a supped up drum set that works outside the game, but you can also use an in-game tutorial that will teach you how to play them. Now you really can be a rock star. Also, all your downloaded songs from the original Rock Band will be playable on RB2.
*We purposely left out the comparisons on the microphone accessories, because they're microphones…there's not a lot you can do with those. Also keep in mind that like Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3, it's possible these game's instruments will be compatible with the other, meaning your choice might come down to design and game features.
Click the links for more info on Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour
