Guitar Hero II (PS2)

I may be 33 years old, but last night I unashamedly acted like a teenager with the aid of my old PS2 and a plastic guitar, and it's the most fun I've had for ages. We spotted this in town on Saturday, being demod in a store, so I went home, dusted off the old PS2 (religated to beneath the stairs), checked it worked and rushed back into town to grab this work of utter genius. Essentially it's guitar karaoke, and it's NOT easy. OK, the easy level (where you don't play every note but only the main ones that sort of tie everything in a song together) is not too hard, but medium then hard really test you, and you certainly feel like you're playing lead in a rock band. It's really adrenaline charging!!

Highly recommended, great songs, great versions, you can even pretend to be Nigel from Spinal Tap and play lead in 'Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight'!! Turn it up to 11 baby!

The original Guitar Hero came out of nowhere and rocked all our faces. And now, 6 months later, it finishes what it started.

I got the game this morning and played it on hard from start to finish. I know that's obsesssive and I wasn't even enjoying myself at the end when I developed carpel tunnel syndrome while playing Misirlou, but you have to understand this game steals your life when you pick it up.

Everyone in my house has played it, including my computer-shy friends and even their computer-shyer girlfriends. My dad bought the original after a few minutes play. Basically, anyone can play it. Everyone WANTS to play it!

The whole game oozes polish. The random badass drawings are even badasser. The characters look slicker and dance around more. The venues are AMAZING! Especially on the later levels with the sweet metal tableaus (Grim Reaper fighting a squid monster on stage). Loading times are almost halved too, thank God.

The track list: it's better. Probably not as recognizable as the original, but still better. There are some big classics like Sweet Child O' Mine and Heart-Shaped Box, but once again it's the little songs that make the game so cool. I dare you not to scream TROOOGDOOR!! after playing it, and if you don't give yourself whiplash to Cherry Pie then you have NO SOUL (injuring yourself to metal is generally respectable).

Something new I wasn't expecting at all was that the actual gameplay had improved. The game feels quick - actually manic - straight from the start. Hammer-ons and pull-offs are a lot easier and so are genuinely helpful in acing those rediculous solos (try the epic hammer sequence on The Light That Blinds).

The practise mode needs a special mention. If you're having difficulty with a song, just pause the game and select Practise. Now you can pick the parts you want to play and slow the tempo right down until you get your head around it (why oh why wasn't this available for Cowboys From Hell on expert!).

Now tomorrow I'll get my geek mate to come round with her guitar and we can rock out co-op style!

The Game Play Is Brilliat, The In Game Venues and Gigs are Better than Guitar Hero 1, The Only Thing That Disappointed me was the lack of well know songs. Guitar Hero 1 had a lot of bands and songs that everyone has heard of, but unless your a music buff, i don't think there is a lot of famous bands or songs.

It Still Rocks!!! though