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Guitar Hero II
Box art for two versions of Guitar Hero II. Left: PlayStation 2, PAL release. Right: Xbox 360, NTSC release.
Box art for two versions of Guitar Hero II.
Left: PlayStation 2, PAL release.
Right: Xbox 360, NTSC release.
Developer(s)Harmonix Music Systems
Publisher(s)RedOctane / Activision
Designer(s)Harmonix Music Systems
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox 360
ReleasePlayStation 2

NA November 7, 2006
AU November 15, 2006
UK November 24, 2006
EU November 30, 2006

Xbox 360
NA April 3, 2007
AU April 3, 2007
DK April 4, 2007
UK April 5, 2007
EU April 6, 2007
BR April 6, 2007

Wii

TBA
Genre(s)Music video game
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Guitar Hero II is a music video game and a sequel of Guitar Hero. It was released for the Sony PlayStation 2[1] video game console in November 2006 and for the Xbox 360 console in April 2007.[2] There is also a version planned for the Wii console.[3]

History

Guitar Hero II was released for the PlayStation 2 on November 7 2006 in North America, November 15 2006 in Australia,[4] and November 30 2006 in the United Kingdom and Europe.[5] Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 console was released on April 3 2007 in North America and on April 5 2007 in Europe. Gibson SG controllers from the first Guitar Hero game for the PlayStation 2 are compatible with that systems version of Guitar Hero II. Pre-ordered copies of Guitar Hero II for the PlayStation 2 included a classic cherry red SG Guitar, a Guitar Hero II T-shirt, and sticker set.[6] Retail versions of the game controller are cherry red in color. Xbox 360 versions have an exclusive Mini white Gibson X-Plorer guitar controller. Both the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox 360 guitar support wired controls; however, to date, only the PlayStation 2 has wireless functionality. A demo version of the PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero II was released with issue #110 of Official Playstation Magazine on October 5 2006.[7] Features of the demo included four playable songs on four difficulty levels for single player and co-op modes. Demo releases do not feature the ability to flip the notes for left-handed players. Demo versions feature the songs "Shout at the Devil", "You Really Got Me", "Strutter" and "YYZ".

The Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II includes additional content available through the Xbox Live service.[8] TeamXbox posted early information before the release, including details on ten songs and four screenshots of songs available exclusively for the Xbox 360 console.[9] The Xbox 360 version will also appear to support an optional foot pedal for effects, based on the game manual.[10]

Activision President and CEO Mike Griffith announced during a financial conference call the plan to release a Guitar Hero game for the Wii console during Activision's 2008 fiscal year (between April 2007 and March 2008). Guitar Hero III will see a release on the Wii and will use a traditional guitar controller, as opposed to using the Wii Remote.[11]

Gameplay

See also: Common gameplay elements in the Guitar Hero series

Gameplay is based on the successful formula created in the Guitar Hero game series; the player may use the guitar peripheral to play scrolling notes by holding the corresponding fret button on the guitar neck and simultaneously pressing the strum bar. Alternatively, one can use the "DualShock 2" controller by using the L2, L1, R1, R2 and X buttons (in the order of the respective frets, from green to orange). On the Xbox 360, the notes are played (from Green to Orange) with the LT, LB, RB, RT, and A buttons.

Several changes have been made to the gameplay mechanics of Guitar Hero II:

  • Three-button chords that require three fret buttons to be held down for the note to be played successfully. As such, if these are done successfully, they are worth triple the points.
  • Pull-offs no longer require the lower note to be held down. The window for strumming hammer-ons and pull-offs has been increased to make both techniques easier to use.
  • Lefty flip option is now available and can be toggled from the pause menu while playing a song. Players no longer need to quit a song in order to access the main menu to change this option, although the song must be restarted.
  • Players can view a More Stats screen after completing a song. Detailed percentages are displayed for the total notes played for each section of the song, the average multiplier achieved throughout the song, the number of star power phrases completed and the total number of notes played.
  • High scores achieved during "Career Mode" are now included on the high score lists that are viewed in the "Quick Play" mode. Previous versions kept separate high score lists for each mode. Career mode high scores will be listed under the name of the career mode band created by the player.
  • The Xbox 360 version of the game also includes a Leaderboard feature that allows players to see where their scores for individual songs (or their combined Career campaign) compares to other players on Xbox Live.
  • There are 50 Achievements to be unlocked on the Xbox 360 version.

Career

In career mode, players create a band name and select a guitarist from among the available characters. Only the lead guitar is available to be played in this mode. Over the course of the career mode the band plays at eight available venues. After completing the required songs, three, four, or five depending on the difficulty, fans in the crowd will chant for an encore. Passing the encore song will unlock the next tier of songs. In Easy mode, no encores are available.

Successful completion of a song on Medium or higher skill levels during Career mode will earn the player in-game cash. Higher difficulty levels and better scoring performances are rewarded with more cash. In-game money can be used at The Store to buy various items. Some items are available only after completing all songs at higher difficulty levels or 5-star performances. Purchases in The Store carry over to each difficulty in career mode and all game modes. The items at the store include:

  • Guitars - Several Gibson guitars can be purchased. There are 8 fictional guitars, such as a coffin or a fish, that can be purchased once they have been unlocked. There is also a "scythe" guitar that is unique to the Grim Ripper character.
  • Finishes - One to four different paint schemes are available for most guitars.
  • Characters - Three additional characters can be made available by purchasing them. As explained, Grim Ripper includes an extra guitar that only he can wield (though a graphic glitch allows other characters to play it).
  • Alternate Outfits - Different clothing sets are specialized for each character, except for the unlockable characters.
  • Bonus Songs - 24 additional songs can be purchased in both versions of the game, and the Xbox 360 version features 2 additional tracks.
  • Videos - Two "behind the scenes" videos of the making of Guitar Hero II can be viewed. Videos are not available in the PS2 PAL version of the game.
  • Downloads (Xbox 360 version only) - Used to quickly access the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Multiplayer

File:Gh2-screenshot.jpg
An early screenshot of the Cooperative mode from the PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero II.

There are three different multiplayer modes available:

  • Cooperative mode: Depending upon the song, a player can play the lead guitar while another can play bass or rhythm guitar. Both players share a score, rock meter, star power meter and streak multiplier. Co-op mode is the only multiplayer mode in which a song can be failed. Both players must tilt the guitar or press the select button in unison to unlock star power. There are five bass guitars that can be unlocked in cooperative mode.
  • Face-Off mode: This is the same multiplayer mode as featured in the original game, though in Guitar Hero II, both players can individually select their level of difficulty. The scores are weighted so that a player who hits more notes on the Easy difficulty than an opponent on Expert difficulty may or may not win the round, depending on how many more notes the player hits.
  • Pro Face-Off mode: Players play the full lead guitar track on the same difficulty. This mode is only available after completing Career Mode on Medium or higher difficulty levels.

While on-line multiplayer was not available at the release of Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360, Red Octane has stated that they hope to be able provide this later once they are able to work out the technical issues.[12]

Practice mode

Practice mode is a new addition to the game, allowing a player to practice certain sections of a song ("Verse 2," "Chorus," "Bridge 3," etc.) on different difficulties and instruments. Practice mode gives the player the ability to toggle the speed of the notes (Full Speed, Slow, Slower and Slowest) and does not stop a song no matter how many mistakes are made. A display screen will show the number of notes hit following completion of the song. Players can view their multiplier streak in practice mode but are unable to see star power phrases, the rock meter, or the score. This can also be done with a bass option. Players can play the bass or lines on most songs. On others, a rhythm guitar line is available instead.

Soundtrack

Both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions of Guitar Hero II feature the same core 64 playable songs. The Xbox 360 versions contains 10 exclusive tracks not found in the Playstation 2 version, in addition to downloadable songs that can be purchased in packs of three for 500 Microsoft Points ($6.25) per pack. Most of the songs featured are cover versions, with the exception of "Stop", "Dead!", "Possum Kingdom", "John the Fisherman", and the unlockable bonus songs (which are original artist performances). Cover songs are credited on screen with the phrase "as made famous by" (e.g. "Surrender, as made famous by Cheap Trick"), while the original songs are credited with "as performed by" (e.g. "John the Fisherman, as performed by Primus").

In addition to exclusive tracks, the Xbox 360 version features a reorganized setlist that progresses in difficulty better than the PlayStation 2 version.

Not all songs in the main set list are available from the start. When working through Career mode at a specific difficulty level, each set is unlocked once the requirements for the previous set (3, 4, or 5 songs depending on difficulty) is completed. Additionally, the encore song is only made available for that set once the set requirements are completed; the player is given the option of playing the encore for an additional cash bonus. Once a song is unlocked within Career mode, or by purchasing it in the Store, it becomes available for both Practice and Quick Play modes. While playing in Easy during Career mode, neither encore songs nor the 8th set is available.

The following is the complete list of songs of Guitar Hero II:[13][14]

Main setlist

† - denotes rhythm guitar as alternate instrument for song in co-op mode (all other songs feature bass guitar)

PlayStation 2

1. Opening Licks


2. Amp-Warmers


3. String-Snappers


4. Thrash and Burn


5. Return of the Shred


6. Relentless Riffs


7. Furious Fretwork


8. Face-Melters


Xbox 360 (exclusive tracks are listed in italics)

1. Opening Licks

2. Amp-Warmers

3. String-Snappers

4. Thrash and Burn

5. Return of the Shred

6. Relentless Riffs

7. Furious Fretwork

8. Face-Melters

Bonus tracks

Xbox 360 exclusive tracks are listed in italics.

Xbox 360 downloadable tracks

File:Gh2-explorer-controller.jpg
Xbox 360 exclusive Gibson X-plorer controller

Guitar Hero Track Pack 1 (30.87 MB, 500 MSP) - Released April 11 2007

Guitar Hero Track Pack 2 (30.64 MB, 500 MSP) - Released April 11 2007

Guitar Hero Track Pack 3 (32.71 MB, 500 MSP) - Released April 11 2007

It was originally suggested by Dusty Welch of RedOctane[18][19] and later confirmed by IGN[20] that many of the songs from the original Guitar Hero would be available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace a week after the release of the game. The first three of these packs were made available on April 11, 2007.[21]

In a GameSpy interview, RedOctane said that versus online gameplay was a probable future addition, and that downloadable songs would be priced the same as other similar services.[22]. They have also claimed in various interviews that "Guitar Hero II will feature more downloadable content than any other 360 title".[23]

Guitar Hero II features many popular real world Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer guitars, including the Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, and Gibson Explorer. Oddities such as the double necked Gibson EDS-1275 and unusual looking Gibson Corvus also make an appearance. Several available finishes are also recognizable from popular guitarists, including Zakk Wylde's bullseye Les Paul. As play progresses, several custom shaped guitars become available, although some are notable in the real world such as the USA and Battle Axe (a similar looking bass was played by Gene Simmons). Basses, such as the Music Man StingRay, Gibson Thunderbird, and the Höfner bass are also available for co-op play.

The band itself plays with Orange amps and DW drum kits, along with more in-game endorsements. When the player passes each set of songs in career mode, his/her band is rewarded with money and equipment endorsements, including BOSS effects, Line6 guitar amplifiers, Mesa/Boogie amplifiers, and Roland keyboards. These products then appear on stage while the band plays the ensuing setlists.[24]

Venues

The venue system from the original game has been altered slightly. Every venue is in a different city, and the career mode has the band traveling from town to town in order to play at the next arena. The band starts out at Nilbog High School, in an unspecified city in Ohio, referred to only as the "Midwest", in a Battle of the Bands competition. Then the band progresses to bigger New England venues: the Rat Cellar Pub in Boston, Massachusetts (playing homage to the legendary, defunct punk-rock club The Rathskeller or "The Rat" which was located in Kenmore Square); the Blackout Bar in Providence, Rhode Island; the RedOctane Club in Brooklyn, New York; and the Rock City Theater in Detroit, Michigan (named after the KISS song Detroit Rock City); before crossing back to the West Coast, making a stop at the Vans Warped Tour in Austin, Texas; the Harmonix Arena in Oakland, California; and culminating at Stonehenge in the United Kingdom. The latter is a reference to the film, This is Spinal Tap, in which the band performed the song "Stonehenge" on stage with a model of the monument. The venues now feature lighting and pyrotechnics that are synchronized with the music.

Characters

Eight characters are available from the start of the game: Eddie Knox, Axel Steel, Casey Lynch, Lars Ümlaüt, Izzy Sparks, Judy Nails, Johnny Napalm, and Pandora. All eight have an additional outfit which can be bought from the in-game store. Additional characters Clive Winston, Xavier Stone and the Grim Ripper can also be bought, allowing them to be played in later sessions. These characters do not have extra costumes.

Reception

Reviews and awards
PlayStation 2
Publication Score Notes
1UP.com
9.0[25]
Game Informer
9/10,9.25/10[26]
GamePro
4.5/5[27]
Editor's Choice
GameSpot
8.7/10[28]
IGN
9.5/10[29]
Editor's Choice
Official PlayStation Magazine
10/10
Game of the Month
Play Magazine
9/10[30]
Compilation review site Aggregate score
Game Rankings
93 of 100[31]
Metacritic
92 of 100 (based on 69 reviews)[32]
Awards
E3 2006
Game Critics Award for Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game[33]
IGN's Best of 2006
Best Music Game[34][35], Best Licensed Soundtrack[36][37], Best PlayStation 2 Offline Multiplayer Game[38]
2007 IEAA Awards
Post Logistics PlayStation Game of the Year[39]
Next Generation's Top 50
4th best game of 2006[40]
2006 Spike TV Video Game Awards
Best Soundtrack
Xbox 360
Publication Score Notes
1UP.com
9.0[41]
Game Informer
9.5/10,9/10[42]
GamePro
4.75/5[43]
Editor's Choice
GameSpot
8.9/10[44]
IGN
9.4/10[45]
Editor's Choice
Official Xbox Magazine
9.5/10
Play Magazine
9.5/10
Compilation review site Aggregate score
Game Rankings
94 of 100[46]
Metacritic
93 of 100 (based on 33 reviews)[47]

The PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero II was welcomed with very positive reviews. It received a 10/10 review in the December issue of Official PlayStation Magazine and was awarded the Game of the Month award. The game received a rating of 9.5/10 from IGN,[29] ranking higher than the original game in the series and amongst IGN's highest rated PS2 games ever. It was also nominated for Best Game of 2006 on Gametrailers[citation needed]. GameSpot reviewed the PlayStation 2 version with a rating of 8.7/10,[28], and the Xbox 360 version 8.9,[44] both slightly lower than its predecessor. Game Informer gave it a 9 out of 10, while its "second opinion" rating was even better, at 9.25/10. According to Game Rankings,[48] the average critic score of Guitar Hero II is 93%, making it the 9th best reviewed game of 2006.

The Xbox 360 version has earned similarly positive reviews and slightly higher scores with a 9.5/10 in the March issue of Official Xbox Magazine, a 4.75/5 from GamePro, a 9.5/10 from Play Magazine and a 9.4/10 from IGN. As of April 3 2007, the Game Rankings score is 94%.[46]

Common praise for the game by critics is aimed at the new multiplayer and practice modes. Common critiques concern the song list, which includes more hard rock and metal than the previous game, deeming it less accessible to casual players. Other common critiques concern the quality of the covers.

The downloadable song packs for the Xbox 360 version have been criticized for being too pricy. Each song is priced at 166.67 MSP using the Microsoft Points system, which is approximately $2.08 USD for one song. The price was seen by many fans of the series as being far too expensive and was met with resistance and angst with a large number of people pledging to boycott the content.[49] Microsoft's Xbox Live Director of Programming, Major Nelson, defending the pricing and release scheme, and attributed the high cost of the content to "licensing issues" on the Xbox 360 platform, as all contracts drawn up for songs from the original game had to be rewritten, since they are playable on an additional console[50].

In 1UP.com's review for the Xbox 360 version of the game, the downloadable song packs are noted as a "mixed blessing"; praise is given for retooling the songs with better gameplay elements such as the inclusion of co-op modes, but the fact that the songs come in pricy packs of three "defeats much of the appeal".[41] In an interview with RedOctane president Kai Huang[51], Huang stated that the decision to pack the songs in three was made to keep the cost of the tracks down. Though Huang felt the pricing was fair, he noted afterward "we do listen to the fans and take any feedback we receive seriously."

Sales

In December 2006, Guitar Hero II for PlayStation 2 was the second top-selling video game of the month,[52] selling 805,200 units. It was outsold only by Gears of War for Xbox 360 (which sold 815,700 units).[52]

It was the fifth top-selling video game of 2006, with 1.3 million copies sold. It was also the third best-selling game for the PlayStation 2, behind Madden NFL 07 and Kingdom Hearts II.[52]

Both the December and annual figures are interesting in that they refer to the version of Guitar Hero II that is packaged with the guitar controller, which was priced considerably higher than most games for the PlayStation 2 at the time (about $80 USD).

Technical issues

The PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero II has reportedly had some technical issues, according to some players. [citation needed] No official statement from RedOctane or Activision has been made about the discs or the game itself having any issues, but players have reported songs freezing or skipping, causing the audio to be unsynchronized, unusually long loading screens, and menus that freeze or lock up entirely causing the game to crash. The RedOctane Support Center Answer Guide states, "We’re already in the process of looking into this and testing to replicate the experience. We’ll notify everyone with our results shortly, and will have a positive resolution if need be."[53]

Two models of the Xplorer controller were released for the Xbox 360 version of the game: Model No.95055 and No.95065. Of the two versions, the No.95055 has an RJ-11 jack for effect pedals near the controller cord and is suspect to having an unresponsive whammy bar. RedOctane later responded, saying that they "isolated this issue to two model numbers that can be found on the guitar's packaging." Customers are able to exchange these models for new models.[54]

On April 13, 2007, Activision revealed that the issue was not a problem with the hardware, and that the guitars were not defective. The cause of the problem was anti-cheat protection software, and Activision released a patch on Xbox Live on April 14, 2007 to remedy it.[55][56] However, this patch may have had unintended side effects. Starting on April 16, 2007, numerous users began reporting lockups and failures of their system (such as the "Red Ring of Death") after downloading and installing this patch, and required hardware repair service through Microsoft. RedOctane has stated "We're aware of the problem and we're looking into it."[57]

Future games

Activision, which agreed to acquire RedOctane in May 2006, has announced that a third installment of the Guitar Hero series is set to launch sometime in 2007, most likely during the fourth quarter of 2007 or the first quarter of 2008.[58] Activision has also confirmed that the Guitar Hero franchise will be making appearances on other gaming consoles by next year. The only new versions confirmed so far are ones for the Xbox 360,[2] and Wii .[59] It has yet to be revealed if any other system(s) will receive Guitar Hero II or its sequels, as each version would require its own special controller.[60] The multiplatform version(s) will be released this year.[61] It was also recently announced that Guitar Hero will have a version released for mobile phones.[62]

In addition, Activison has said their Guitar Hero II add-on game, Guitar Hero: 80's Edition will launch June of 2007 for the PlayStation 2.[63] A setlist for the game has yet to be announced.

Activision has said that the names Guitar Villain and Drum Villain have been copyrighted as well for possible future sequels. It was confirmed by GameSpot that the Guitar Hero series would be ported to "all significant consoles" this year.[64][65]

GameSpot has also confirmed in an interview with Dusty Welch of RedOctane that Activision will not rely on Harmonix for future game development. This duty has been reassigned to Activison's internal studio, Neversoft, which RedOctane assures will not have any impact on the series' quality.[66]

Musical references

  • Some of the loading screens prior to a song are jokes and references about the music industry; for example, before encores, it tells the player never to "just jam" when the audience wants an encore (a reference to the movie This Is Spinal Tap). In another example, the typical loading screen has a sketch of a cherry and the pi mathematic symbol in the top-right corner, referring to the 1990 song and album "Cherry Pie" by Warrant.
  • Each "bonus track" has a single, unique loading screen that is usually a joke or reference to that specific song; for example, prior to "Jordan", the player is told that wearing a bucket on one's head won't improve one's performance, a direct reference to the song's artist, Buckethead.
  • The loading screen "Throw your undies on the stage, no wait you're underage," displayed whenever playing "Less Talk More Rokk" by Freezepop, is a reference (specifically, a lyric) to the song "Super Sprøde", which is a bonus song by Freezepop in the Harmonix PlayStation 2 rhythm game Amplitude.
  • "Free Bird" has its own separate set of loading screens that do not appear with any other song, including one that informs the player "You want 'GTR SOLO I' in Practice Mode," referring to a particular section of the song, and "FINE. They AREN'T just heckling you this time. SIGH.", a reference to a loading screen in the original Guitar Hero that read, "They don't really want you to play 'Freebird,' they're just heckling you.", itself a reference to a common joke in musician culture.[67]
  • The drummer spontaneously combusting at the end of "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" is a reference to the movie This Is Spinal Tap, from which the song originates. In the sound options section, everything can be turned up to 11, also referring to a famous line from that movie.
  • Clive Winston will use a violin bow to play his guitar when star power is activated with him. This is a tribute to several guitarists, most famously Jimmy Page, who would often do the same thing during performances. In addition, he often lights his guitar on fire at the end of a performance, a reference to Jimi Hendrix's onstage antics, and in some songs, he will windmill, as a reference to Pete Townshend.
  • Xavier Stone will sometimes pick his guitar with his teeth when using star power in homage to Jimi Hendrix.
  • Axel Steel may sometimes throw his guitar over his left shoulder and underneath the right arm when star power is activated, as a reference to Yngwie Malmsteen.
  • In Practice mode, the bedroom has many Rolling Stones references. A Their Satanic Majesties Request poster, the Let It Bleed album in a box at the bottom right corner, the Beggars Banquet album (in its original sleeve) visible behind Let It Bleed, and a poster of the band themselves in the far right corner.
  • At the end of the credits there is a hail to Dimebag Darrell, ex-guitarist of Pantera, who was shot to death on-stage while performing with his then current band, Damageplan.
  • The in-game description for the Scythe (the guitar played by the Grim Ripper character) starts with the sentence, "On second thought, maybe you should fear the Reaper." This is a reference to the Blue Öyster Cult song "(Don't Fear) the Reaper and the message that accompanied the Grim Ripper character in the first Guitar Hero saying, "Do Not Fear the Ripper".
  • Axel Steel has a Ynewie Malmstein record cover on the back of his jacket.

Non-musical references

  • On the Xbox 360 version of the game, the end of the final credits read "No pitchers were harmed in the making of this game. Except for one. Joel Zumaya. He had it coming." This is a reference to the current pitcher of the Detroit Tigers, who strained his wrist while playing the original Guitar Hero during the 2006 American League Championship Series. The story received national attention for the perceived absurdity of the injury.

References

  1. ^ IGN: Guitar Hero II Interview
  2. ^ a b "X06: Guitar Hero 2 Announced for 360". IGN.
  3. ^ "Wii will rock Guitar Hero". GameSpot.
  4. ^ PALGN Updated Australian release list, 13/11/06
  5. ^ Spong confirm release UK date
  6. ^ "Guitar Hero II Single Player Bundle (Game+Guitar)".
  7. ^ "Playstation.com - OPM - Issue 110".
  8. ^ TeamXbox: Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 Box Art and Bundle Picture
  9. ^ TeamXbox: Guitar Hero II: RedOctane to Announce Xbox 360 Specifics
  10. ^ Joystiq - Guitar Hero Effects Pedal confirmed in 360 instructions
  11. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6169126.html
  12. ^ Gamespy - CES 2007 Preview for Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360
  13. ^ "IGN: Guitar Hero II Final Tracklist Revealed".
  14. ^ "Guitar Hero II IGN Set List".
  15. ^ While the original version of "You Really Got Me" was performed by The Kinks, the cover version in Guitar Hero 2 is based on the cover of that song made famous by Van Halen, based on the in-game information for this song.
  16. ^ a b c Unlike most other songs in the main set lists, this song is not a cover, but actually a master recording for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference youreallygotme was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Guitar Hero 2 New songs and new guitar on 360 -- in-depth impressions.
  19. ^ Ars Technica: Guitar Hero 1 songs in Guitar Hero 2, and the best interview answer ever... twice!
  20. ^ http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/777/777444p1.html
  21. ^ GH II: Song Packs (3 of 'em), Major Nelson
  22. ^ http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/guitar-hero-2/754599p1.html
  23. ^ http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/764/764899p1.html
  24. ^ "A Day Spent in the Presence of the Mighty Guitar Hero 2".
  25. ^ Guitar Hero II PS2 Review, "Dude, we're getting the band back together" at 1UP.com
  26. ^ Guitar Hero II for PS2 review on Game Informer Online
  27. ^ Guitar Hero II for PS2 on GamePro
  28. ^ a b Guitar Hero II for PlayStation 2 review at GameSpot
  29. ^ a b Guitar Hero II Review (PS2) at IGN
  30. ^ PS2: Guitar Hero 2 Review at play online
  31. ^ Guitar Hero II Reviews at Game Rankings
  32. ^ Guitar Hero II: (ps2: 2006) reviews at Metacritic
  33. ^ "2006 Winners". gamecriticsawards.com.
  34. ^ Best Music Game
  35. ^ Best PS2 Music Game
  36. ^ Best Licensed Soundtrack
  37. ^ Best PS2 Licensed Soundtrack
  38. ^ Best PS2 Offline Multiplayer Game
  39. ^ "2007 Awards Winners" (PDF). IEAA. 26 February 2007.
  40. ^ [1]
  41. ^ a b Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360 Review, 1UP.com
  42. ^ Guitar Hero II review (Xbox 360) at Game Informer Online
  43. ^ Review:Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 at GamePro.com
  44. ^ a b Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 Review at GameSpot
  45. ^ Guitar Hero II (Game Controller and Game Bundle) review at IGN
  46. ^ a b Guitar Hero II at Game Rankings
  47. ^ Guitar Hero II (xbox360: 2007): Reviews at Metacritic
  48. ^ "Guitar Hero II Reviews". Game Rankings.
  49. ^ Major Nelson's Blog, Major Nelson
  50. ^ Joystiq - Major Nelson Talks Guitar Hero Downloads, Halo 3
  51. ^ Rocking on with Guitar Hero, IGN
  52. ^ a b c NPD Releases December Numbers, Fanboys Riot, 1UP.com
  53. ^ http://www.redoctane.us/support-center/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=120
  54. ^ Sliwinksi, Alexander (2007-04-07). "Red Octane Says Two Xbox Guitar Models Defective". Joystiq. Retrieved 2007-04-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ [2]
  56. ^ RedOctane post information Guitar Hero II patch
  57. ^ "RedOctane admits to Guitar Hero II patch problem". Eurogamer. 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2007-04-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "New Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and 007 coming in 2007–8 69". Gamespot.
  59. ^ "Nintendo Wii gets Guitar Hero".
  60. ^ "IGN: Guitar Hero to Rock All Consoles".
  61. ^ "Gamespot: Guitar Hero going multiplatform".
  62. ^ "Gamespot: Guitar hero to rock mobiles".
  63. ^ "Activision announces to Guitar Hero 80's Edition for June".
  64. ^ "Gamespot: Guitar Hero going multiplatform".
  65. ^ "Nintendo Wii gets Guitar Hero".
  66. ^ "Gamespot: Q&A: RedOctane's Dusty Welch".
  67. ^ "Freebird: That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore".
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