I played in a band once...a rubber band, that is...

*gasp*  Got here...*wheeze*...as fast...*cough*...as I could.  *passes out*

*ahem*  Yeah, so...with Bouier dropping the upcoming Guitar Hero knowledge on you in an earlier post, I figured I'd mention the competition:

Still not psyched?  I'll continue.

What makes this one better than the upcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour, which also features drums, vocals, and bass guitar playability?  How about new instruments?  Peep the guitar:

Come on...you see the woodgrain, don't you?  I mean, faux, of course, but a nice touch, nonetheless.  Also the strum won't be as "squishy" as the first one [those who've played with it know what I mean], and the frets [still two sets, at both ends, the lower set for soloing] are quieter, and not so clicky.  Also, there's a built-in mic in the guitar, to help calibrate lag if needed.  But me no play the axe, so none of this is a major concern to me....

DRUMS ON DECK!!!

Yes, it looks like a wet dream, no? Pump the breaks, slightly: this is the premium drum set.  As you can see, it comes with cymbals, and a reinforced metal kick pedal, to endure club footed punishment.  Also, it can be used without the game as a standalone electronic drum kit.  Oh, and it costs $300.  Yeah.  The standard drum set that comes, umm...standard, looks pretty much like the old one, but the drums pads are velocity sensitive, softer and quieter [yes!], and has expansion slots for additional cymbals, like the ones you see above, only sold separately.  The kick pedal is reinforced with metal on this one, too.  I believe both the guitar and drum set from the first Rock Band are backwards-compatible, though, so misers, worry not.

And...you're still not amazed, are  you?  *sigh*  Tough audience.  OK, then.  I bring you tracklisting info:

• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track “Shackler's Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy.

• Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, "Let There Be Rock.”

• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue.”

• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.

• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history.

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List:

Artist Song Title Decade

1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s

2. AFI “Girl’s Gone Grey” 2000’s

3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s

4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s

5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s

6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s

7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s

8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s

9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s

10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s

11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s

12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s

13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s

14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s

15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s

16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s

17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s

18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s

19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s

20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s

21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s

22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s

23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s

24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s

25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s

26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s

27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s

28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s

29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s

30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s

31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s

32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s

33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s

34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s

35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s

36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s

37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s

38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s

39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s

40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s

41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s

42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s

43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s

44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s

45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s

46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s

47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s

48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s

49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s

50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s

51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s

52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s

53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s

54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s

55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s

56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s

57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s

58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s

59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s

60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s

61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s

62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s

63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s

64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s

65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s

66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s

67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s

68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s

69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s

70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s

71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s

72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s

73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s

74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s

75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s

Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade

76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s

77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s

78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s

79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s

80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s

81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s

82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s

83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s

84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s

 The Rock Band 2 on-disc track list is comprised entirely of master recordings.

Also included in Rock Band 2 is a "Training" mode, which will help players learn how to play each instrument. Within this mode is the "Drum Trainer", which will help improve players on the drums through a "Beat Trainer" (with dozens of drum beats to practice), "Fill Trainer" (which will teach players how to perform better drum fills), and a "Freestyle Mode" (which will allow player to freeplay the drums over MP3 songs on their console). A "No Fail Mode" appears to be an unlockable which will allow playing through songs without anyone being able to fail, and a "Breakneck Speed" mode similar to Hyperspeed in Guitar Hero 3 will double the track's scrolling speed.

That should wow you.  Oh, peep the official:

http://www.rockband.com

Pics and info c/o Kotaku & GameInformer

And...that'll do, Donkey...that'll do.

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