Preview of new Guitar Hero II co-op mode
by Dan Choi 
{ May 8th 2006 at 3:21PM }
In case you missed it on Friday, IGN posted a pre-E3 hands-on preview of Guitar Hero II's new co-op mode. It's a departure from the first game's multiplayer mode in that the two players have to depend on each other a lot more to pass each song and thereby make beautiful music together.
While the old multiplayer option will still be around in the sequel, the new mode mixes distinct lead guitar and bass or rhythm parts where each player affects the other in various ways, whether by failing if either performance slips (as in DDR), sharing the same Rock Meter (with mistakes from either player resetting the score multiplier), and needing to both go vertical at the same time to activate the shared Star Power. Thankfully, different difficulty levels can be assigned to each player.
The Joystiq team out in L.A. will probably find something to do until they get their sweaty paws on a guitar controller or two on the E3 show floor (maybe one of those wacky press conferences will help pass the time), but we're sure the wait to try the latest build of this rockin' series will be worth it. The seven songs available at E3 are listed below.
[Thanks, murph]
Guitar Hero II songs making an appearance at E3:
- Reverend Horton Heat's "Psychobilly Freakout"
- KISS' "Strutter"
- Butthole Surfers' "Who Was In My Room Last Night"
- Van Halen's take on "You Really Got Me"
- Black Sabbath's "War Pigs"
- Rush's "YYZ"
- Drist's "Arterial Black"
See also:
- Joystiq Review: Guitar Hero (European release)
- Metareview: Guitar Hero (PS2)
- Guitar Hero II interview, dude
- A whole range of Guitar Heroes to be available
- A postmortem on Accordion Hero (with a little info on Guitar Hero, too)
- Rock out with Guitar Hero, sans game
- Guitar Hero hack - a sequencer is born
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
novicius @ May 8th 2006 3:36PM
Great game... or the greatest game?
aaron's sister @ Jan 24th 2008 2:19PM
Hey I am not a player of Guitar Hero 2 but my brother is on a PS2 can someone tell me what this Co-op mode is?? He keeps asking me to look up cheats to get it but i cant find it?? HELP!???
bazald @ May 8th 2006 3:43PM
Those screenshots remind me of those from the alpha builds of Guitar Hero, as depicted in the unlockable bonus videos. I wonder how much the HUD layout will change before it is finally released.
murph @ May 8th 2006 3:46PM
Generals gathered in their masses,
just like witches at black masses.
Evil minds that plot destruction,
sorcerers of death's construction.
In the fields the bodies burning,
as the war machine keeps turning.
Death and hatred to mankind,
poisoning their brainwashed minds.
Oh lord, yeah!
maximoisgood @ May 8th 2006 3:53PM
This is what I think they should Implement. The better your character is, the bigger he Grows. That way if two players are playing each other..and one is doing really bad he shrinks, while if the other one rocks he continues to grow until he takes up the bigger part of the screen. Just like real like. No not like real life physisc,,,but emotionally.
murph @ May 8th 2006 4:51PM
first video now up
http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/823/823033/vids_1.html
Uppercut Bros. @ May 9th 2006 11:24AM
I am the only one that thinks GH is a joke? From someone who can play these songs in his sleep (on a _real_ axe, not some refurbished squire strat with some colorful buttons), playing this game is like trying to run a mile on crutches.
What fun!
ickday123 @ Oct 1st 2007 6:59PM
bull if you can play the light that blinds on expert and get 5 stars on it then ya your good, but for me i tried it i beat it but got like 79-86% on it everytime i played it so screw you. O and if you can beat jordan on expert i would call you the best gh2 player in the world because i can only get to like 23% and i fail.
Chris @ May 9th 2006 11:43AM
#6, the game makes people that usually wouldn't want to play become extremely interested in guitar. Consider it a gateway for those that don't have your talents on a _real_ axe, not some refurbished squire strat with some colorful buttons.
I play guitar too, and I just so happen to be addicted to the game. Try it out sometime, I guarantee a learning curve! :-)
elle @ May 9th 2006 1:30PM
"I am the only one that thinks GH is a joke?"
No, but you're probably in a very small, elite minority. Enjoy your life!
JacKal @ May 9th 2006 5:20PM
#6
I've been playing guitar for 7, almost 8 years. I too can play all those songs on the first game. However, there is a very wide range of difficulty and involvement. If all you tried was easy to medium mode, and you gawk at it, you haven't actually tried playing the game. I don't know a single guitarist who wasn't at least a little impressed with the detail and work put into harder difficulty modes on what was looking to be a rhythm game designed only for people who can't axe.
JacKal @ May 9th 2006 5:24PM
Also, I'm not sure where the 'refurbished squire strat' comment comes from; I own so far the only two known versions of the guitar controller, and they are both SG-like bodies, obviously Gibson influenced
Dan Choi @ May 9th 2006 5:44PM
"...I own so far the only two known versions of the guitar controller, and they are both SG-like bodies, obviously Gibson influenced"
JacKal, you are correct: the SG controllers are based on and officially licensed from the Gibson guitar company. A little more background on the game, the guitar peripheral, and the game companies involved can be found in this "Behind the Music" editorial from PlayStation.com:
http://www.us.playstation.com/News/Editorials/8
More on the Gibson Guitar deal can be found in this old post from 2005:
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/puzzle/guitarhero/news.html?sid=6132427
I find that those with musical backgrounds have an edge with this rhythm/music-based game in particular, and that those backgrounds enhance the play experience, especially on the harder difficulty levels. (What a great performance game!) Hope that helps -- though I'd love to see the Cherry SG come back in stock in the online store or simply hit retail when the various sequels are out; I need a second guitar controller besides my real one. =)