When a preview version of Guitar Hero II showed up at GameSpy HQ this week, it wasn't enough to play a few songs and write a short preview (which you can find here). We know there are plenty of Guitar Heroes out there dying for any bit of info on the game, so after blasting through every song we could on Expert, we went the extra mile and compiled our results and thoughts on each of the 24 songs from our preview version (that's less than half the songs planned for the final version, in case you're wondering) for you to look at here. Which songs were the toughest? The longest? Which will be the high scorers? Which sounded the best, or worst? The answers lie ahead.
Shout At The Devil (Motley Crue)
Best Score: 5/5 stars, 97%, 146683 (503/518 notes hit)
The classic metal track has several great riffs on Expert mode, but we're not sure how many times we might want to listen to the somewhat lacking guitar sound and Vince Neil soundalike, one of the few weaker covers on our preview. Gameplay-wise, it's a pretty easy tune, with straightforward riffs and only one or two tough licks halfway through the song. If anything, it's a good warm-up.
Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight (Spinal Tap)
Best Score: 4/5 stars, 88%, 108944 (462/524 notes hit)
It took me a few tries to get familiar with this bouncy rocker, lifted from the brilliant satire This is Spinal Tap. Even though the songs were meant to parody what was happening in rock and metal at the time, Tonight is fun song to play, with lots of busy rhythm guitar chords and several trill-filled sections that will take a few attempts to get the hang of.
Strutter (Kiss)
Best Score: 5/5 stars, 95%, 178103 (638/668 notes hit)
A pretty straightforward rocker, Strutter has some busy chord work, including several sequences of three-note chords (new in Guitar Hero II) that might take players some time to get the hang of. Overall, however, a pretty easy tune to get through with a relatively simple solo.
Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana)
Best Score: 5/5 stars, 98%, 249973 (837/850 notes hit)
By far, this slow-paced track from In Utero was the easiest of the initial group, with a simple rhythm in the verse and not a difficult lick in sight -- I barely missed a note on my first playthrough. Despite the low difficulty, however, it'll probably get lots of replays, as it's nearly indistinguishable from the original. Expect this to be one of the first songs you get a "perfect" on.
Message in a Bottle (The Police)
Best Score: 5/5 stars, 96%, 235867 (938/977 notes hit)
I'll go out on a limb and predict this will -- easily -- be one of the most played tracks on GH2. It's a classic rock song that everyone knows, expertly recreated, and it's got a riff that's almost hypnotic to play. It's not particularly hard -- I went through almost a third of the song without making a mistake -- but then there's a curveball at the end with a crazy solo that I know I'll be figuring out in Practice mode soon.
You Really Got Me (Van Halen)
Best Score: 4/5 stars, 89%, 86374 (434/486 notes hit)
The difficulty ramps up with VH's cover of the Kinks classic. The main rhythm parts are simple enough, but recreating Eddie Van Halen's fills and solos is something else altogether. Expect to save up Star Power to get through the solos.
Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas)
Best Score: 5/5 stars, 91%, 176137 (887/965 notes hit)
Where Guitar Hero had More Than a Feeling, GH2 has this similarly iconic classic rock track. Once again, this recreation is nearly indistinguishable from the original, and it's filled with great rhythm work from start to finish. Probably another popular party selection with the, um, older crowd.
Them Bones (Alice in Chains)
Best Score: 5/5 stars, 93%, 173777 (507/543 notes hit)
One of the weaker cover versions from our preview build (the singer sounds pretty far from Layne Staley, and the rhythm guitar lacks some crunch), but a nonstop rhythm section and an offbeat time signature makes the first track of Dirt worth playing several times through.
