Guitar Hero World Tour or RockBand 2?

hello there fellow gamespotters(?), I am considering getting either Guitar Hero: World Tour or Rockband 2 for xmas. I have read lots of reviews of each game, and I'm struggling to see which is the clear defined "better" game. Some reviewers say RockBand 2 has better instruments, whereas others prefer Guitar Hero. I just want to know from anyone who owns either or both games, which one would be the better purchase. now before I pose the question stated in the thread title, I would like to establish some guidelines: 

1) This is not a GHWT or RB2 fanboy battleground, play nice.

2) Both the software and the hardware of each game needs to be taken into account

3) I'm a total music game n00b, so try and stick to lamens terms when describing the various merits of each games instruments and gameplay

so, which one should I buy and why? 

I prefer Rock Band 2. I've played both games and I've gotta say that Rock Band 2 is the best. I played GHWT with a friend a few days after he got the game and the kick pedal broke that day, whereas I'm still using my RB1 drum set and haven't had any problems. The GHWT guitars feel good and perform well, the drum kit looks wierd and isn't as approachable as the RB drum kit. If you're buying the RB2 bundle then you're getting a new guitar and the strum bar problems have been fixed on those. The drum kit also has softer pads that are quiet and much better for drum rolls. The games have a lot of the same songs but I think the songs on GHWT edge out the RB2 songs by a little bit; RB2 makes up for that though with the plethera of downloadable songs that are already available.

RB2 has a no fail mode that will ease you into the game so i'd go with RB2.

AgeOfJace

I'm a huge supporter of Harmonix and the Rock Band games. To me it seems like Guitar Hero is simply playing catch-up to the Rock Band series. If you read reviews of the games, you'll find that Rock Band 2 is given higher scores across the board. They've got a huge list of downloadable songs, and for a $5 fee you can copy almost all of the original Rock Band songs into Rock Band 2 if you have the original disc (if you own it, rent it or borrow it).  

As far as the hardware goes, I'm not sure what's best, but it sounds like it comes down to personal preference. If you have a chance, try out the instruments at a store before you decide to buy one over the other. Personally, I'd stick with Rock Band for the drum kit since they've already gone through a generation of hardware, but as for guitars, that's up in the air. I like the Rock Band guitar, but I'm not willing to say it's better than the GH guitars. 

I just purchased Rock Band 2 Special Edition for my PS3 on Sunday and I gotta say its one hell of a game... I have played Guitar Hero World Tour and it is good but now that I have played both of them.... I gotta say that Rock Band 2 is the better buy for the holidays. Also when you buy Rock Band 2 they give you a code on that is on the back of the instruction booklet and if you have a computer you can go on the net and enter that code and get an additional 20 bonus songs for free.... so right there you have 100 songs to start off with.

 Although I do have one question about Rock Band 2 if someone can answer this question for me that would be great. Does the Rock Band 2 Guitar only allow you to strum up and not down....? because I cant seem to stum down it only works when strumming up.

I just purchased Rock Band 2 Special Edition for my PS3 on Sunday and I gotta say its one hell of a game... I have played Guitar Hero World Tour and it is good but now that I have played both of them.... I gotta say that Rock Band 2 is the better buy for the holidays. Also when you buy Rock Band 2 they give you a code on that is on the back of the instruction booklet and if you have a computer you can go on the net and enter that code and get an additional 20 bonus songs for free.... so right there you have 100 songs to start off with.

 

 Although I do have one question about Rock Band 2 if someone can answer this question for me that would be great. Does the Rock Band 2 Guitar only allow you to strum up and not down....? because I cant seem to stum down it only works when strumming up.

GiveX

sounds like you got a bum guitar man

I like the GHWT instruments better than RB, the drums just feel better imo. but I like the songs on RB better, the character customization is better, and the DLC is way better. 

If you end up getting bothe games down teh road or plan on it, no matter what, I would try to get a GHWT guitar, and a RB guitar. that way the guitarist can always use the special frets for either game, and the bassist can use the opposite games guitar. 

Rock Band 2, my reasons are:
GHWT has only one meter, so if one player is doing a bad job everyone loses, no saving partners is available.
Rock Band 2 has "No Fail Mode", allows you to use RB as a karaoke
I personally like RB2 songs more, u know... Battery, Painkiller, Drain you, etc :)
GHWT songs are sick, there are notes even where there shouldn't be, is good if you like challenge but i'd rather play songs with notes where they belong

I like GH stages, graphics, colors, etc, (Tool scenario on WT is really cool) but i think they messed up with this one because of what i mentioned, also, GHWT drums are famous of being non-functional

wow thanks for all your comments guys, really helpful. im edging towards Rock Band 2 based on what you guys have told me so cheers. i do have one further question that has only just crossed my mind: im left handed so are the guitars for these games designed to be held by right-handed people or can anyone hold them? oh and is it better to buy a second guitar? and finally, how does the singing work in Rock Band? (lol just the one question...)

cheers 

You can switch the position of the strap holder so you can hang it for left handed, just unattach the holder (rotating it like a screw) and put in in the lower part of the guitar, and in the game you can activate "lefty mode". The only lowdown might be the whammy bar and the effect selector that would be on the upper part of the guitar while on "lefty mode". I'm not sure if what i wrote was clear but overall the answer to your question is yesJKusanagi

yeh that did make perfect sense. phew thanks for that i was worried my left-handedness has thwarted me again!

my girlfriend keeps bugging me about how the singing works (like she can actually sing!), does it just track your tone or pitch? does it have the words for the songs on screen? 

See, this is why I hate being a PS 3 owner in Europe. Harmonix doesn't care about us. They released the Rock Band 1 PS 3 version two months (!!!) ago.

I've seen GH:WT alreadyin some stores around here, but there isn't even as much as a release date for RB 2. I'd like to test RB , because I think it is the superior product (more DLC, better songs imho), but I have to go with GH:WT, because I don't want to wait another year. I heard that the GH:WT isntruments are better, so they have that going for them.

I'm still thinking about getting Rb 2 one day, but: When they don't care about me, why should I care about them?

i have 2 final questions. as i live in the UK, im having to get my Rock Band 2 bundle from the USA. so:

1) what are the dimensions of the actual box that all of the equipment comes in and how heavy is it?

2) do the instruments have any US-specific plugs that wont allow them to work with UK 3-pin "sockets"?

sorry for yet more questions, these are the last ones i promise! 

i have 2 final questions. as i live in the UK, im having to get my Rock Band 2 bundle from the USA. so:

1) what are the dimensions of the actual box that all of the equipment comes in and how heavy is it?

2) do the instruments have any US-specific plugs that wont allow them to work with UK 3-pin "sockets"?

 

sorry for yet more questions, these are the last ones i promise! 

jamespreston

See, this is why I hate being a PS 3 owner in Europe. Harmonix doesn't care about us. They released the Rock Band 1 PS 3 version two months (!!!) ago.

I've seen GH:WT alreadyin some stores around here, but there isn't even as much as a release date for RB 2. I'd like to test RB , because I think it is the superior product (more DLC, better songs imho), but I have to go with GH:WT, because I don't want to wait another year. I heard that the GH:WT isntruments are better, so they have that going for them.

I'm still thinking about getting Rb 2 one day, but: When they don't care about me, why should I care about them?

Rush2k

I have been a GH fan for a long time now, and have had both GH3, RB1 and now have GHWT, and have too say the game is awesome, and the instruments are easy to use, feel sturdy, and definately have the edge over RB1 instruments, however, with having to wait an age for RB2 to come out, I can't say whether they've improved them or not.

Sony have told developers that all music instruments must have "basic compatability" with each others games, so my recommendation is to get GHWT now, and get your dad to pick up a copy of just the RB2 game when in the states, that way you'll have both games with instruments that work on both for over the Christmas period.

Oh yeah, and both WT and RB2 have a lot of "lastability" to them, as WT has a recording studio, where you can lay down your own tracks and post them to the net, and also download other peoples works, and RB2 will have trophies, so both games worth getting.

Hope this helps.

Rob 

my recommendation is to get GHWT now, and get your dad to pick up a copy of just the RB2 game when in the states, that way you'll have both games with instruments that work on both for over the Christmas period.rgallard

That is a very good idea. I'll be in the US (Detroit to be more exactly, wish me good luck so I don't get shot :D ) myself for a week in February so I can as well get a copy of the game. Thanks for reminding me. :)