Rock Band 2 vs. Guitar Hero World Tour (X360)
Wednesday November 12, 2008
At last, the two heavyweights meet on an even playing field. Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 are both very good music games, but which one comes out on top? Which one has the better songs? Which one has the better instruments? Should Rock Revolution factor into your decision at all? Find the answers to all of these questions and more right here.
Comments
I generally agree with your overall assessment of RB2 vs. GH:WT. We have both and Rock Band 2 is the favorite in most aspects. I know the instruments are a biggie for most players but vocals are my thing (not that I can sing great but it’s the part I can actually do — I leave guitar and drums to the husband and kids). You didn’t really address vocals much so here’s my two cent comparison.
The scoring/rating on vocals on RB2 are generally more forgiving and the vocal highway is visually easier to follow. GH:WT gives you more difficulty levels but beginner is too easy while the other levels do seem a bit stricter than the same named level on RB2 — much like the instrument tracks are more difficult.
However, the stats available on GH:WT (for vocals and instruments) are fantastic. Love the phrase/section breakdowns under “more stats.” Wish I had those stats on the RB2 songs. For those of us who play both for fun and to try to improve our scores (i.e. singing without freaking out everyone else in the band), those stats are very helpful. The only place on RB2 where you can get more feedback beyond the percentage scores and the “Most Gutsy” or “Serious Skills” type kudos are in practice mode but that’s still skimpy feedback and it’s not available during regular play.
Other vocal differences: In GH:WT you have more “clappy parts” and freestyling sections while RB2 only has a little bit of freestyling and the occasional tamborine section — or mic-thumping (which, disappointingly, doesn’t count toward your score or matter one whit in your solo or band success… bummer, us vocalists get no respect!).
My personal assessment of the vocals: RB2 is best for variety of songs and just having fun belting ‘em out. GH:WT is the winner when it comes to providing the vocalist (or any player) with detailed feedback on their gameplay/performance and it sets the bar a little higher as well.
How about from a quality point of view? I heard that a lot of people have faults with their original RB set ups. Hmmm, wonder if RB2 was any better and if GH4 has any at all too?
The build quality of the instruments is covered in the “Instrument Overview” links for each game. This Vs. article was written with sort of a perfect world where everything works scenario in mind and the recommendations are based on the assumption that your instruments are going to function properly.
Also, jacci, thanks a lot for that write up on the vocal aspects of both games. Vocals weren’t a big focus for me for (insert several excuses here), so thanks for that detailed comparison.
Outside of the perfect world it sounds like Rock Band has resolved the earlier issues they had with the instruments in Rock Band 2. The instruments are more solid, the kick pedal is improved and the drums are built both quieter and a bit more sturdy.
I think Guitar Hero World tour may be going through initial growing pains of adding instruments to their mix, but everything I have read says they are doing a terrific job of addressing the problems and fixing them.
I agree with you about Rock Band being more of a group game which is why I ended up buying it for our family for Christmas when it came out and they actually had stock.
I probably spent a month looking up all the information I could find about both Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour, so if anyone else wants some additional info, I put it all up here, Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour Comparisons,/a>
Bill
**** RB and RB2
I rather go for GH:WT
looking it from a set list perspective, i think guitar hero rocks better.
thanks
I have read that some people are purchasing GH:WT as the full set due to the better drums (although possibly a few more breakdown issues) and then they can use them with the Rock Band 2 stand alone game.
Of course there have been some compatibility issues with the controllers, but some recent patches fixed this from what I hear.
If you are curious about which guitars work with which versions here is a compatibility list, Guitar controller compatibility
Bill
think about it rock band 2 has everything guitar hero world tour has plus an extra pad on the drums and everything on rockband 2 is easy to put together
i think rb2 instruments r better also they work well on gtwt so get both they both r very fun there is no dominant one get both and rock p.s. my name is my gamertag
Rock Band 2 is amazing. You get the whole band going – I never had some much fun playing a video game with friends.
look. guitar hero has the better drums n guitar and the mmics are the same. also rb is for little kids guitar hero is more challenging
**** everyone that likes GUITRA HERO … RB2 IS THE BEST
well i all agree with u but i got to admit that playing rock band is more fun than playing GH:WT, it’s graphics are better and there are better clothes-drum kits-mics…Look at GH:WT rockers face and look at RB2, RB2 rocks with an capital r …
I do agree that RB2 is better than GHWT, but maybe not for the same reasons as you.
1st, I have to say I like the RB2 setlist a lot more than the GHWT set list.
2nd, the guitars aren’t too much different in my opinion, but I do like the feel of GH guitars a little better.
The drums in RB are FAR superior to those of GHWT. GHWT isn’t more realistic either, IMO. When you play drums, the Hi-Hat is on the left. Playing Everlong on GHWT drums is so much more of a pain because the cymbal is behind the snare. Also, because of the 2 cymbals, there are only 3 pads. This makes the drum charts in WT worse because you can’t chart the drum rolls and such on the cymbals.
I like singing in RB more, but that might be because I’m more used to it.
Now, I have the same amount of fun playing alone in both games as I do playing with people in both games. The amount of people doesn’t affect game play for either game for me.
There’s my take on RB2 Vs. GHWT (I’m sure I left out a few things.)