Rock Band PS2 - Impressions

On December 18th Rock Band is coming to the PlayStation 2. But how does it stack up against the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions?

There are both good and not so good things about Rock Band on the PS2. Let's detail them shall we?

Although Rock Band looks great on the PS2, all screens in this article are taken from the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

Although Rock Band looks great on the PS2, all screens in this article are taken from the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

The Good

The Rock Band PS2 bundle retails for $159.99, while the standalone game will cost you $49.99. The bundle comes with the game, one mic, one drum set, and one wireless guitar. The PS3 and Xbox 360 bundles retail for $10 more.

The peripheral hardware is the same on both the PS2 and PS3. So if you ever take the plunge and upgrade to a PS3, you don't have to buy a new Rock Band kit. You will, however, need to buy the standalone PS3 version if you want all the extra features, such as downloadable content, character creation, and a more robust multiplayer career mode.

New guitar effects! Rock Band PS2 features new sound-altering effects on the guitar effects switch - Doubler, Slap Back Echo, Medium and Long Echo.

Even with 4 players rocking out the screen never feels too busy.

Even with 4 players rocking out the screen never feels too busy.

The Not So Good

No downloadable content and no online head-to-head mode. If PS2 is your only console then this is no big deal, but recently released Metallica and Bowie track packs for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions rock hard.

No character creation. Rock Band PS2 contains prefabricated band members dressed according to different song genres unlike the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions which feature a full-fledged create-a-rocker beauty parlor.

A consistently sloppy framerate plagues the PS2 version, at 480p. Like most PS2 games, Progressive Scan throws more pixels on screen for a higher resolution thus stressing the PS2 hardware. It's pretty safe to assume that Rock Band for the PS2 runs smoothly in standard 480i.

Turn the page for more screens of Rock Band.

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GaminMomma

I enjoy playing RB for ps2. Belive me if I could I would have moved up into the next gen of gaming. But for those of us who have children, mortgages, bills, either or all of the above, spending 400$ + on a gaming system seems a bit much when bills need to be paid and kids need to be fed. If I had the money to I would buy the PS3 tomorrow, but I don't so I need to enjoy what I can. As far as Rock Band for PS2. I like it. While I don't love it only because I've seen it on the better systems like XBox 360 and I know it doesn't compare. After you've done the tour and played every song, over and over ...it just don't really hold the attention much longer. So its either upgrade systems or hope and pray that the makers of the game realize not all people have the money for the expensive new consoles and make another Rock Band for PS2.?

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