Guitar Hero II [With Guitar Controller] [PS2]

Don't dig the Skynyrd? Just as in the original, there is a wonderful variety of songs, from Heart and The Police to The Living End and The Reverend Horton Heat. Three majors don't appear -- AC/DC, Metallica and Led Zeppelin -- but we can live with that. Fans of the included songs will find the recreations to be a mixed bag, with a slightly better overall feel than before. And two songs -- 'John The Fisherman' by Primus and 'Stop' by Jane's Addiction -- are licensed originals, which is a great bonus. (The many unlockable extra tracks are also licensed originals, and many are the product of Harmonix employees.)

The most difficult tracks really benefit from the new practice mode, in which you can play the entire tune, or just troublesome portions, over and over again, at one of four different speeds. That puts Expert Mode, a notorious achievement in the original, within the realm of those really willing to practice.

A few small touches have been added to the Career mode, as well. From Medium difficulty on, the fifth song in each group of tunes is unlocked as an 'encore'. That doesn't offer any bonus points or goodies, but it feels cool to have the audience screaming for more. And several of the encores get extra animations as well. Check out the fate of the drummer after Spinal Tap's 'Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight' or the cosmic scene that unfolds at Stonehenge. As if simply playing at Stonehenge wasn't enough.

Multiplayer has also been given an overhaul; in addition to playing competitively against a friend, you can also form a co-op band. Each song has a second bass or rhythm guitar track accessible with a second guitar or via the practice mode, essentially doubling the game's content. If there's a flaw, it's that to get the true multiplayer feel, you'll have to pop for a second guitar. The original's head to head multiplayer wasn't vital enough to make the expense worthwhile, but this time the co-op play is so integral to the game's appeal that most will find it irresistible.

Those who own both a PS2 and Xbox 360 might be frustrated that the latter console won't have the game until next year, but there's a consolation. This release supports widescreen and progressive displays, and the difference is dramatic. We'd been so eager to start playing that we completed two modes without making the shift, and the progressive/widescreen setting added clarity and revealed detail. In general, GH2 looks much like the first game, but with much better animations, and even more homages to the Boston rock scene, like the upside down triangle sign in one arena, no doubt honoring Kenmore Square's famous Citgo sign.

There will always be people for whom the Guitar Hero concept seems cheesy or far-fetched, and there's nothing this sequel can do about that. But for the rest of us, this is an absolutely stellar release, with too much variety, originality, rewards, and pure fun to even think about missing out on.