ChristopherChandler.net

I just got me some Rock Band 2 this past weekend, along with a new set of wireless drums.  The graphics are cleaned up, everything is easier to navigate.  A main gripe I had with the first game was that the menu system was a bear to get through, adding and signing in and out band members was a chore.  But no more!  MTV / EA / Harmonix has heard your gripes and has made everything superior to the original!  

All 84 tracks are original master recordings, no more “as made famous by” cover tracks.  In addition, if you pay $5.00 you can import your entire Rock Band 1 song library (minus 3 or 4 songs due to licensing rights) into Rock Band 2.  So that expands upon your library, plus the whopping 84 songs on the disc (list below)  The drums are quieter, and allow for cymbal expansion (which is awesome) The biggest surprise for me though was one that no one could have predicted.  On the back cover of the instruction manual, there is a code for 20 free downloadable songs, putting the total song count for the game to 104.  I am excited for what the future holds for what could possibly be the best party game of all time. -C

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List: 

Rock Band 2 Special Edition (XBOX 360)

Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Not Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s

Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s

Note: This is one of few reviews that were on the old site, but I want to import it to the new site for consistency. Enjoy! -C

Super Mario Bros. 3

The best selling game of all time. Over 18 million NES cartridges sold. Yeap. Were you surprised? I picked this masterpiece up at Toys ‘R Us following an elementary school Family Fair on a Saturday. I had reserved it, and I plopped down my $49.99 that I had saved for months with absolutely no problem in February of 1990. I knew this was going to be good. There was no question. This was MARIO 3. I mean come on, I had technically already played the game on a Playchoice-10 machine at a now defunct Ligi’s Deli down the street. I had seen the movie “The Wizard”. I had read Nintendo Power, I knew this was THE game to have of 1990.

Super Mario Bros. 3 may be not only the best selling game of all time, but also the

World 1-1

 BEST game of all time. This game has it all. Multiple Power-ups, mini-games, multiplayer, warp zones, perfect controls, beautiful graphics (for the NES), and a great storyline. So why is this so great? Everyone already had Super Mario Bros. because it was packaged with the system, and the 2nd one was different but still good. This 3rd title in the series took the first game and made it larger, better, but with the same Mario style that everyone loved. Mario and Luigi are in the Mushroom Kingdom when Bowser the King of the Koopas appears, snatches Princess Toadstool, and transforms the 7 kings of the land into Bowser’s villains. Bowser sends each of his seven kids to guard the magic wands of each land, whom Mario and Luigi must defeat before facing Bowser himself.

So the game plays just like the original Super Mario Bros. utilizing your standard run & jump platformer movements. However, a big twist in the game play is the new abilities Mario can gain when using the appropriate “suit” Mario can fly like a Raccoon, swim like a Frog, turn into a statue (Tanooki), and even throw hammers like the Hammer Bros. along with tried and true favorites like the Fire Flower, Star Man, Super Mushroom, and more. This game is easy for anyone to pick up, but difficult for anyone to Master. The later levels in Worlds 6, 7, and 8 get extremely difficult and present a challenge to even the most veteran players. The music has new catchy tracks, and remixed versions of the old tracks from the previous Mario games.

World 3 Fortress

On first play, there is something new always around the corner. Another secret to be had. Just when you think you have seen it all, this game surprises you. This game is still highly sought after, even being the 2nd or 3rd most common Nintendo game out there. A true piece to always have in any collection for collector or gamer alike. Remixed versions with additional features can be found on Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Game Boy Advance) and eventually will come out on the Virtual Console for Nintendo Wii. If you have never played this game. Track it down, and treasure it. It truly is a work of art. -C

Rating: 10/10