| Guitar Hero II | |
|---|---|
 PlayStation 2 cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Harmonix |
| Publisher(s) | RedOctane (PlayStation 2) Activision (Xbox 360) |
| Director(s) | Daniel Sussman |
| Series | Guitar Hero |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 |
| Release | PlayStation 2 Xbox 360 |
| Genre(s) | Rhythm |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Guitar Hero II is a 2006 rhythm game developed by Harmonix and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 and Activision for the Xbox 360. It is the sequel to Guitar Hero (2005) and the second installment in the Guitar Hero series. The game was first released for the PlayStation 2 in November 2006, and then for the Xbox 360 in April 2007, with additional content not originally in the PlayStation 2 version.
Like in the original Guitar Hero, the player uses a peripheral in the shape of a solid-body electric guitar to simulate playing rock music as notes scroll towards the player. Most of the gameplay from the original game remains intact, and provides new modes and note combinations. The game features more than 40 popular licensed songs, many of them cover versions recorded for the game, spanning five decades (from the 1960s to the 2000s). The PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero II can be purchased individually or in a bundle that packages the game with a cherry red Gibson SG guitar controller. The Xbox 360 version of the game is offered in a bundle that packages the game with a white Gibson Explorer guitar controller.
Since its release, Guitar Hero II has been met with both critical and commercial success, helping the Guitar Hero series become a cultural phenomenon.[1] As of December 1, 2007, the game has sold 3.1 million copies. It has spawned the "expansion" title Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s for the PlayStation 2. A sequel, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, was released in 2007.[2]
- ^ Zezima, K. (2007-07-14). "Virtual Frets, Actual Sweat: The New Karaoke". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ Brightman, James (2007-01-16). "Gamedaily: Guitar Hero Development Goes to Neversoft". GameDaily. Archived from the original on 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2008-07-24.