The first Rock Band, ported by Pi Studios, was nothing less than a disaster on the Wii. The game was hindered by low-res visuals, muffled audio, gimped multiplayer modes, reduced customization options, a complete lack of downloadable songs, and to top it all off, a release date in the UK mere months before Rock Band 2 was set to release here in the States. Although EA still can’t seem to manage a simultaneous worldwide launch, Rock Band 2 for the Wii is an undeniable improvement over the publisher’s first, horrid attempt.

Those who prefer a more rewarding experience than the newb-friendly Quick Play will find that World Tour is the heart of Rock Band. Rather than picking up where the original World Tour left off—being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—players must start over with a new band and new band members. Since the first Wii Rock Band omitted this vital mode altogether, this isn’t such a bad thing. After creating at least one custom rocker and a band name, players will take on their first gig in the hometown of their choosing. Once enough stars and fans have been obtained by playing songs, the band will earn a van and be able to travel to nearby cities. As time goes on, the available transportation will be upgraded to tour buses and private jets, effectively unlocking the entire globe and all the venues within it.

Progressing through World Tour mode is as simple as playing songs, although the interface is much more non-linear than the first few Guitar Heroes. Any unlocked venue can be played at any time, and there are tons of individual songs or themed setlists to choose from. Occasionally a gig will have a bonus attached to it, such as quadruple the money for getting five stars but nil in the case of anything less than a stellar performance. As in real life, going from garage band to international rock sensation will require a group of at least semi-talented virtual musicians. If no one that fits this description is nearby, World Tour can also be played online, effectively allowing rockers to form their own band without relying on local talent, or lack thereof.

Although World Tour can get somewhat repetitive even with the 80+ songs available on the disc, the franchise’s trademark DLC is finally available for the Wii through the in-game music store. New tracks are added weekly, and the wide range of songs to select from will help gamers with musical tastes of every kind find something worth buying. For those who prefer to spend virtual cash there is a host of new character customization options which build upon the already massive choices from the first game. The endless combinations of apparel, accessories, hair and makeup will ensure that every band is full of unique-looking rockers rather than the carbon copy clones usually found in games sporting character creation. There is even an option to have custom characters stand in for the AI during sessions without a full human band, something that was sorely missing from the original.

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