Wii Rock Band 2 Bundle

Friends playing Rock Band
Friends playing Rock Band

The Wii Rock Band 2 bundle, sometimes also called the Special Edition, includes peripherals to create a band, an 80-track list directly on the disc, and the option to download additional tracks. With a slight improvement over mechanics from the first Rock Band, the second Rock Band for Wii also lets you compete online with one to four players.

Included Hardware

Like many Guitar Hero or Rock Band bundles, the second Rock Band for the Wii comes with a set of drums and one wireless guitar. The drums are without the cymbals, but the peripheral has an expansion port so you can add a set. Mad Catz makes a pair of cymbals that hook right into the Rock Band 2 drum set. Even though you'll only receive one wireless controller, you can use other guitar controllers if you want to add another person to play the guitar or bass. For singers, you'll need a USB microphone. NOTE: other microphones from different systems might work, as long as the mic is USB.

Wii Rock Band 2 Bundle

This sequel includes a few modes of play.

  • Quickplay lets you get right into rocking. Select a premade character (or customize one quickly if you desire) and pick a song and you're ready to go! It is possible to create a set list with songs of your choosing.
  • Start the World Tour and play sets of songs to increase your reputation as the best. Earn money and set high scores on your quest. Many of the challenges are available to play online, against other bands. There's even a "Battle of the Bands" option to go head-to-head against bands offline or online.
  • Drum Trainer assists in teaching you the basics of drumming. Learn how to use the kick pedal and move from bridges to fills and back again all while keeping in time with the music.
  • Don't like the pre-created characters? Then customize a character with different clothing, tattoos, hairstyles and more. You'll open up additional options for customization as you earn more money and buy them from the shop.

Partial Track List

Below is a list of some of the more well-known artists and the songs included on the Wii Rock Band 2 bundle:

  • AC/DC, "Let There Be Rock"
  • Alanis Morissette, "You Oughta Know"
  • Beastie Boys, "So Watcha Want"
  • Billy Idol, "White Wedding Pt. I"
  • Blondie, "One Way or Another"
  • Bon Jovi, "Livin' on a Prayer"
  • Disturbed, "Down with the Sickness"
  • Fleetwood Mac, "Go Your Own Way"
  • Joan Jett, "Bad Reputation"
  • Journey, "Anyway You Want It"
  • Kansas, "Carry On Wayward Son"
  • Lit, "My Own Worst Enemy"
  • Nirvana, "Drain You"
  • Panic at the Disco, "Nine in the Afternoon"
  • Paramore, "That's What You Get"
  • Presidents of the United States of America, "Lump"
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Give it Away"
  • Survivor, "Eye of the Tiger"
  • The Go-Go's, "We Got the Beat"
  • The Muffs, "Kids in America"
  • The Who, "Pinball Wizard"

There are 84 songs on the disc alone and, for a limited time after each systems' version of Rock Band, you could download 20 free tracks to add to the list. Even if you missed that opportunity, you can still find "Track Packs" through retail channels if you can't download songs.

Other Rock Bands

With the instruments you get with the Wii Rock Band 2 bundle, you can use them with other Wii Rock Band games, as well as some other music games, like those in the Guitar Hero series. Some other Wii music games include:

  • Rock Band (the first one)
  • Guitar Hero World Tour
  • Band Hero
  • Rock Band 3 (this game also uses a keyboard controller and an actual string guitar controller for the new "Pro Mode")

For fans of music games who already don't have the complete kits for Rock Band, picking up the bundle is the best value to get everything you need in one shot.