Guitar Hero II vs Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Guitar Hero II lets you unleash your inner rock star by unlocking new songs and venues as you progress through Career mode. Play any unlocked track in Quickplay or challenge friends in Multiplayer, Co‑operative, or split‑screen modes for endless party fun.
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits brings together the most memorable tracks from the early Guitar Hero titles, letting players strum, drum, and sing along with iconic songs from Nirvana to Queen. The game supports full‑band play on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2, offering both single‑player and split‑screen multiplayer modes. Featuring a curated setlist from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero: Rock the 80's, and Guitar Hero III, the title delivers a party‑ready experience for music lovers and gamers alike, with an ESRB rating of T and a PEGI rating of 12.
- Extensive song library with unlockable tracks
- Engaging multiplayer modes for parties
- High critical acclaim with 92/100 score
- Cross‑platform availability on Xbox 360 and PS2
- Huge selection of classic Guitar Hero tracks
- Full‑band support with guitar, drums, and vocals
- Split‑screen multiplayer for up to four players
- Available on three major consoles
- Requires a compatible guitar controller for full experience
- Limited to older console hardware
- No online multiplayer support
- Critic score is low (43/100) indicating mixed reviews
- Limited to songs from earlier titles, no new tracks
- Requires multiple peripherals for full band experience
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Guitar Hero II
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Play the full band experience with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals in one game
Rock out with Van Halen’s greatest hits and guest tracks in a party‑style rhythm game.
Alternatives to Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
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Rock out with epic tracks and battle mode in Guitar Hero III.
Play the full band experience with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals in one game
Rock out as Aerosmith from garage to stardom in this guitar‑hero adventure.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGuitar Hero II offers higher critical acclaim and co‑op play on two consoles, while Smash Hits gives a larger classic song list and full‑band support but with poor reviews.
Key differences
- •Critical reception: II scores 92/100 vs. Smash Hits 43/100.
- •Content: II unlocks songs over a career; Smash Hits provides a fixed curated set from earlier games.
- •Multiplayer scope: II includes split‑screen and co‑op for two players; Smash Hits supports up to four players split‑screen but no co‑op.
- •Peripheral requirements: II works with any gamepad or guitar controller; Smash Hits needs guitar, drums, and mic for full band experience.
- •Platform range: II runs on Xbox 360 and PS2 only; Smash Hits adds PS3 support.
Gameplay & fun factor
II’s career progression and co‑op mode create deeper engagement than Smash Hits’ static setlist.
Platform availability
Smash Hits runs on PS3, Xbox 360, and PS2, while II is limited to Xbox 360 and PS2.
Price & value
Both retail for $59.99; value depends on whether you prefer more songs (Smash Hits) or higher quality (II).
Multiplayer / co‑op
Smash Hits supports up to four players split‑screen; II only supports two players but adds co‑op mode.
Content & replayability
II’s unlockable career and diverse rock classics give longer replay loops than Smash Hits’ fixed list.
Difficulty & accessibility
II works with standard gamepads or a single guitar controller, whereas Smash Hits requires multiple peripherals for full experience.
Graphics & performance
Both are legacy titles on similar hardware generations; no performance data to differentiate.
Choose Guitar Hero II if…
Players who value critical acclaim, career progression, and co‑op on two consoles.
Choose Guitar Hero: Smash Hits if…
Players who want the biggest classic song collection and four‑player split‑screen band play.
Common questions
Do I need extra hardware for either game?
II works with a standard gamepad or a guitar controller; Smash Hits requires guitar, drums, and microphone for full band mode.
Which game has better reviews?
Guitar Hero II received a 92/100 critic score, while Smash Hits received 43/100.
Can I play online multiplayer?
Neither title offers online multiplayer; both are limited to local split‑screen.