Guitar Hero: Smash Hits vs Rock Band 2
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
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.
Rock Band 2 lets players pick up guitar, bass, drums, or microphone and perform popular songs in a full‑band experience. The game supports both solo play and cooperative sessions, letting friends jam together on the same screen. The revised controllers add extra fret buttons for fast tapping and an effect switch for five guitar effects, while older peripherals remain compatible. With split‑screen multiplayer on PS3, Xbox 360, and PS2, it’s a party staple for music lovers.
- 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
- Engaging co‑op gameplay for up to four players
- Wide song library with diverse genres
- Responsive instrument controllers
- Cross‑platform availability on three major consoles
- 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
- Requires separate instrument peripherals for full experience
- Online features limited compared to newer titles
- Difficulty spikes on higher difficulty levels
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
View all →
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.
Alternatives to Rock Band 2
View all →
Rock out with epic tracks and battle mode in Guitar Hero III.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataRock Band 2 offers broader song variety, higher critical acclaim, and full‑band support, while Guitar Hero : Smash Hits focuses on classic tracks but scores far lower with critics.
Key differences
- •Song library: Rock Band 2 has a wide genre mix; Smash Hits only classic tracks from early Guitar Hero games.
- •Instrument support: Rock Band 2 includes bass; Smash Hits lacks bass support.
- •Critical reception: Rock Band 2 scored 93/100 vs. Smash Hits 43/100.
- •Gameplay depth: Rock Band 2 offers lead guitar, bass, drums, mic and effect switches; Smash Hits offers only guitar, drums, mic.
Gameplay & fun factor
Rock Band 2 adds bass, extra fret buttons and effect switches, giving richer play experience.
Platform availability
Both titles launch on PS3, Xbox 360 and PS2.
Price & value
Both are $59.99 one‑time purchases.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Rock Band 2 supports four‑player split‑screen co‑op with full band; Smash Hits lacks bass for a complete band.
Content & replayability
Rock Band 2’s diverse, larger song list offers more replay value than Smash Hits’ limited classic set.
Difficulty & accessibility
Smash Hits’ classic tracks are generally easier; Rock Band 2 has higher difficulty spikes on harder levels.
Graphics & performance
No specific graphics data provided for either game.
Choose Guitar Hero: Smash Hits if…
Fans who only care about classic Guitar Hero songs and prefer a simpler, easier set‑up.
Choose Rock Band 2 if…
Players wanting a full‑band experience with varied music and higher quality reviews.
Common questions
Do I need to buy extra peripherals for either game?
Both require separate instrument peripherals for full band play; Rock Band 2 also needs a bass controller.
Which game has better critical reception?
Rock Band 2 received a 93/100 critic score, while Guitar Hero : Smash Hits scored 43/100.
Is the song selection comparable?
Rock Band 2 offers a wide genre library; Smash Hits includes only classic tracks from the first four Guitar Hero titles.