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Developer Harmonix Music Systems and producer MTV Games deliver a rock band in a box for up to four players with "Rock Band: Special Edition" for PS2. The specialized instrument hardware included allows you to fill different roles in the band on your path to music stardom. People everywhere can go on a world tour through their PlayStation 2 consoles, singing or playing one of several instruments. In a first for PlayStation video games, Rock Band gives you several options for making your rock dreams come true.Included in the "Rock Band: Special Edition" bundle from Harmonix is a PS2 game, a drum set, a guitar, and a microphone. Used separately or altogether, you play through a song and score points by matching notes scrolling across the screen. In addition to the notes on the screen, the band creates a live music video, and the crowd gives feedback. The more accurate you drum, strum, or sing, the louder they cheer. They'll also boo and jeer loudly for missed notes. There are 45 songs from artists like Bon Jovi, The Ramones, Black Sabbath, and Stone Temple Pilots to choose from in the game. Some songs are the original album versions while others are special variations.The drums included in the bundle feature four virtual drum pads, a pedal for the kick drum, and real drumsticks. On the screen, notes will scroll upward to indicate pads representing the hi-hat, crash cymbal, snare, and tom-tom drums. Many songs will have special sections to show off your skills and improvise by playing whatever sounds best to you. An overdrive mode can be activated at the end of these sections that adds a multiplier to the points scored. Display your drumming prowess by switching the difficulty up to hard and show off as the master of musical games.The Fender Stratocaster guitar has buttons at the top and bottom of the neck that correspond to notes on the screen as well. The higher fret buttons are for use in songs that feature a guitar solo with a switch to apply effects. Like the drums, chains of well-played notes will unlock overdrive mode with a score multiplier for hitting huge numbers. Set the high score and become the person to beat or keep raising the bar for yourself as you improve your skills. The guitar can also be used to play bass parts, which is sometimes more of a challenging role than lead guitar.The vocal line in Rock Band for PS2 scrolls horizontally across the top of the screen during the game. Lyrics appear under green bars that indicate tone, which the player must match by singing relative pitch to the original artist. As all three musicians try to play in harmony, their progress is checked by the Band Meter that determines who is succeeding by muting a player who isn't matching the notes.Rated T for Teen, Rock Band on the PlayStation 2 is a game that sets itself apart. It is the first game to include more than one instrument, and it's the first game simulating a real band experience.