Full Song List with Unlock Conditions

Full Song List with Unlock Conditions

Welcome, aspiring axe-wielders, to the definitive guide for unlocking every track in Guitar Hero II! This comprehensive section details the full song list and the specific conditions required to unlock them across the console versions: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2. Unlike the streamlined arcade experience, the console versions offer a deep career mode with tiered venues, bonus songs, and a wealth of unlockable content beyond just the music.

Understanding the Unlock System in Guitar Hero II (Console)

In Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2, songs are primarily unlocked by progressing through the Career Mode. This mode is structured into "Venues," each representing a different stage of your band's rise to stardom. To unlock new venues and their associated songs, you must successfully complete a certain number of songs within your current active venue. The difficulty setting you choose (Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert) impacts your score and star rating, but the core unlock condition remains consistent: successful completion.

• Career Mode Progression: Songs are unlocked sequentially by completing sets within each venue. You typically need to pass 3 out of 4 or 4 out of 5 songs in a venue to advance to the next.
• Star Ratings: While simply passing a song is sufficient for career progression, achieving higher star ratings (especially 4 or 5 stars) on songs contributes to unlocking additional content, such as bonus songs, characters, and guitars from the in-game store.
• Bonus Songs: These are not part of the main career progression but are unlocked by earning enough money (in-game currency) through career mode performance and then purchasing them from the "Store" menu. Some bonus songs also have specific performance requirements (e.g., achieving 5 stars on every song in a certain venue on a particular difficulty).

Career Mode Venues and Song Lists

Below is a detailed breakdown of each venue, its featured songs, and the specific requirements to move forward in Career Mode. Remember, consistent performance and strategic use of Star Power are key!

Venue 1: The Rock Club

Your journey begins here. All songs in this venue are available from the start of Career Mode.

• "Shout at the Devil" - Mötley Crüe
• "Mother" - Danzig
• "Woman" - Wolfmother
• "War Pigs" - Black Sabbath
• "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" - Spinal Tap

Unlock Condition for Venue 2 (The Amp Pit): Successfully complete 3 out of 5 songs from The Rock Club on any difficulty.

Venue 2: The Amp Pit

Having proven your basic skills, The Amp Pit opens its doors, bringing a new set of challenges and slightly more complex arrangements.

• "Sweet Child o' Mine" - Guns N' Roses
• "Message in a Bottle" - The Police
• "The Trooper" - Iron Maiden
• "Search and Destroy" - Iggy Pop and The Stooges
• "Carry Me Home" - The Living End

Unlock Condition for Venue 3 (The RedOctane Club): Successfully complete 3 out of 5 songs from The Amp Pit on any difficulty.

Venue 3: The RedOctane Club

The stakes are getting higher! Prepare for more intricate riffs and faster tempos as you move into the RedOctane Club.

• "Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Crazy on You" - Heart
• "Strutter" - KISS
• "YYZ" - Rush
• "Beast and the Harlot" - Avenged Sevenfold

Unlock Condition for Venue 4 (The Rock City Theater): Successfully complete 3 out of 5 songs from The RedOctane Club on any difficulty.

Venue 4: The Rock City Theater

You're now playing for bigger crowds. These tracks demand precision and stamina, often featuring longer songs and more challenging solos.

• "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• "Jessica" - The Allman Brothers Band
• "Hangar 18" - Megadeth
• "The Light That Blinds" - Shadows Fall
• "Jordan" - Buckethead

Unlock Condition for Venue 5 (The Monsters of Rock Arena): Successfully complete 3 out of 5 songs from The Rock City Theater on any difficulty.

Venue 5: The Monsters of Rock Arena

This is the pinnacle of your career mode journey. The songs here are the most challenging and rewarding, often featuring complex note charts and blistering speeds. Successfully completing this venue essentially "finishes" the main career mode on your chosen difficulty.

• "Less Talk More Rokk" - Freezepop
• "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
• "War Ensemble" - Slayer
• "Psychobilly Freakout" - The Reverend Horton Heat
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Unlock Condition for Bonus Songs: Completing songs in this venue, especially with high star ratings, will earn you significant in-game cash. This cash is used to purchase Bonus Songs from the Store. There isn't a direct "unlock" of a bonus song section through career progression; rather, they become available for purchase as you earn money.

Bonus Songs (Purchasable from the Store)

These tracks are a mix of covers, original songs, and fan favorites, often featuring unique gameplay mechanics or extreme difficulty. They are not part of the main career progression and must be purchased from the in-game "Store" using money earned in Career Mode. The price for each bonus song is typically $500.

• "The Way It Is" - The Strokes
• "Drink Up" - Ounce of Self
• "Fall of Pangea" - That Handsome Devil
• "FTK" - Vagiant
• "Gemini" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Limo Scene" - The Derek Trucks Band
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden (Cover)
• "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" - Bang Camaro
• "Raw Dog" - The Last Vegas
• "Red Lottery" - The Faint
• "Salvation" - The Living End
• "Six" - All That Remains
• "Soy Bomb" - Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives
• "Thunderhorse" - Dethklok
• "Trogdor" - Strong Bad
• "X-Stream" - Primus

Special Bonus Song Unlock Conditions:

• "Jordan" by Buckethead: This song is unique as it is part of the main career mode (Venue 4) but is also considered a bonus track due to its extreme difficulty and iconic status. It is unlocked by completing Venue 3.
• "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce: Similar to "Jordan," this is a career mode song (Venue 5) but is widely regarded as the ultimate challenge. It is unlocked by completing Venue 4.

Strategies for Efficient Song Unlocking and Money Earning

To unlock all songs and other content efficiently, consider these strategies:

• Prioritize Career Mode: Focus on completing Career Mode on at least one difficulty first. This will unlock all main setlist songs and provide a steady income stream for purchasing bonus tracks.
• Play on Higher Difficulties for More Cash: While you can unlock career songs on Easy, playing on Medium, Hard, or Expert yields significantly more cash per song. If you're comfortable, challenge yourself to earn money faster.
• Aim for 5-Star Ratings: Achieving 5 stars on songs, especially on harder difficulties, grants substantial cash bonuses. This is the fastest way to accumulate wealth for the Store.
• Utilize Star Power Strategically: Deploy Star Power during high-scoring sections (e.g., long sustained notes, dense note clusters, or solos) to maximize your score multiplier and earn more cash. Don't waste it on easy sections or when your multiplier is already high from a streak.
• Replay Favorite Songs for Cash: Once you've completed Career Mode, you can replay any unlocked song in Quick Play or Career Mode (even if already completed) to grind for cash. Choose songs you consistently 5-star on a high difficulty for optimal earnings.
• Check the Store Regularly: After each career session, visit the "Store" menu to see what new items (including bonus songs, characters, and guitars) are available for purchase.

Common Pitfalls and Missables

• Ignoring the Store: Many players focus solely on Career Mode and forget to check the Store. All bonus songs and many other unlockables are purchased here, not automatically granted.
• Not Replaying for Cash: If you're short on money for bonus songs, don't just keep playing new career songs. Replaying a few high-scoring songs on Expert can quickly net you the cash you need.
• Difficulty Wall: Don't get stuck on a single song on a high difficulty. If you're struggling to pass a career song, lower the difficulty to progress through the venue, then come back to it later for a higher score or on a harder setting once your skills improve.

By following this detailed guide, you'll be shredding through every track Guitar Hero II has to offer on your console. Good luck, and rock on!