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as the rumbles of an anxious crowd rattle the stage. This is your big moment. After years of hard work and expended creative energy, your dreams may be crushed in a matter of seconds. When the curtain rises, your music career will reach its coda. You'll either knock the crowd off its feet with stellar strumming and killer riffs, etching a rock reputation that may someday lead you to sold-out stadiums and arenas. Or you'll bomb, having to earn your living on the sidewalk with an open guitar case. Fame and fortune begin with fingers and frets. Do you have what it takes to become the next rock-and-roll legend, or are you all thumbs? The first thing you'll notice about Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 is the stunning new X-Plorer guitar controller. Resembling the famous Gibson look-alike, this axe will inspire you to tear up the stage. With 70 superstar tracks to jam along with and even more available to you on Xbox Live, you'll get the chance to play a variety of music from thrashing metal to classic rock. When you feel your guitar skills are up to par, invite a friend over and form a band in Cooperative mode. With three types of guitars to choose from, you can either play lead, rhythm or bass. Guitar Hero II introduces you to 11 characters to rock out with, including the famous Eddie Knox, the beautiful Casey Lynch and the Norwegian metal head Lars Umlaut. Get your start in a cramped high-school gym, and work your way up to sold-out stadiums.