Strap on this guitar and play along – if your timing is good

Air guitarists, unite! Red Octane’s new PlayStation 2 music game offers a reversal of fortune for the oft-maligned art of playing imaginary instruments to hard rock, turning it into one of the best PS2 titles of the year. Shipping with a guitar controller, complete with five fret buttons and a lever that you grab like a guitar pick to simulate strumming, the $70 “Guitar Hero” bundle is the closest many gamers will get to appearing on stage with Franz Ferdinand, who contributes the hit “Take Me Out” to the game’s incredible soundtrack.

The game is merciful at first, easing players into simpler tracks that teach how to follow on-screen chords by pressing fret buttons. Soon, the whammy bar is put into play, which helps tweak notes and juice up a power meter.

When the meter is full, players tilt the guitar on its Y-axis to launch into a boffo solo. The screen lights up like an Ozzy concert, and you’ll be tempted to bite your bottom lip and bang your head.

“Guitar Hero” is a fantastic party game if you spring for an extra guitar controller (The black guitar costs $40; the new red one is $50; and the two-black-guitar bundle costs $110 at RedOctane.com). Check out the 30-song soundtrack at www. GuitarHeroGame.com/music.asp.