Story:
Activision must have decided that stories were no longer needed. Because continuing the trend from the latest Guitar Hero games there is no story. Which really for these rhythm games really isn't needed. They are played for the fun and connection to the music.
Gameplay:
If you are familiar with the Guitar Hero or Rock Band games, then you have a good idea of what the gameplay will be like.
If not the basics are you will be hitting the buttons in time with onscreen "notes" as they pass the "hitzone." The difference here is that you have a crossfader and turntable for scratching. Some notes that come down will have arrows in them. If they are arrow that go both ways then you have to scratch the turntable back and forth while holding down that button(s) when they pass the "hitzone." If the arrow goes in only one direction then you move the turntable in that direction while holding down that button(s). If the track that note is coming down slides to the left or right then you move the crossfader to the direction the track is going.
Starpower from Guitar Hero gets renamed "Euphoria," but it's still the same thing. Glowing notes will come down every so often, play them all without missing and you gain Euphoria. You can use Euphoria to temporarily increase your multiplier. Another way to increase your multiplier it to do "rewinds." After you play enough notes perfectly the rewind indicator will light up. At that point when ever you want you can spin the record backwards (at least one complete rotation) and you can replay the same section you just played with a double multiplier. (Note, don't do this while you have Euphoria active, it will instantly shut that off.)
And that's the basics, there is more, but that's starting to get into the more advanced things. The game provides tutorials for everything you can do. As an added bonus, unlike Guitar Hero, you can't fail a song. That said though you don't get points or stars either for playing poorly or not at all. Stars are important as getting stars allows you to unlock things such as other DJs, turntables, headphones, clothes, venues, but most important other setlists and songs.
Controls:
DJ Hero can only be played with the turntable controller. It won't even let you get past the welcome screen with a regular controller. You can play co-op and the guitar only setlist with a guitar controller, but you need the turntable controller.
I'll be honest, when I first saw pictures of it I thought it was a bit two simple and sparse. I mean the guitar controller had 5 colored buttons, the strum bar, whammy bar, etc. There is actually more than enough here to keep you busy, if not a little flummoxed. The controller is pretty solidly built, a bit more heft than the guitar controller. One nice thing is they thought of all the left handed people out there. It can come apart to swap the crossfade section to the opposite side for them. The turntable moves very smooth, and it's easy to get a some fast spin action on it. Just be careful when performing a rewind that it doesn't get a way from you.
Graphics and Sound:
The graphical style is more cartoon urban than it's cartoon rock brethren, which is to be expected. Fun and colorful, the environments are very much like the clubs they should be set in. Sound is great as is expected when it's a music game. Musicly it's a bit all over the map, but it all fits together well. I found myself head boppin' as I played some of the songs. Kind of hope they put out a soundtrack CD.
The full set list is at the end of this blog post.
Overall:
Unlike it's Guitar Hero and Rock Band predecessors, DJ Hero is poised for a more niche market. Guitar Hero and Rock Band can both encompass a wide variety of music styles, rock, country, pop, metal, funk, techno, even hip hop and more. Plus more people can wrap their head around the basics of playing a guitar, drumming or just plain singing, than playing a turntable. DJ Hero is kind of limited in it's variety, hiphop, techno, mash-ups, etc. That's not to say there is a limit, but I don't see this being as popular Guitar Hero and Rock Band. It's also an investment in a controller that at the moment is only good for one game (currently the regular version retails around $120.00). It's kind of like when Guitar Hero first came out, limited with a lot of potential, but a bit of a investment of time and money.
That said I encourage people to try it out if you get a chance or buy it if you can. It was fun to play, especially if you enjoy song mash-ups. Developer FreeStyleGames did a great job on putting it together. Granted I didn't get much higher than medium playing through, but then again I wasn't that great at Guitar Hero or Rock Band at first either. Time and practice and I'm pretty sure I can look like Grandmaster Flash or DJ ZTrip (both are unlockable characters too). The no failing a song and the co-op with a guitar or two player with a second turntable controller can make for just as much fun as Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
I give it a 4.5. Lots of fun, but limited for now. Thinking about it though I could easily see this become part of Guitar Hero if Activision wanted to get some more out of it. Lots of nu-metal/rap-metal bands have a DJ.
DJ Hero is rated T for Teen for Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes.
The DJ Hero Setlist;
- 2Pac - "All Eyez On Me" vs. The Aranbee Pop Orchestra - "Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)"
- 50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance"
- 50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. InDeep - "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life"
- Afrika Bambaataa - "Zulu Nation Throwdown" vs. Freedom Express - "Get Down"
- Beastie Boys - "Here's A Little Somethin' For Ya" vs. DJ Shadow - "The Number Song (2009 Version)" (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)
- Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic" vs. Blondie - "Rapture"
- Beastie Boys - "Lee Majors Come Again" vs. Daft Punk - "Da Funk" (Produced and mixed by Cut Chemist)
- Beck - "Where It's At" vs. DJ Shadow - "Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)"
- Bell Biv DeVoe - "Poison" Beat Juggle
- Bell Biv DeVoe - "Poison" vs. Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic" (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)
- Bell Biv DeVoe - "Poison" vs. Cameo - "Word Up!"
- Benny Benassi - "Satisfaction" vs. Tiësto - "Elements Of Life"
- Billy Squier - "The Big Beat" vs. N.E.R.D. - "Lapdance" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow" vs. Benny Benassi - "Satisfaction"
- Bobby "Blue" Bland - "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" vs. 2Pac - "How Do You Want It"
- Bobby "Blue" Bland - "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" vs. Connie Price & The Keystones - "Fuzz And Them"
- Boogie Down Productions - "Jack Of Spades" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance" (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)
- Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - "Bustin' Loose" vs. The Zombies - "Time Of The Season" (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)
- Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - "Bustin' Loose" vs. Young MC - "Bust A Move"
- Common - "Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)" vs. Masta Ace - "Jeep A** Gutter (Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir RMX)" (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
- Cypress Hill - "Insane In The Brain" vs. Classics IV - "Spooky"
- Cypress Hill - "Insane In The Brain" vs. David Axelrod - "The Edge"
- Daft Punk - "Around The World" vs. Young MC - "Bust A Move"
- Daft Punk - "Da Funk" vs. N.A.S.A. - "Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB & Fatlip"
- Daft Punk - "Megamix 1"
- Daft Punk - "Megamix 2"
- Daft Punk - "Robot Rock" vs. Hashim - "Al Naafyish (The Soul)" (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
- Daft Punk - "Robot Rock" vs. Queen - "We Will Rock You"
- Daft Punk - "Short Circuit" vs. Boogie Down Productions - "Jack Of Spades"
- Daft Punk - "Technologic" vs. Gary Numan - "Cars"
- Daft Punk - "Television Rules the Nation" vs. No Doubt - "Hella Good"
- David Axelrod - "The Edge" vs. Eric B. & Rakim - "Eric B. Is President"
- Dizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp" vs. DJ Shadow - "Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)"
- Dizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp" vs. Justice - "Genesis"
- DJ Shadow - "Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)" vs. D-Code - "Annie's Horn"
- Eminem - "My Name Is" vs. Beck - "Loser"
- Fedde Le Grand - "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn - "I Can't Stop (David Penn Remix)"
- Foo Fighters - "Monkey Wrench" vs. Beastie Boys - "Sabotage" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Foreigner - "Juke Box Hero" vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs - "DJ Hero" (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
- Foreigner - "Juke Box Hero" vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs - "DJ Hero" (DJ-Guitar mix, produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
- Gang Starr - "Just To Get A Rep" vs. Mobb Deep - "Shook Ones, Pt 2" (Produced and mixed by J. Period)
- Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc." vs. Blondie - "Atomic"
- Grandmaster Flash's - "Boom" vs. "Tap" (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
- Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool, DJ Demo - "Here Comes My DJ" vs. Gary Numan - "Cars" (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
- Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" vs. Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc."
- Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" vs. InDeep "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)
- Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" vs. Rick James - "Give It To Me"
- Herbie Hancock - "Rockit" Beat Juggle
- Herbie Hancock - "Rockit" vs. N.E.R.D. - "Lapdance" (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
- InDeep - "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" vs. Cameo - "Word Up!"
- Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back" vs. Gang Starr - "Just To Get A Rep" (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)
- Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back" vs. Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back" vs. Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life"
- JAY-Z feat. Pharrell - "Change Clothes" vs. 2Pac - "All Eyez on Me"
- JAY-Z - "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" vs. Eminem - "My Name Is"
- JAY-Z - "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" vs. Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back"
- JAY-Z - "Excuse Me Miss" vs. Rick James - "Give It To Me"
- Jean Knight - "Mr. Big Stuff" vs. Masta Ace - "Born To Roll"
- Jurassic 5 - "Jayou" vs. Billy Squier - "The Big Beat"
- Jurassic 5 - "Jayou" vs. Herbie Hancock - "Rockit"
- Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite" vs. Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow"
- Kool Moe Dee - "How Ya Like Me Now" vs. Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman - "I Like To Move It"
- Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti" vs. Shlomo - "Beats" (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)
- M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" vs. Eric B. & Rakim - "Eric B. Is President" (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
- M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" vs. Wale - "Lookin' At Me"
- Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance"
- Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" vs. Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc."
- Motorhead - "Ace Of Spades" vs. Noisia - "Groundhog" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- N.A.S.A. - "Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB & Fatlip" vs. Isaac Hayes - "Theme From Shaft"
- Noisia - "Groundhog" Beat Juggle (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
- Paul van Dyk - "Nothing But You" vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn - "I Can't Stop (David Penn Remix)"
- Public Enemy - "Shut 'Em Down" vs. Beck - "Where It's At"
- Public Enemy ft. Zakk Wylde - "Bring The Noise 20XX" vs. Justice - "Genesis" (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
- Public Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde - "Bring The Noise 20XX" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Q-Tip - "Good Thang" vs. Billy Squier - "The Big Beat" (Produced and mixed by J. Period)
- Queen - "Another One Bites The Dust" vs. Beastie Boys - "Brass Monkey" (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
- Queen - "Another One Bites The Dust" vs. Daft Punk - "Da Funk"
- Rihanna - "Disturbia" vs. Kid Sister - "Control"
- Rihanna - "Disturbia" vs. The Killers - "Somebody Told Me" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Rihanna - "Disturbia" vs. The Trammps - "Disco Inferno"
- Shlomo - "Beats" vs. Billy Squier - "The Big Beat"
- Street Sweeper Social Club - "Fight! Smash! Win!" vs. Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Tears For Fears - "Shout" vs. DJ Shadow - "Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)"
- Tears For Fears - "Shout" vs. Eric B. & Rakim - "Eric B. Is President" (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)
- Tears For Fears - "Shout" vs. Eric Prydz - "Pjanoo"
- The Aranbee Pop Orchestra - "Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)" vs. LL Cool J - "Rock The Bells" (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)
- The Scratch Perverts Beats and Pieces (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
- The Killers - "Somebody Told Me" vs. Eric Prydz - "Pjanoo"
- Vanilla Ice - "Ice Ice Baby" vs. MC Hammer - "U Can't Touch This"
- Vanilla Ice - "Ice Ice Baby" vs. Paula Abdul - "Straight Up"
- Wale - "Lookin' At Me" vs. Black Eyed Peas ft. Tippa Irie - "Hey Mama"
- Weezer - "Beverly Hills" vs. Evidence, The Alchemist, Aceyalone, Rakaa & 88 Keys - "Fresh Rhymes And Videotape" (DJ-Guitar mix)
- Wild Cherry - "Play That Funky Music" vs. Gang Starr - "Just To Get A Rep" (DJ-Guitar mix)
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