Wrote this review a while ago. Anything in a different color is a new reflection/edit. Figured I'd get it up AT LEAST before DJ Hero 2 comes out. Punctual as usual.
Put your dancing shoes on because the people who brought you Guitar Hero have done it again. Armed with a music repertoire for the ages Activision and FreeStyleGames’ newest attempt at an instrument simulator, DJ Hero, is sure to be a hit with fans of Hip-Hop, rock, and electronic music alike. Much like its predecessor, Guitar Hero, all it requires is the slightest of hand-eye coordination skills and a bit of open-mindedness to dive into a world created by some of the most talented and influential Disc Jockeys ever to spin a record, including Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and my favorite, Daft Punk.
With an artist collection that ranges from Third Eye Blind to M.I.A., DJ Hero’s versatile list of original mixes is sure to delight music fans of all sorts. Even if you do not listen to much music that requires or was created by a DJ, DJ Hero forces you to realize that the music knowledge, rhythm, and ear required to produce such masterpieces is extremely rare and should be appreciated.
FreeStyleGames’ approach to imitating the complex art that is DJing was simple: use all of the fun bells and whistles of a turntable without any of the technical bores (If you want to call them that) that make up much of what a DJ actually does. With this dynamic they were able to capture the heart of the art without harming the credibility of the artists. It is a perfect blend of fun and ease. If you are looking for a real challenge that encompasses all of the techniques DJ Hero’s plastic, single disc turntable has to offer, just crank up the difficulty to expert. Let the good times roll as you provide entertainment for a large house party, or a small dance party amongst close pals.
For those of you that aren’t fans of Guitar Hero (Such as myself), don’t let the similar name and aesthetic design sway you away from playing DJ hero. Although the same company made both games, they are much different. DJ Hero offers much more control to the player over how the song sounds with a Sampler button and turn-able knob that allows the player to control the EQ of the song throughout certain sections.
The turntable device is easy to control, surprisingly smooth and resilient for a product that came in a package with the game-disc (Compared to the cheaply made Guitar Hero controllers that are included in the game packages).
^^^False. Thing can't take a punch. Breaking after being socked in the buttons once for not realizing that I was pushing the button as I spun is unacceptable. These things should be able to withstand AT LEAST 5 punches. I can't be expected to withhold my rage after receiving 3 stars because my controller doesn't recognize when I'm holding down the buttons. Gotta buy a new controller. Probably gonna cover this one in metal spikes so I learn my lesson after a few punches, rather than breaking it.
DJ Hero also has over ten songs that were designed for a DJ Hero turntable and Guitar Hero controller collaboration. This means your buddies with guitar hero can join in as you drop the beats with their Guitar Hero skills.
Need entertainment for the night? DJ Hero also has a “Party Play” feature that plays the songs without anyone controlling the game, and is perfect for entertaining a gaggle of guests. When activated the feature flashes “Auto-Play” on the screen, preventing one from taking any of the credit for actually playing the game. This is bad news for those of us that must rely on pretending to play a video game to attract friends instead of a suave personality or debonair good looks.
Unlike Guitar Hero, DJ Hero lacks a quick play feature or career mode, and you cannot customize your own character. I found this frustrating as one of my most anticipated actions involved creating a cool DJ name and dressing my Avatar appropriately for a rave. By earning stars based on your performance on a song you are able to unlock different set-lists, characters, costumes, DJ Decks (Turntables), and more, but it still doesn’t compare to that feeling of seeing your name on the front of a virtual magazine or newspaper.
Overall, I give this game a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I chose to reduce just a half-point because although it lacks any sort of interactive storyline, it greatly redeems itself with fun game-play and a dance party set-list that would make Will.I.Am jealous (Or Should I say, "Zuper Blahq"). So, start planning your outrageous DJ attire and victory dance (For the DJ head-to-head mode) because DJ Hero is sure to be a favorite of hip-hoppers and head-bangers everywhere.
That's me playing guys.
DJ Hero 2 is going to be incredible. I'm sure that this entire blog family will spend many nights competing head to head for hours. (Dibs on Deadmau5)
