The 40 Year-Old Gamer
DJ Hero Game Review
2009-11-13
By Charles White
YOUR INNER DJ
Move over Rock Band and Guitar Hero, there’s a new entry into the music gaming genre. DJ Hero, the latest project from Activision and Freestyle Games, is taking music gaming into a new direction from instruments to the “wheels of steel”.
When I first read about DJ Hero, I thought this might be another ill-conceived novelty game. Even though I (like many others who grew up during the early days of hip-hop) fantasized about rocking the house as a DJ, I wasn’t quite sure a Guitar Hero-type game with a turntable could work. Needless to say, I had my doubts. But as soon as you actually place your fingers on the game’s turntable and scratch out your first mix, all those nagging doubts and cynical thoughts go out the window.
An important note - as is the case with any rhythm game - playing DJ Hero will not prepare you to be an actual DJ. The songs are premixed, the sound effects are preloaded, and there is only one wheel of steel (well, actually plastic). So if you think this game will ready you for a Saturday night gig at the club, wake up and look elsewhere. That said, it is no barrier to having a whole lot of fun. DJ Hero is fantastic. In fact, it’s one of the most innovative games of the year.
THE CONTROLLER
DJ Hero comes with a wireless turntable controller. Half of the controller is a record platter with three face buttons and the other half is the mixer that includes the cross fader, effects knob and euphoria button (which enables DJ Hero's version of star power). These halves can be separated and flipped around for left-handed players. The sturdy controller is not very big so you should have no issue with storage when not in use. This is important for those who already own the Rock Band or Guitar Hero plastic instrument controllers.
GAME PLAY
If you've never laid your hands on a turntable and mixer before it will likely feel a bit foreign, but DJ Hero includes a great tutorial (hosted by Grandmaster Flash) that walks you through everything you need to know to be the next fake Jam Master Jay.
When playing a song you'll find the familiar Guitar Hero colored symbols coming towards you as you tap the turntable's face buttons in time with the music. But when it's time to scratch you have to hold down the corresponding button and move the turntable back and forth. On lower difficulty settings you can move the turntable any way you like, but on the harder levels, you have to follow onscreen arrows that indicate whether to push it forward or pull it back.
In addition to the turntable, you also have to work the cross fader, which you'll have to push left and right in correspondence with the onscreen audio stream. When the cross fader is in the center position the audio from both record A and B is allowed through, but by pushing it to either side you can close off the sound on one record and isolate the other audio source.
To be clear, this game requires some serious hand and eye coordination (especially on the higher difficult levels). Like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the game is most fun and rewarding on the higher difficulty levels. It’s also good to know that unlike Guitar Hero and Rock Band, you don’t have to worry about the song stopping due to a bad performance. If you aren't performing well the sound will only cut out and you won't earn as many points. That's the most punishment the game will dish out, which is great for beginners. However, I do recommend skipping the beginner level. It is far too simple (even for a person who is not familiar with the art of turntablism).
THE MUSIC
As you play DJ Hero, you work through tiers of songs and unlock new mixes, characters, and costumes by earning stars (points). The simple design places the focus on the music, which is outstanding. DJ Hero has one of the best and certainly one of the most diverse track lists of any music game. Unless you only listen to heavy metal or country, you will find plenty of songs to groove to.
The developers licensed over a 102 tracks for the game. Those tracks have been mashed-up to create 93 original songs that you won't hear anywhere else. Some of the mixes include 50 Cent mixed with David Bowie, Jay-Z mixed with the Jackson 5, and my favorite, 2Pac mixed with Bobby “Blue” Bland. While many of the mixes were created by in-house DJs for the developer, a fair amount of songs were produced by well-known disc jockeys like DJ Shadow and Grandmaster Flash.
In fact, the DJ Hero soundtrack is so hot it could easily stand on its own merits outside the game. It would be great if the soundtrack could be purchased separately as a stand-alone CD. For now, if you just want to just listen to the music you can enable Party Play and sit back while the mix takes care of itself (you won't earn any points, though).
Note to parents: All of the songs are edited “clean” versions, so DJ Hero is kid and grown-folk friendly.
GRAPHICS
DJ Hero looks great with dynamic camera shots of the club jumping off. You feel like you are really in the club and the energy is hyped. You can't create your own DJ but there are a variety of characters you can unlock as you play through the game. The only flaw is that the DJs' movements are not always in synch with the track. At times you're furiously scratching but your avatar somehow has both its hands in the air. It’s not a big deal but it can be a bit distracting.
FINAL THOUGHTS
DJ Hero is a great game. The original mixes are incredible and letting your inner DJ flow is a blast. As a party game, there is only downside. Unlike Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5, which allows up to four people to participate at the same time, DJ Hero really does not shine as a multiplayer game. However, since this is only the first edition of the game, there is plenty of room for expansion in a sequel (perhaps adding a mic for an MC). Otherwise, DJ Hero is an exciting music game that is guaranteed to get the party started.
SAMPLE DJ Hero PLAYLIST
• 50 Cent - “Disco Inferno” vs. David Bowie - “Let’s Dance”
• 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)”
• 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”
• Gorillaz - “Feel Good Inc.” vs. Blondie - “Atomic”
• Grandmaster Flash’s - “Boom” vs. “Tap” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
• 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”
• Jackson 5 - “I Want You Back” vs. Third Eye Blind - “Semi-Charmed Life”
• JAY-Z - “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” vs. Eminem - “My Name Is”
• Jurassic 5 - “Jayou” vs. Herbie Hancock - “Rockit”
• M.I.A. - “Paper Planes” vs. Eric B. & Rakim - “Eric B. Is President” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
• Public Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde - “Bring The Noise 20XX” (DJ-Guitar mix)
• Queen - “Another One Bites The Dust” vs. Daft Punk - “Da Funk”
• Rihanna - “Disturbia” vs. Kid Sister - “Control”
• Street Sweeper Social Club - “Fight! Smash! Win!” vs. Beastie Boys - “Intergalactic” (DJ-Guitar mix)
• Tears For Fears - “Shout” vs. Eric B. & Rakim - “Eric B. Is President” (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)
