The Guitar Hero franchise is coming to the end of its wave, so Activision is looking for a brand new bag to keep the music game genre going. They probably had tons of meetings wondering what would attract gamers to buy another peripheral for their gaming console, rolling out ideas like Banjo Hero, Harp Hero, Harmonica Hero, Sax Hero, Human Beat Box Hero…and then someone finally yelled out “DJ Hero.” So now the goal would be to re-skin and tinker with the Guitar Hero engine, and then ditch the plastic guitar control for a mock turntable complete with a spinning platter and a crossfader. Is this a great idea, or is it a desperate attempt to restart a dying fire? Well, it’s a bit of both, but honestly it’s very cool and out-of-the-box will even want to make grandma pretend she’s a DJ.
gameplay
Activision is smart to follow the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it template, because anyone who’s mastered Guitar Hero will be able to pick up a play DJ Hero in a matter of minutes. The controller is the thing that pulls you in, because it’s so cool to look at that you want to touch it. The turntable is compact, about the size of a laptop, with one platter that spins a full 360 degrees holding three buttons, (red, green, and blue) which look exactly like the ones on the Guitar Hero controller. There’s a crossfader button that allows you to flip your on-screen beat line back and forth with the flick of a thumb, a control dial that controls the tone of the beat from strong to soft, and a Euphoria button that is used for power points.
There is a small learning curve, but the tutorial featuring DJ Grandmaster Flash will get you through, showing you basic scratching techniques, as well as how to use the fader which is the trickiest element of the game. Just like Guitar Hero, you can pick the difficulty, choosing either to just scratch your way through beats, or going all out like a true DJ with your hands flying on the turntable and fader to faster tracks.
The format for Guitar Hero and DJ Hero follow the same guidelines, whereas icons drop down in a pattern to a contact point of one of three colors. The player must press the appropriate button key on the turntable and move the platter in an up and down scratching motion to match the beat. This sounds simple at first, but after you master the scratching motion, you’ll also have to learn how to crossfade, a technique where you must flick the fader button left, right, or center to match the linear pattern that that constantly changes as it drops from the top of the screen to the bottom. Matching these cross-fader patterns while also working your scratching skills will boost your points and star counter.
The highlight of the game is the use of music in a “Mash-Up” style, where instead of one track playing you get two songs playing simultaneously in a vs. mode. This may sound odd, but when you play it things quickly start to make sense and get addictive. Some mash ups pit Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice Ice, Baby’ against MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” or Eminem’s ‘My Name is’ against Beck’s ‘Loser.’ Sometimes this works extremely well, but there are other instances where you’ll wonder what where these guys thinking, such as a mash-up between The Jackson Five and Third Eye Blind.
Just as with Guitar Hero, the only way to get the most stars in your DJ score is with a ton of practice and taking stabs at the higher difficulty levels. No lie, this can be very frustrating as you’re attempting to scratch, crossfade, as well as use the effects dial and Euphoria button all on top of each other. A DJ can move their hands pretty fast on the turnatable, but in some spots you need to have as many hands as an octopus to get the full star count.
Simply put, if you dig Guitar Hero you’re more than likely to settle into DJ Hero like a comfortable pair of slippers, especially if you like hip-hop and house music, or you just fantasize about rocking the club, even if it’s in your own living room. Trying hard to open up new set list is addictive, and whereas in Guitar Hero no matter how hard you try to look cool, you’re playing with a plastic string-less guitar, but with DJ Hero there’s something attractive about the turntable that makes it all feel and look authentic.
NOTE:
DJ Hero comes in two versions, but both a pretty pricey. A standard version runs for $120 and comes with the turntable controller, but for $200 you get the Renegade Edition that features an all black turntable controller with a metal finish, a hardshell carrying case that converts into DJ stand so you can get that parted started anywhere. And to sweeten the pot there is an exclusive Jay-Z and Eminem 2-CD set with previously unreleased tracks that are featured in the game. Hey, if you got the loot the renegade edition is the way to go because it doesn’t look cool to stack your DJ turntable on a stack of sneaker boxes.
graphics
DJ Hero’s presentation is rock solid with plenty of colors and club-ish replications that will draw you in. Though it uses the same familiar style as a Guitar Hero game, it also adds a lot more spice to deliver and sweet visual experience and flair. Both the PS3 and X-Box 360 match each other in graphics, so there’s nothing to separate the experience. The CG characters replicating Grand Master Flash, DJ, Shadow, Z-Trip, and DJ Jazzy Jeff add a nice touch to the eye candy, but in the end this game is not about it’s visuals, it’s about the jams.
sound
Pump those speakers up, because the sound design for DJ Hero is supreme. Come on, if Activision released a DJ game with a crappy sound experience, they would lose all credibility. There are 102 licensed tracks that are used to create mash-up tracks with artist you would never think could be paired together, such as David Bowie and 50 Cents. Credit should also be given to the sound effects, because when scratching it matches up perfectly and feels like you’re actually doing it. The effects button adds some interesting twist to the music, slowing it down are converting it to mute out portions of the track. Get yourself a good pair of headphones, lock yourself in a room and you’ll be absorbed.
replay value
Playing this game on easy is one thing, but to really be a DJ Hero you’re going to have to go into this hardcore. The variety of mash-ups will keep you coming back, particularly if you like the way the two artist have been combined. If you got a friend who also has the game you can duke it out via a two-turntable battle, or you can also whip out a GH guitar from your growing collection and have a guitar vs. DJ event, which is a nice touch to add longevity. Obviously there will be more DLC music packs on the way, so as long as there is an audience for it, this game has legs.
bottom line
DJ Hero is a nice shot in the arm to the fading Guitar Hero lifeline, because it feels like a whole new experience rather than clone. The DJ turntable controller is cooler than the GH guitars by a landslide, and scratching, while not authentic, feels smooth and is fun. Though a lot of care and thought went into the design of the game, it’s up the masses to see if they want another music game, or are they tired of having more plastic instruments in their room. Hopefully, this game will find an audience because imagine what could done with the sequel. This is a true party game, and anyone who loves this type of music will be hooked. And hey…this game features DJ Jazzy Jeff. What more can you ask for?
Review by: Johnny
Posted: 02/01/2010
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Gameplay:
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9.0 |
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Graphics:
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8.0 |
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Sound:
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10 |
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Replay Value:
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9.0 |
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Bottom Line:
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9.0 |
