Review: DJ Hero
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Article written by nofi in Featured Stories, PS3 News, PS3 Reviews, XBox 360 Reviews, on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 9:30.
The unboxing ceremony of Activision’s latest ‘Hero’ title was an event in itself. After handing over £100 to the understandably delighted sales assistant in HMV I walked back to the car with a bizarre sense of guilt and excitement: I’d just spent £100 on a game that I only assumed I would like based off my younger years of live DJ’ing and my current interest in creating studio produced mash-ups, the art of blending two or more tracks together to create a brand new one and the central premise for DJ Hero.
Opening up the box on the living room carpet brought an odd feeling of deflation: the ‘turntable’ portion of the controller feels about as plastic as I’d feared, with a rather loose deck that reminded me of my first belt driven KAMs. The three stream buttons felt a little cheap too, with the larger red one capable of sticking if pushed hard enough. Regardless, the ‘mixer’ part felt much better, the crossfader a little stiff for a scratch mixer but the effects knob, the Euphoria trigger and the d-pad section were fine.
It feels odd remarking on hardware for a video game review but if you assume you’re paying £40 for the disk then 60% of your bill is going on the wireless black plastic. Overall the DJ Hero controller is a decent enough impression of a real turnable and mixer pairing and although I was hoping for something a little sturdier I guess that the Renegade edition, weighing in at an additional £70, would have provided such reassurance. The thing connects to a small Bluetooth dongle just like Guitar Hero does, is simple to set up and comes with batteries.
So, onto the game. Voiced by Grandmaster Flash, the introduction and tutorial is a great way to start your DJ Hero experience – he’s obviously the father of scratching so it’s good that he’s given some weight to the game because it all helps to add to the authenticity of what the developers were aiming for – Flash goes through the basics and then takes you through the elements mostly only found in the game’s ‘hard’ mode and above (although this isn’t conveyed) which for the purposes of explaining the game’s mechanics are worth reiterating here.
Much like Guitar Hero (and other games of the genre) you have a ‘hit zone’ at the bottom of the screen and elements come down three streams of what is meant to look like a vinyl record. The three streams correspond to the three buttons on the controller and what the elements look like determines what you have to do when they reach the hit zone. A single circle means you just need to tap the appropriate button – this is normally to signify the start of a track or looping some portion within the track, and is obviously the easiest to perform.
On top of this are scratch elements, either freestyle - in which you simply hold down the correct stream button and move the record back and forth – or directional, which requires you to match each part of the scratch exactly – either up or down – in time with the elements. On the easier levels you’re mostly asked to scratch freestyle and only on the harder levels do the scratch motions bear any resemblance to the scratching on the mix – the directional scratches are much harder, especially when they get peppered with additional complexities like timing.
Next up is the crossfader – with the two tracks of each mix approximately mapped to the two outer streams the theory is that at some parts in the mix you’ll want to drop one of the two tracks out, and you do this via the crossfader. As with everything else in the game though you’re not in control of when this happens – DJ Hero is a rhythm game not a music production tool and you have no control over how the pre-recorded mix actually sounds outside of a part going mute if you miss a cue. So, if the green or blue stream moves to the side, you must slide the crossfader that way too.
This can be a little confusing at first but repetition soon trains your brain to knowing where in the stream is ‘central’ and only a cursory glance will allow you to know where the crossfader needs to be allowing the rest of your concentration to remain on the scratching and triggering. Crossfader spikes (quickly flicking the fader to one side and back) are tricky because they’re poorly highlighted and not always easy to see, but are only difficult to perform when there’s loads of other stuff to be doing too, and don’t feature on all but the harder levels anyway.
Other tricks of DJ Hero include the Euphoria button – DJ’s version of the Star Power in Guitar Hero and activated when the player has successfully aced a small portion of the mix – press the button (which actually flashes red) and the vinyl ‘highway’ will glow blue and all your points will be worth double for a small time. Similarly, getting your multiplier combo up high enough will unlock ‘rewind’ – a nice little gimmick that, once you’ve spun back the record, effectively lets you re-do a few seconds of the track assuming you’re quick with the crossfader when it starts again.
Finally, there’s some portions of the mix marked with little gold bridges which tells you that this is an effects section – grab the effects dial above the crossfader and you’ll be able to change the music slightly, although to be honest this is little more than a band pass so you’ll either be muting the bass or the treble portion as you tweak the knob. The effects dial is also used to select a sample for the middle, red stream which you can trigger when the red lane is highlighted. There’s a few sample setsto pick from but they’re all a little bit cheesy and don’t really add to the mix at all.
To be honest, I found medium mode much easier than medium on Guitar Hero, but that’s because with the guitar controller I couldn’t use my little finger for the fourth button so had to constantly move my remaining three fingers back and forth. With DJ Hero that’s not a problem – there’s only three streams to worry about and so with the right hand on the buttons (and the right thumb on the side of the deck to make scratching easier) the left hand is free to manage the crossfader, Euphoria button and the little effects dial.
It does all work rather well, and on the harder difficulty settings, when FreeStyle Games were able to map most of what the mix is doing into button prompts (much like Guitar Hero’s upper levels) the game is complex, challenging and a lot of fun – getting a tough sequence right is an achievement highlighted by a big score and an even bigger smile – and when the music’s good everything clicks nicely together. The 4/4 dance tracks worked best for me with the slower hip-hop mixes not nearly as exciting but that’s just personal preference and you might feel differently.
The game is broken down into unlockable set lists – a pack of 5 or so mixes vaguely grouped into genres (but not mixed together – the long pause between tracks is baffling) which can be played alone or with a friend. Chances are most gamers aren’t going to buy two controllers, the price is too prohibitive, but if you can find a friend with the game on the same platform (or you hop online, of course) the multiplayer is a great way to play the game. Activision have marked a few of the set lists as guitar-based, which means the second player uses a Guitar Hero controller instead of a turntable – a nice idea but there’s really not enough guitar tracks available.
Visually it’s a mixed bag – the game runs at a lovely frame rate, as you’d expect, but the various DJ avatars are dumb (and straight from the Neversoft school of design). The various venues are garishly designed, the audience often just 2D cut-outs (even close up) and the quick edits, flashing strobes and various cameras could well induce headaches beyond what loud music could ever hope to achieve. Thankfully, it’s not about the graphics – the audio is mostly great – but an option to dial down the backgrounds would have been appreciated.
My overarching feeling is that DJ Hero is a success – it’s well produced, bug-free (apart from the game sometimes pausing for a split second during mixes, which throws your multiplier) and mechanically sound. It’s disappointing to find that there’s no creation mode, especially given the direction Guitar Hero was going with that side of things, and some of the mixes feature the same a cappella tracks as others bringing the total down somewhat, but this is the first in presumably a series of games so a sequel may have a little more room to play with.
Pros:
- Some of the mixes are great.
- It’s great fun, especially with two players.
- The Guitar-based co-op is a nice idea.
Cons:
- Some of the mixes are dull and fall a little flat.
- On any mode below ‘hard’ your actions don’t really represent the scratching.
- Our turnable doesn’t feel like it’ll last constant hammering.
- The visuals aren’t great, with 2D cutouts populating the audience.
- There’s a few glitches, including mid-track pauses.
- It’s £100.
Verdict:
DJ Hero could easily have been perfect – there’s a huge amount of potential in the idea but I can’t help feeling that a little more time would have evened out the poor mixes and given more in the way of a creation mode. Sure, the music selection that you do get is pretty vast but then launching day one DLC just makes you feel that £100 wasn’t enough money to spend on a video game in this current economic climate. Still, a brilliant idea, the controller is great fun and parties will never be the same again – bring on the sequel: 8/10
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
G_The_Enemy14 | 01/11/2009 10:08
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697 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
Maybe they left all that stuff out for DJ Hero 2? Maybe they’ve learnt that from Guitar Hero so when they do an improved version, they would end up getting more money from more people buying the improved version?
Erroneus | 01/11/2009 10:27
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
2773 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Properly. It is Activision, they do know how to squeeze most money out of people. I just don’t hope we are going to see a DJ Hero 2 withing the next 6 months, hopefully they can wait a whole year like they did with GH1 and GH2.
attacanteblue | 01/11/2009 13:44
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19 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
Or maybe the developers tried to squeeze everything they could into the game, to the point of almost breaking themselves, but had to make some tough decisions along the way as to what made the cut or not.
It’s not always nefarious and money grabbing, y’know…
skibadee | 01/11/2009 18:15
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1970 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
Activision worker lol
G_The_Enemy14 | 01/11/2009 22:13
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697 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
@attacanteblue, Hmm yeah, with activision however, that is extremely unlikely
haza103 | 01/11/2009 10:16
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451 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Apart from the mid track pauses i’d say this game is great. I got it yesterday and it’s really addictive. As for the Turntable feeling like it won’t last, i’d say the complete opposite. It feels quite strong to me. Hopefully they’ll release the soundtrack as some of the mixes are the best things i’ve heard in months!
FRUIT0FDOOM | 01/11/2009 10:34
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490 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
If Nofi uses the same level of enthusiasm, energy and aggression on the Turntables as he does on the race track – ir won’t last long. Gaming with him has taught me that he’s the sort of guy that will be busting zimmer frames as he plods along at break neck speed shunting his way to the front of the post office line to be first on pension day
Michael | 01/11/2009 10:39
Team TSA: Development
2027 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
You think he’d wait until he’s a pensioner though.
hazelam | 01/11/2009 10:29
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2986 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
music games, the new fps, as in flooding the market with dozens and dozens of identikit games.
still if people keep buying them they’ll keep making them, we’ve nobody to blame but ourselves.
well not me, i’ve never bought any of them, my sister has though.
funny thing though, she always turns the music down to concentrate on the game.
FRUIT0FDOOM | 01/11/2009 10:38
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490 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Though I like these music games, I can’t justify £100 on one game. I bought guitar Hero and enjoyed it but never took it beyond normal difficulty as it became too serious at that point, making me question my purchase for £70 back then. Good to see different styles coming to play though. What next? Triangle Hero? Snare drum hero? Oooo – Elastic band over empty tub of I can’t believe it’s not butter Hero
deadairspace | 01/11/2009 10:48
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224 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
“Oooo – Elastic band over empty tub of I can’t believe it’s not butter Hero
”
hah brilliant
ShovellyJoe | 01/11/2009 12:11
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1036 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Damn you Fruit, you’ve made me want to take a nostalgia-induced trip to the kitchen now!
Manorhowze | 01/11/2009 12:28
Driving God
1890 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Conductor Hero, where you take the role of conducting an orchestra.
Aitrus | 01/11/2009 20:08
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1253 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Is uses the Playstation and the wand – and will be huge!
Aitrus | 01/11/2009 20:09
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1253 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
the Playstation *Eye*
hazelam | 01/11/2009 13:12
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2986 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
i can’t believe i can’t believe it’s not butter is not butter
ShovellyJoe | 01/11/2009 13:14
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1036 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Surprisingly, it is!
I’m awaiting Recorder Hero, to be honest I think I might drop Bobby Kotick an email with my pitch!
Soild_Nat | 01/11/2009 10:44
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725 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I agree with some of the comments already posted £100 is a lot to spend on a game that simulates something that maybe i would be better spending my time trying to learn for real.
I have never got into these games myself, great at a mates when a few are around, but thats the only time i would play it, not really got into it on single player. For me this genre of game is a bit like the Wii, you feel you have to own them but only ever play them when people are around and thats it, if you are like me you only have people around twice a year so its a lot to spend for two nights!
stingraz | 01/11/2009 11:03
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2132 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
@ nofi -
great review! 8/10 ’s a fair verdict. however for £100 it’d have to be a 10/10 game for me to spend that kinda dosh. oh & did you get my message ( via that contact button at the bottom) about those 3 trophy lists? thanks in advance – theres no rush to do ‘em, but just thought it was dragging on so sent reminder.
nofi | 01/11/2009 11:11
Wants a custom tag.
3870 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Yes I did. Zuler normally updates me with the latest Trophies – once he’s done that I’ll sort out the TSA Points.
stingraz | 01/11/2009 11:21
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ok thanks. the lists i have done recently are –
Heavy Weapon
Bayonetta
dragonball
thanks for the quick reply.
wedgehog | 01/11/2009 11:04
Friendly
560 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Why a bluetooth dongle when the PS3 has built-in bluetooth? I agree with Solid_Nat’s analogy to the Wii and so from that point of view £100 is far too much to spend on this game.
waddo_89 | 01/11/2009 11:20
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423 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Indeed. I felt the same about the GH World Tour dongles. They had been designed so you could use all your World Tour bits and older guitars together for big parties by acting as USB hubs aswell as wireless thingys, but as you say this surely isn’t necessary, at least with PS3 anyway?! Anybody know of any tech reasons behind this?
Doddsy | 01/11/2009 11:22
Totally Oscar Mike
625 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
I know they identify each instrument as seperate ones. For example, my mate got stinted by GameStop and was not given the dongle, and they refused to give it him as they said it wasn’t neccessary but when he turned his drums on through the guitar dongle it thought the drums were actualy a guitar.
That might be a bit of the reason
zb100 | 01/11/2009 11:19
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500 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
I splashed out on the Renegade Edition & the controller does feel pretty solid.
The hard case/table is well worth it in my books, I don’t have room to leave the controller
sitting around & it’d get stuff piled on it otherwise!
The adjustable table height is a boon too – makes a big difference playing it standing up.
Great title, much more enjoyable than Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
And for the record, I’m also disappointed by the lack of “creation mode” as it’d be really,
really nice to put your own mixes together, but I do understand why.
DJ Hero 2, beatmatching?
Doddsy | 01/11/2009 11:20
Totally Oscar Mike
625 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
I’d feel a bit robbed of my money for this game :/
I like Music Rhythm games, owning or at least having played, most Guitar Hero’s and both Rock Bands. Money for me is so tight now that over the next 3 months I can look forward to owning Modern Warfare 2, and no others. My LoveFILM will be getting a hammering soon.
£100 for an 8/10 game, when I have no real interest in 90% of the tracks, and I don’t have the time for learning a new bag of tricks. I think I’ll pass
gazzagb | 01/11/2009 11:59
Master of speling mitakse
2396 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Not a big fan of music games, even though i love music and gaming. Im still tempted to get Rock Band 2 or something but DJ Hero doesnt interest me at all.
Alex_Assassin_08 | 01/11/2009 12:21
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735 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
seen Nofi playing a lot of this lately on my friends list
Manorhowze | 01/11/2009 12:30
Driving God
1890 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Pretty much what I expected from this game. I cant justify £100 on this game but it is a game I would like. Maybe I can lay some hints for christmas though I doubt it given the price.
BadBoyBoogie | 01/11/2009 12:37
Let There Be Rock
2516 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
A nice idea as an alternative to the Guitar Hero/Rock Band series, but there’s no way I can justify spending that sort of money when I’ve just bought the GH band pack!!
llizard | 01/11/2009 13:18
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86 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
For £100 I’d want to be able to turn my ps3 into a mini recording studio. If you could make your own mixes and export them it would be well worth it.
iNsAnE_gAmInG | 01/11/2009 13:36
* Banned *
-1930 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Great review Nofi. Answered all my questions about it and I have decided that I’ll wait for an at least fairly significant drop in price before purchasing this. Also, I think there needs to be confirmation of further DJ Hero titles coming in the future otherwise spending the £60 will be a bit of a waste and I’d rather pick up Eyepet for a novelty title (while saving £70+).