I have played (and still play on a regular basis) both “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band”, so I was very curious how “DJ Hero” would compare.

You are given a turntable with what looks like one record. On the record you have three colored buttons, these work just like the guitar for “Guitar Hero”; push the button when that color dot reaches the right spot. If it is a long line with slight arrow looking things on it then you hold down that color button while scratching the record. If you want to make things more of a challenge, pick a higher level and you will be given control over the crossfader. You will have to move this back and forth as the screen tells you.

To get higher scores you have the option of using Euphoria (Star Power). Hit all the glowing notes correctly to earn it then push the button to engage it. But there is also a new bonus added. Keep 8X combo going and you can earn a Rewind. Once this is lit up you can spin the turntable backwards and the song will travel back allowing you to hit the same notes again. It will also let you go back and pick up a Euphoria you may have missed.

The game-play is pretty simple to pick up on (especially if you have played other games like this); but it will take some time to get use to things. For me I had to move the table around a bit (on the coffee table, in a chair, standing up with it on a table, etc.) before I found a position that worked well for me. About the only challenge I really faced with this game that was unexpected was just how easy it is to lose the record. Even while pushing down buttons it would often just slip right out from under my fingers. I see that they are now selling slip mats for this so I guess I am not the only one having this problem.

You can play against another player or go online to battle or join a Party Sessions. There is also an option on some of the sets of having a friend join you playing guitar (there are not too many of these). But even if you don’t have someone join you on those the screen will still split displaying the guitar notes too. Honestly I wish that if you do not have someone choosing the option of playing guitar then their notes did not appear. It is a distraction for no reason.

You can “customize” things to a certain point. You have an option of different DJs and some of them have several outfits. You can also pick out you DJ deck, deck skins, headphones, and your freestyle samples. You only have access to a few at first but as you earn stars for your performances you will open up the others. Also there are a variety of locations you can choose to perform.

The styles are all over the place as rock, dance, rap, pop and more are spun together. Chances are good with so many styles mixed together you are not going to like everything; but there is something for almost everyone. There are a few issues I had with the music though. First being how many times some of the songs were used. I heard more “Boom Boom Pow”, “Disturbia”, & “Hollaback Girl” than I would ever care to hear again in my life. Second issue being there are some mixes that are just awful, there is no real beat or pattern or sense that can be made out of it (ex. Foo Fighters “Monkey Wrench” vs. Beastie Boys “Sabotage”). If you can’t dance to it or you can’t use it in the background of song or even sample it what is the point of spinning it? Some of the mixes are closer to just noise than anything else.

Overall it was a fun game that I will go back and play from time to time. They have a few issues that I’m sure will be fixed by the time they release a 2nd one. And hopefully they will be able to get a little more variety with the mixes given the number of songs they have. I also hope that they won’t just force certain songs to go together just to make it happen and take into account that it needs to sound good.