DJ Hero Stand Alone Software

by ACTIVISION

Product Features

• The ability to battle your friends or jam together at home or online with two turntables or one turntable and a Guitar Hero guitar controller.
• Game bundle including software for Xbox 360 and the exclusive DJ Hero turntable/mixer controller that allows players to scratch and mix their way to hero status.
• Variety of unique musical content featuring in the form of 80+ DJ mixes pulled from multiple genres including Hip Hop and Dance music fused with Rock, Pop and R&B.
• Variety of multiplayer co-op and competitive modes including DJ vs. DJ, DJ + DJ and DJ + Guitar.
• Engaging and easy to pick-up rhythm based gameplay in the Guitar Hero tradition.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0028ZNX68
• Product Dimensions: 18.3 x 11 x 3.9 inches ; 4.2 pounds
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 27, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (149 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,582 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #45 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Rhythm > Musical Instruments
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: Xbox 360 | Edition: Bundle with Turntable

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

Although the Guitar Hero series has only been around since 2005, the gobs of exposure--or perhaps over exposure--that it has received has fueled an understandable amount of skepticism among many gamers regarding the future of the overall franchise. After all, once a music game has conquered single player, two-player, artist-specific, full band multiplayer and handheld action, where does it go? Answer: into the DJ booth with DJ Hero. Recently I was able to spend some time with a Xbox 360 demo of the game that has been making the rounds, and here is what I came away with. Challenge yourself with realistic DJ gameplay mechanics and multiple point multipliers. View larger. Put your old Guitar Hero axe to work in DJ and Guitar mode. View larger. Go head-to-head against a friend in DJ vs. DJ mode. View larger. Action in DJ Hero revolves around a Guitar Hero style note highway which streams color coated prompts toward the player, in the role of DJ, who input these via the bundled game-specific wireless turntable/mixer controller. The turntable portion of the controller is made up of a realistic platter that spins all the way around in both directions when pushed by the player and has familiar green, red and blue buttons attached on top. The mixer half has a sliding three-position fader bar, a button used to activate star power like "Euphoria" gameplay sections which temporarily double point multipliers, an effects knob and a hidden control panel containing your console's standard navigational buttons. Gameplay takes you through pre matched, two-jam tracks, with the green and blue buttons oriented on the left and right edges of the note highway and on the platter representing these, and the red button in the middle providing a spot to add samples, which can be changed at various times in the game with the effects knob. Players must perform three main types of DJ actions when prompted by the note highway: taps, which are beat matching actions requiring the pushing of buttons on the platter; fader bar moves indicating either a selection of one of the two tracks during the jam, or a mix of the two; and scratching, which entails selecting one of the two tracks on the platter and moving the turntable quickly up and down. In addition, players can activate Euphoria strategically, as success throughout sections of a track fills the Euphoria meter at the left, and shoot for the additional bonus of a Rewind, given for perfection in certain sections, and allowing the player to replay that same section again for additional points. It's interesting how this latest release in the series parallels the historical deconstructive trend in actual pop music, which saw Hip-hop, Electronica, House, and other musical genres rise through the use of DJ sampling and mixing techniques, but does this mean that DJ Hero will enjoy as much success and be as good a play experience as some of the Hero games that came before it? Only time will tell, but after a few hours breaking it down on the DJ deck myself, it seems to me that the game has a major thing going against it, and an equally important positive thing going for it that together will probably decide this for most players. The negative is that the controller used is a bit more difficult to operate than any used in earlier games, except perhaps the drums of Guitar Hero World Tour, while the positive is that the overall gameplay is as fun and infectious as any seen in the series. To be clear, the controller issues alluded to are by no means a deal breaker. More than anything else, what the vast majority of players will be challenged by in the DJ Hero controller is their unfamiliarity with a DJ deck. As popular as DJ influenced music is in reality, not too many fans per capita have had hands-on experience with the tools of the trade, unlike the legions of Guitar Hero fans, purchasing in their millions, who are at least somewhat familiar with how a guitar, drum and microphone work. Another inconvenience related to the controller is its fairly cramped layout, with both sections residing right next to each other and no apparent way to create space between the two pieces without disconnecting them. This is enhanced by the fact that in many cases the controller may be more easily worked from a high platform in front of the standing player, potentially making this lack of space even more of a problem. But as with any new controller type, muscle memory will kick in with practice and players become more comfortable with the basic DJ mechanics of the game. There are also some simple hints doled out by the in-game tutorials that should be heeded, like when scratching make sure to let go at the end of each scratch, and anchor your hand to the turntable deck with your thumb to avoid spinning the platter too wildly. Also, the two pieces of the controller can be swapped to allow for left-handed play, and thankfully DJ Hero's development team recognized that discouraged players are not a good thing and did away with the familiar Guitar Hero scenario of AI audiences booing a player off the stage. If you are screwing up they will still let you know, but at least players will always get the experience of finishing. At the end of each set you are rated at 1-5 stars, where the more stars you get the more tracks are unlocked and DJ gear is made available to you. The gradual organization of the game's four play settings also help you build confidence by introducing more advanced skills as you progress. In Easy, players primarily use tapping and a simplified form of scratching. The Medium setting adds fader bar functionality. Play on the Hard level requires precise directional scratching, where you must scratch in the same direction as the note highway. The assumption is that Expert level bumps things up even farther, although this level was not available with the demo played. Finally, as part of the fun built into the game, players can expect various ways to play and experience the game. These include a variety of gameplay modes including single player, a head-to-head multiplayer DJ vs. DJ mode where two players work their way through the same track for the best possible point total, the multiplayer Guitar and DJ mode which is compatible with all Guitar Hero guitars made for the same platform, and Party Mode where scoring is turned off and you can just listen to the 80+ unique mixes by big name DJs included in the game. And as with all games in the Guitar Hero series players can expect some pretty deep character customization options to be made available as their skills rise. Taken together does all this equate to a quality music gameplay experience? Well, what I've seen is pretty solid, so if you are a fan of both Guitar Hero type gameplay and DJ music and culture, I'd say you almost certainly will not be disappointed. Also, with its new controller, as well as different and in many places, challenging gameplay, if you are more interested in DJ Hero as a departure from series' very well-worn gameplay mold, you will probably be equally happy. Tom Milnes, Amazon.com/games freelance contributor

Product Description

Be the life of the party! The makers of Guitar Hero introduce an entirely fresh and innovative way to experience your favorite music. With DJ Hero you will be the life of the party as you spin and scratch more than 100 songs into unique mixes. Get ready for a whole new phenomenon in music.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DJ Hero: Supporter - Reasons Why, October 29, 2009

By 

J. N. Gillespie "Wizard of Endings" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Xbox 360 DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable (Video Game)

Okay I won't waste your time if you are not into music games and you think a person should learn the real thing I can't help those people. But if you are interested in a different music game, like music games, and would appreciate a normal point of view (non-critical one) please read on.

So the I was unsure if I could play DJ Hero, I have no idea what I am doing, never been to a club in my life, but I can play this. I am okay at Guitar Hero play hard on guitar and drums, but scratching is another matter. But the controls are easy, start on beginner if you are unsure. The notes and gameplay make more sense when hearing actual music. Watching game play videos online didn't help me feel like I could do it. The tuturials are easy and really get you normalized to the settings. The game doesn't (for me) cramp up my hand like the guitar does, I don't need to sit in a certain position to best play (even though a flat surface would be good). The game is good.

Now if you want to learn real DJing this won't help you, it WILL though help you appreciate what DJ's do. I mean to think of the beats like they do. Who would know to mix songs like that, and the exactness you have to have in order for a record to sound good is verys specific. I must say I thought DJ just stood there and looked cool, but they have to pay attention and really listen to what they are doing. They are artist and I appreciate them now after playing the game.

If you like Guitar Hero only because of the rock songs, you might not enjoy this as much because it is Hip Hop R&B and Techno song based. It does have a club / urban feel to it, I like it. I like all types of music. Guitar Hero and Rock Band has songs that I remember in High School, these have songs I remember before that and after mixed nices. If you have a good sound system, you feel you are in the club and it will be important to play the song right.

But this may be an early note and maybe because I didn't fail yet, but I DONT SEE A FAILING SYSTEM - there were a few times I thought that I should have been booed off the stage of the DJ on the game would through the disk across the room but I didn't get that, I made it through each song.

So far I love the game, I refused to go online right now and get super embrassed at my non-DJing skills, but the play is simple, enough not to frustrate you where you aren't haven't fun, there are higher levels for you who figure they need impossible to even get a thrill. It is worth your money though if you think you can enjoy it.

And let me add, not everyone is musically inclined, not everyone has time or the money to learn real instruments and DJ skills and such. So please let us enjoy the games because DJ Hero (along with other music games) open our eyes to what is out there, new music, styles, and appreciation for the real things. Don't be a hater be a supporter.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm surprised to think I would've passed this up if I hadn't dared myself to get it., November 1, 2009

By 

Nathan Surber - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Xbox 360 DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable (Video Game)

Let me start by saying that I've never been a big fan of this current generation of peripheral-based music games, such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band, etc. Sure I own a copy of GH2 and 3 (3 given to me as a gift from the bargain bin). I have a couple of GH controllers. But after the first few weeks with those games the thrill was gone. I could only play on easy mode. I'd got booed off the stage in defeat. Things in the game I wanted to try or see remained forever locked because I was neither good at it, didn't have the time to get good at it, and even a small session would cramp my hands bad enough to wonder if I might actually develop arthritis from simply trying to play this game that I already paid a mint for. While GH has had great success, and is actually a pretty cool game, I found it rather discouraging and inaccessible.

I was therefore very skeptical about the new "spin" on this latest entry of the genre and brand, DJ Hero. I hardly kept it on my gaming forecast radar for all the bad memories of GH past and the fact that I figured it'd just be more of the same and slanted to rake the pockets of hip hop fans. Well, brothers and sisters, I am happy to report how wrong I was. I LOVE THIS GAME!

I saw it on display at a retail store. Everyone was crowded around and I became bold enough to start an inquiry. Is it hard? How much like GH is it? How are the songs? Is it fun? Well, long story short, somehow I dared myself to buy it for the entry level price, $120. I had a friend coming over that night and so I thought we might both give it a try and, if I didn't like it, maybe I'd trade it to him for half the price and cut my losses.

Well, I got it home, hooked it up rather easily, started the in-game tutorials and never looked back. DJ Hero takes what was right with GH and practically fixed all of the aforementioned flaws. This game has improved on so many aspects that GH laid out in the past. It's a very fresh take on this new music-based peripheral genre. It's very accessible to ALL player skills. The gentle tutorial will lead your way to hours of great fun and music. Players will also feel a sense of accomplishment as the learning curve is very low. The game play is not as unforgiving as GH where you have to practice all the time and/or be a freak and end up with arthritis to get good at it and not get booed off the stage or be unable to unlock other parts of the game.

The peripheral it comes with is easy to learn and will get you playing in no time. Everything makes sense with this game. After the quick tutorials, you'll be dying to try everything this game has to throw at you and you never feel like it's a chore. It plays like GH in that you react to the oncoming rhythm indicators but, instead of the guitar, you have a DJ turntable with only three buttons you need to push accordingly, along with just a few other knobs to turn. Players should find this set up very intuitive. The peripheral it comes with is very capable, sturdy, and wireless. It's also customizable for R-L hands, and it's a LOT of fun playing around with that thing.

The best thing about this game is simply that it's a lot of fun without a lot of work. There are enough songs to suit anybody's taste, and almost every song has been remixed anyway so that most songs will sound new to anyone. There are plenty of goodies to unlock and the best part is you don't have to master the game to unlock them. Just playing the game enough and doing well will have you unlocking items all the time, and like I said, it's not hard to play well. You can make it as hard as you want though. The game is fun and will reward you for as easy or as hard as you want to play it. There's even a bonus to the gameplay where you can plug in your old GH guitar into the second port and, for certain mixes, play dual turntable/guitar sessions with a friend.

The only drawbacks to this game is that if you play it for a really long time the novelty and fun might not be as appealing as it was when you first started. Like I said, you won't be booed off the stage so you probably won't put down the turntable until the thrill is gone. You'll come back to it time after time, most likely, but the game will potentially lose its shine. The only other drawback that I can see is the price. $120 is pretty steep even at the entry level and there is a premium $200 "Renegade" edition where you get a more fortified turntable, a stand, a solid DJ like case, and an exclusive Jay-Z/Eminem CD. Most people should be happy with the $120 edition though. You get the same songs either way and the turntable is just fine with the entry level purchase.

In closing, if you already like these peripheral-based music games, DJ Hero is something you probably want to check out. If you're new to these types of games or have given up on them, as I have done in the past, DJ Hero is a very fresh and inviting new entry into the genre. Fun for you, for friends, for family, for parties, for anything to do with music gaming. DJ Hero should be a GREAT time and product for just about anybody.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Music Game Yet!, April 4, 2010

By 

C. Ramos (Hagerstown, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Xbox 360 DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable (Video Game)

I've played Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and neither one come close to how much fun I've had with DJ Hero!

Pros:
- Original/Unique gameplay you won't find anywhere else
- Great turntable peripheral that feels sturdy and performs flawlessly
- AMAZING soundtrack that makes you want to play more, just so you can here more music
- Fun multiplayer that is virtually accessible to anyone via the guitar/DJ mode
- All original music! Every song in the game is a mash-up of 2 songs, making the soundtrack completely fresh
- Good value at $40.00 (Worth every penny)
- Great for parties, you can play it with friends or just let the game run by itself so you can just listen to the music

Cons:
- DLC is EXPENSIVE!
- Has a steep learning curve between difficulty levels
- Using the DJ turntable to navigate the menus can be tedious
- DJ Vs. DJ mode is kinda bland due to the fact you and your opponent do the EXACT same thing
- Crossfade bar is hard to get used to
- Finding the euphoria button (aka star power) can be hard when you're trying to focus while playing difficult tracks

Overall, I love this game! I was a little unsure about it when I bought it, but a couple minutes of playing it cleared that all up. I would recommend this game to anyone who loves music and is looking for something to have fun with and enjoy with friends!

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