By Justin Roberts

Last year’s “DJ Hero” release introduced a new Hero musical game and a new instrument peripheral with the DJ turntable, but is it just a cheap way to explore a new musical genre?

DJ Hero is different from other musical games because gameplay utilizes two songs at once.  In addition, players use the turntable to play samples, scratch, and crossfade the music.  While all these elements could easily make gameplay a nightmare, in Activision’s skilled hands, the experience is fluid.   There is a degree of difficulty in DJ Hero, and there is a steep learning curve, meaning it requires a few tries to get the hang of the game.

One of DJ Hero’s strong points is that it really makes the player feel as if they are controlling the music. By letting them choose the character, costume, headphones, deck, venue, and even the samples they can play during the song, players are given ample opportunity to add their own individuality to each song.  The game also has a plethora of unlockables, tons of songs (with even more on the way via downloadable content), and a planned sequel.

I give this game a 5/5 for good presentation, great style and an awesome soundtrack.