With the rhythm game market becoming so saturated in 2009 (as I've mentioned several times over already), Activision needed to find new and inventive ways to change the landscape, especially after games like "Guitar Hero Smash Hits" and "Guitar Hero: Van Halen" did literally nothing to change up the formula. So, the company met up and decided that the best course of action was to throw a brand-new instrument into the mix. Enter "DJ Hero," the game that made you feel like you were a DJ. And it's a shame this game got released during the market's glut and ended up being thrown to the side because it's pretty great.
"DJ Hero" comes equipped with a peripheral that's honestly excellent to play with. It's responsive, fun, and crafted with care and a high level of quality. The game as a whole is also plenty of fun: the setlist is diverse and enjoyable, and the controls of the turntable are simple to learn yet challenging to master. Even despite the challenge, though, the game as a whole feels pretty balanced in regards to its difficulty. Yes, the mixes can get difficult on Expert, but the game doesn't just throw you into the deep end of a pool to make that level of difficulty happen. The way it strings you along between difficulties is solid, and it really ends up feeling fulfilling when you get to nail a mix on Expert. Like any other rhythm game, "DJ Hero" is perfect to start up a party with, and you'll certainly be jamming out to the many excellent songs.
My only real negative with the game is that, from a multiplayer perspective, the game isn't quite as accessible as some of the other rhythm games of the time: the DJ-vs-DJ mode isn't as immediate or memorable, and it's a bit harder to access given that the cost for the game with a single turntable was already high enough. And while the game does offer a DJ-vs-Guitar that gives you a fun excuse to use your old "Guitar Hero" controllers, it feels a bit too much like a novelty given that only 10 songs can be played in this mode.
Overall, though, "DJ Hero" is a great game, and definitely one of the more underappreciated rhythm games. It's a shame this came out during the time when rhythm games were overloading the market and the genre was running on fumes trying to stay alive, and that it had to suffer as a result. Regardless, if you can get your hands on a copy of it, definitely give it a whirl!
Final rating: 9 out of 10 "Awesome"