Exactly what you would expect from a sequel.

User Rating: 8.5 | DJ Hero 2 X360
Almost exactly a year later, FreeStyleGames offers up its second helping of DJ Hero. There have been a few new additions to the game but nothing groundbreaking. They've seemed to have found a winning formula and have no intention of tampering with it. However, the game itself is still as solid as it was last year. So instead of focusing on what's the same, for the purposes of this review, I will focus on the improvements and additions that are offered.

DJ Hero 2's theme this year seems to be all about freestyling. You're now able to freely scratch and crossfade during certain sections, which actually works out pretty well. It's an interesting addition and allows you to mix things up a bit each time you play through a track. The sampler also plays a bit different. Instead of choosing a sample pack to play with during your mix, each track has it's own set of samples that go a long with it. They can range from instruments, sound effects and vocal samples that are usually grabbed straight from the song, which is completely different from last year's version.

Too make the game even more difficult then it was, they've added notes that need to be held and long directional scratches. Believe me, Expert difficulty is much more chaotic when you're trying to hold down a button, press the one beside it with a different finger and scratch in rhythm with the track. I still think DJ Hero is the hardest rhythm game on the market, however, that may change with the 102 key Rockband guitar that's coming out next year. For now, DJ Hero can continue to sit on its throne of complexity.

Even though the game can be extremely intense, through career play, you can unlock different turntables. Some of the tables, called Power Decks, come with special abilities, which make grabbing those five stars much easier. All of the abilities help get those massive scores you will see on the leaderboards and add a bit of strategy to the game play. For example, you will have to pick between a turntable that will give you more points for every scratch you do or a table that makes Euphoria last twice as along.

Perhaps the cheapest Power Deck, and I know a lot of people will agree with this, is the table that allows you to rewind two entire sections instead of the usual one. Top tier players know in order to get those high scores, Rewind is crucial. Being able to go back twice as far makes the table overpowered.

If you're looking to earn these new turntables, you will need to play through Empire mode, which is this year's career campaign. Nothing has really changed and it's pretty straightforward.

You pick a set list and play through them to unlock new tracks, venues, characters and outfits. You're pretty much forced to play through the lackluster career mode but I hope in the future they can make the career mode more interactive. They really need to get away from its currently linear format.

The game itself is aesthetically improved, both visually and audibly. When you've created a track list, each song goes into the next to keep the party going. The visuals are crisp and run smooth with all the lights and activity going on around the DJ. The DJ's modeled after some names in the industry, such as Tiesto and RZA, are fairly accurate representations. There's only so much you can do to make an in-game character look like the real thing. One thing that gets on my nerves is the amount of product placement within the game. You will see Coca-Cola bottles on the DJ table, on shirts and banners, along with some big names in audio equipment like Rokit and Stanton. Even if a sponsorship helps pay the bills, there's something about seeing a real life product in game that takes away from the enjoyment.

The sound is where this game shines. I know, all of Activision's rhythm games sound great but DJ Hero does it all right. Even if music is subjective, there's no denying that all the tracks are well put together. The idea of blending two tracks together, which essentially makes an entirely new sound, is genius and is something music games needed. Some of the tracks are so well done that they should have their own singles available. This is definitely something the franchise has going for it. Other then that, the sound is what you would expect.

Perhaps the biggest changes made to the game are the small details that were missing in the first DJ Hero. The menus are still easy to navigate through but now players have the option of tagging preferred tracks in the list to easily locate their favourite mixes. On top of this, you can now save the track lists you've made instead of sifting through them and wasting time. Track lists can also consist of more than eight songs and can be shuffled to mix things up a bit.

Despite being another party-type game, I find myself once again unimpressed by the multiplayer. There are a lot of new options strictly created for you and a buddy but it still feels lacking. The new Battle mode, where you take turns ripping up a track, is definitely the highlight of the additions, but other then that, it's standard fare. Oddly enough, DJ Hero 2 offers players the option of busting out a microphone and rockin' it. However, it's a little odd since players manning the turntables can rewind the track, forcing the MC to stand around silent for a bit. It's a nice feature but poorly implemented.

If none of your buddies are around, taking the game online will pit you against the world's best heroes. However, playing ranked matches is severally broken. You're given the option to choose what level of player you're looking to be matched against but I've found it difficult to find players that play on Expert and I'm eventually matched up against players of lower skill. Winning a ranked match is based on percentages.

Each difficulty has different score requirements, so 100 per cent on Medium is much lower than on Expert. With that being said, an Expert player will have a difficult time beating someone on a lower difficulty. Out of the ten matches I've played, I've only managed to win once. If winning isn't your thing, there are lots of badges and titles.

Conclusion:
DJ Hero 2 is a great addition to Activision's already stellar music game line-up. Even as a sequel, it injects new life into a formula that has slowly become stale over the years, yet manages to keep it familiar. All the tracks are brand new and there will be the inevitable overpriced DLC available for those that can afford it. People who loved the last installment will absolutely love this one.