DJ Hero Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

  • Summary: DJ Hero drops the needle with a completely fresh experience and legendary artists including Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent, Justice, Marvin Gaye, Beck, Beastie Boys and N.E.R.D. DJ Hero features more than 100 individual songs that have been transformed into more than 80 exclusive, original mixes by superstar DJs including DJ Shadow, DJ Z-Trip, DJ AM, and the legendary Grandmaster Flash. With an innovative, new turntable controller and the hottest music collection of original music, DJ Hero is a unique new social music gaming experience that excite the millions of dance club music fans who can now play along to hit songs from a range of genres including hip-hop, R&B, pop, rock and electronica allowing them to rule the party with original mixes. Joining the internationally acclaimed DJ, producer and recording artist DJ Shadow, who has been consulting and contributed several mixes for DJ Hero, and making their video game debuts, DJ Z-Trip, a founder of the mashup movement who’s known worldwide for his sold out shows and eclectic style, and DJ AM, one of the world’s premier and most in-demand DJs today, appear as in-game characters and have each created multiple exclusive mixes for DJ Hero. In DJ Hero, faces in the crowd are transformed into the life of the party as the game’s turntable controller - created exclusively for DJ Hero and featuring familiar DJ tools including a fully-rotating turntable, sample buttons, effects dial and cross fader - immerses fans into the authenticity of DJ culture and a sea of music. By utilizing and mastering various DJ techniques including scratching, blending, cross fading and sampling, while leaving room for creative expression with a variety of effects and player chosen samples and scratches, gamers rule the party performing music as only a DJ can. Social expression is heightened with euphoric multiplayer gameplay where two DJs can battle competitively or have a player join in to emcee over any track in the game with a mic. Additionally, gamers can rock together as DJ Hero features DJ-guitar exclusive mixes played with a turntable controller and Guitar Hero guitar controller. [Activision] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. 100
    As much fun as Guitar Hero - and perfect for any party. The music is great, but we miss some more game modes.
  2. DJ Hero is without question Activision's coolest rhythm game. The turntable has its drawbacks (it's a bit small for larger folks), but that soundtrack will give you a new appreciation for music and perhaps satisfy your DJ fantasy. Just don't pass this off as another game with a useless peripheral. It's one of the sweetest, most original games we've played in a long time.
  3. The mixer-turntable controller is very responsive and as a peripheral, it is of a high quality.
  4. Top-class music game with great tunes and difficulty levels to suit beginners and experts alike. Shame about the 'aspirational' pricing. [Winter 2009, p.50]

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Fred
    10
    Awesome fun! Thought this was going to be a game for our teens to play when I took mama out for a date night, but I find myself dreaming of becoming the next Crystal Method! Give it a go! Collapse
  2. WeaverG
    9
    DJ Hero is a much needed breath of fresh air in the music game genre. I love the sheer volume and variety of tracks out of the box - more than Guitar Hero and Rock Band. However, I have two complaints. DJ Hero needs to allow for multiple profiles to allow unlocking new content for everyone. The lack of SD card support is a major failure - it was available in Guitar Hero 5! Regardless of the shortcomings, DJ Hero is a blast to play and has music for just about anyone. Expand
  3. TrentO
    8
    A couple hours in, the game itself is a ton of fun. My biggest gripe with the Wii version is having to shove the Wiimote into the peripheral to make it work. For one thing, it doesn't fit properly (the door won't close once it's in), and for another, how can Activision charge the same price for the Wii deck when it doesn't even have wireless or power built in like the 360 or PS3 versions? Expand
  4. JimmusM
    5
    Horrible stuff. Sure, it's solid, technically; and the turntable peripheral is interesting and well-made. It's just NOT FUN, and feels more like an electronic game of Simon or Bop-it with a musical slant. There are some interesting (I didn't say all good) mixes of various songs, but throwing a scratch or fade-out only on-command doesn't really allow any creativity, with the exception of using a custom sample in a set. Unless you have aspirations of being a Dj, I think you can give this game a pass. Expand

See all 5 User Reviews