As a result, DJ Hero had a unique sound that set it apart from any other rhythm title available at the time. While tracks like the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life” are familiar to most, the two songs were mixed into something that sounded familiar, yet completely different at the same time. The Guitar Hero franchise had become well known for its musical variety, but DJ Hero‘s set of original mixes were unlike anything previously seen in the genre. Giving players the freedom to create their own mixes would have certainly increased the game’s replay value, but the musical selections are so strong that it probably worked out for the best. Each song on the soundtrack has been prerecorded by famous DJs such as the late DJ AM and French duo Daft Punk. Despite appearances, players aren’t making custom tracks each time they play.
Unlike other rhythm games, players are given two tracks to start off with, and successfully keeping with the game’s rhythm mixes the two songs. The result is an experience that felt less intimidating, and more welcoming for newcomers.ĭJ Hero‘s career mode places the player in the role of an aspiring DJ.
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Rather than forcing players to stand in front of the TV holding the instrument, players needed to take a seat to use the game’s turntable controller. Even the turntable peripheral gave a different impression than other instruments. The game still provided a challenge, but the title emphasized a more laid back style of play compared to other games in the genre. While the Guitar Hero franchise gained notoriety for YouTube videos of fans playing their fingers off to tracks like “Through the Fire and the Flames,” DJ Hero took a different approach. The death throes of the music game genre had begun. The resulting game was a critical success, but sadly, gamers didn’t quite embrace the title, and sales were weaker than anticipated. The title combined the familiar gameplay of Guitar Hero with a music-making style that had yet to be represented in video game form. Unfortunately, it was at this point that Activision released DJ Hero, one of the finest titles to come out of the music game craze. Between Guitar Hero and competitor Rock Band, interest in video games with space-consuming plastic peripherals had started to wane.
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While the series enjoyed strong sales, particularly on Nintendo systems, franchise fatigue had started to set in. By 2009, Activision had already released a plethora of Guitar Hero titles for Wii and Nintendo DS.