The last time the course of the console rhythm games already markedly changed two years ago - with the release of Rock Band. Since then, "Simulations of musicians" of the flagships of the genre did not dare to break out beyond the formula of "Guitar + bass + drums + mic. But things are changing.
For inspiration go far did not have to - to have spent on the Guitar Hero scheme for a role model was taken from an old Japanese classic Konami - Beatmania. However, for a DJ Hero borrowed a pivotal idea, while Controller turntables and proper game mechanics developed from scratch.
At the core gameplay of the tradition are moving on three tracks, "notes", which in passing through the control line at the bottom of the player must press the corresponding button on the turntable. As in Guitar Hero, here is a "long note" - glasses, during which the button must be held, and "plate" of the controller to move back and forth. Continuing the analogy with a series of guitar: the role of whammy-lever here is the switch pitch (pitch). Sequentially scrolling through it in different directions, the player gets twice as many points. True, you can use it only in certain areas, and it works differently - its effects can spread as on some single track, and on all three at once. Star Power, also increases the number of earned points, DJ Hero is called "euphoria" and, as always, present a perfect pass special highlighted sections of the song. Another way to get bonus points - unwinding the plate back, the opportunity bestowed a very good game.
 | Socialization? |
With the "big brother» Guitar Hero game dedicated associates multiplayer mode, in which one player to a turntable joins the second with a plastic guitar. Similarly, however, allowed to play only a limited set of mixes. More important, as seen, for the developers had a different mode - "revolving on turntables. The probability of finding a room at once two controllers on DJ Hero seems too elusive, to be content online.
 | |  | Play in DJ Hero is impossible - how bad a person may cope, the song always comes through.Here are the stars will be given less | | Tracks in the set follow each other almost without interruption - the game can include background on the parties and to save money on a DJ |
Except for this innovation, game mechanic is very similar to Guitar Hero, is not it? This impression is alive only at a low level of complexity. Even at medium appears very important element - to switch tracks. Thanks to him, other than "music", full participants in the action and get yourself a track on which they move. A player like DJ, we have to carefully watch them and time to install a special switch (cross-fader) to the desired position. Fingers of it, contrary to fears, not confused and do not break - all controls are located on the controller is very fortunate. But that's not all! At the level of hard some "notes" to be performed simultaneously with the motion of the plate in a certain direction, but on expert on most scratch plate to swing no longer random, but precisely as required. Thus, the complexity of the game by changing the level of increase is not so much because of the fact that the "notes" climb more and more inconvenient (although this factor is present in DJ Hero), but because of the need to learn to use new technology. It is easy to understand that the appeal pereprohozhdeny only increases.
However, the return is only meaningful to the individual tracks - a complete single-campaign in DJ Hero no. Instead proposed a system of sets, each containing a few songs each. As a set of stars for the passage of fresh tracks open more new sets. The catch is that these same stars can be earned in the ordinary quickplay. The exception is sets from top DJs, often contain bonus tracks, which will reach only upon successful passage of the entire list.
| Step Brothers |
Almost at the same time with DJ Hero was announced a very similar game on the same topic - Scratch: The Ultimate DJ. Its developer at the time made 7 Studios, and the controller was created by Numark, the world's largest manufacturer of DJ-equipment. Externally it is very similar to the device from the console Beatmania: the apparatus moved five of the seven keys and a "plate", and the company was named the crossfader. Judging by the early commercials, the Japanese source has been borrowed and gameplay - the player most of the time tap the melody on the keys, only occasionally resorting to the scratch. However, even in such a game would be able to compete with DJ Hero - Fan Beatmania complete and the West. But - has begun a series of misfortunes: Activision developer bought with giblets, and ready at the time code of the game publishers had to pull through the courts. The timing is badly affected - exit the game was postponed from last spring in the first quarter of 2010.
 | |  | On the red track sometimes come freestyle zone, during which the player can yell "chants" or fool around with the sounds of police sirens. Not much point in it, but sort of hooligan fun to screw their "ISPs, ISPs!" In tune | | The order of "euphoria" is not analogous to Star Power of Guitar Hero.A player may simultaneously hold only three charges, but allowed to activate immediately after the first. Unfortunately, the multipliers "euphoria", fast pitch and do not add up |
By the way, remember how specifically for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock gathered the remaining members Sex Pistols and re-Anarchy in the UK? It seems tracklist of the master recordings now no longer fashionable to boast of - in DJ Hero absolutely all 93 songs created specifically for the game. The majority - the development team, but some mixes made famous DJs from around the world - DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash, Scratsh Perverts, and the duo Daft Punk; many of them are available as playable characters. Served as the basis for songs of various genres, from hip-hop to metal. I do not know who taught FreeStyleGames, but their mixes, as well as by guest stars - beyond fantasy, even though many of the songs are published on a separate disk. Of course, as with any rhythm game Activision, assortment of songs in a DJ Hero will continue to increase (already increased!) Due to downloadable content - at the time of writing had come out two sets of DLC, and in the coming weeks tracklist the game promises to enrich the singing Eminem.
Wealth of customization compared to the guitar serials, however, faded. Given a choice about fifteen characters, both original and licensed, two dozen turntables with several skins, each so about the same model of headphones. Locations and at all unattractive, even though the game does not distract (the primacy of originality remains for Guitar Hero 5), and the whole background graphic.
But these are nuances. DJ Hero is definitely a success, tore off the bat, taking a very good start. How will her fate further - we will not speculate, just wait. Benefit boring this expectation will not be exact.
| Thinking aloud |
And yet it is not clear where to go. There is no doubt that Activision will rivet to DJ Hero sequels, additional content - in general, in every possible way to strengthen brand by returning to the slow, evolutionary path. It has long been rumored to develop a Drum Hero, but to release exclusive games for each instrument (especially since been submitted to the "main" TV series) - as a disadvantage, at least for the player. In addition to monitor three or four in any way with each other serials are not compatible - no fanaticism is not enough, the market for music games already saturated.
 | |  | Guitarists in DJ Hero is not boring - try here bored at Ace of Spades! | | Daft Punk dress up in clown outfits do not come out - for real characters change costume option is disabled |
| SECRET! |
As usual, impatient players Activision has left loopholes - chitkody.
- 76ST - hypervelocity
- 5rTG - View DJ Z-Trip
- k07u - Open DJ AM
- n1fz - View DJ Jazzy Jeff
- oMxV - View DJ Shadow
- Ami8 - Open Grandmaster Flash
- D1G? - View Daft Punk
- tol0 - View all content at once
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