Live the life of a Mixmaster.
Where DJ Hero differs is not only in the game play but also the in new controller. The new turntable controller simulates (loosely) an actual turntable much like that of Guitar Hero's guitar. Three buttons sit upon the platter which represents track 1, effects, and track 2. One of the biggest differences between Guitar Hero and DJ Hero are the scratches. When a scratch section comes down the highway, you hold the matching button down and move the platter back and forth. On hard and expert levels you have directional scratches in where you move the platter in the direction indicated.
Next to the platter you have the crossfader, Euphoria button (star power) and effects dial. Where things start to get complicated is when the crossfader comes into play. Moving the crossfader from left to right to center can be tricky. Although there is a notch in center of the fader, the slider is a bit too loose which can cause you to over shoot the mark. You have to learn to use the right touch.
Just like in Guitar Hero, there are sections of the highway that glow. If you play these sections perfectly you get Euphoria which is DJ Hero's version of star power that acts as a multiplier when activated. The Euphoria button lights up red when it's ready to be used. The effects dial has two purposes, one to choose a different sample which can be used at certain parts of the song. The second use allows you to alter volume of the song at different points of the mix similar to the whammy bar in Guitar Hero. Adding different samples to a song can be fun and allow you to put your own flavor to the mix; but sadly it serves no real purpose since you don't get points for using it. However using the volume altering effect will not only add points to your score, but it will also act as a multiplier.
Another feature of the game is the Rewind. By getting a high enough streak total you can earn Rewind which lets you rewind a section of a song to play again. You can use Rewind to earn more points or maybe to replay that Euphoria section that you missed. Rewind is activated by simply spinning the platter around.
DJ Hero is a step in a new direction for music games, but it also seems to be a step backwards as well. Features that have become standard for Guitar Hero are missing for DJ Hero. There is no character or music creator. Online Co-op and competitive both are lacking and seem like more of an afterthought. The Party Play mode I think could have been handled a bit better. Honestly these are minor grips and this being the first game of its kind can easily overlooked and will hopefully will be addressed in DJ Hero 2. My only personal problem with the game is that you cannot fail a song. This might not be a problem for most people, but to me since there is no sense urgency to play a song perfectly it defeats the purpose of trying to play well. But one can argue that in order to unlock more characters, outfits, venues, and songs; you have to earn enough stars which you can only do by playing well. The game's $120 price tag may put off some, but I can honestly say that it's well worth the investment. It is a truly awesome game and is a worthy addition to the music game genre.