I played this game going through 4 songs and when I was done, I knew it wasn't for me. First, the music is awesome, the mixes are pretty cool, BUT after going through it, I felt nothing. You sit akwardly with the ONE turntable (they really need two in order to make it a DJ experience) and the placement of your hand is so awkward. The song starts playing and you press a few buttons and move the record a little for the scratches and it is over. In fact, one aspect of the game I absolutely hate is them inserting a whistle as part of the DJ experience. There is no "whistle" aspect when you are actually DJing, this makes no sense.

So the game is awkward, its not as fun as Guitar Hero. It would have been a lot better if it was two turntables and a mixer versus just one turntable and it is soooo not engaging. You practically sit motionless moving your fingers a little. You are less motionless than just playing a regular RPG or shooter. I felt so disconnected from the music even though I thought the music was great. If you had ever DJ for real in your life, you are absolutely going to HATE it. At least in Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Band Hero etc they engage you on every song. Actually when I first played Guitar Hero in best buy, it was a "gotta have it". While this game, for me after playing it was "eh, so what". Oh and the price tag, even for the one that you actually need to get (The Renegade Editioin) is way way way too high. Heck for a [...] I can get me a complete PS3 or a Samsung Blu-Ray player, but I don't think I want to spend [...] for just one game. I mean everything is made out of cheap plastic anyways. If it was $99 dollars I say, sure get it, but [...].. no way. It's is not a [...] worth of fun.

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Bought this for my 15yr old, and my husband likes playing it, and even my 4yr old daughter...Renegade edition i think was a good choice because it comes with the carrying case that turns into a table with adjustable legs...

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First off. DJ Hero is a great game. It has it's similar momemnts to Guitar Hero but it stands alone as its own great game. The music is great and the only complaint I have about that is not enough hip-hop. Some may not agree but Guitar Hero/Rockband featured a lot of Rock/Pop as they should. Well since this is is DJ Hero, I figured it would have a lot more classic/new Hip-Hop and maybe Techno. The game still has Rock in it though and I just find that to be kind of weird, but I know in the future there will be more DLC to come along. Overall I love the music though still.

The Renegade edition being $80 more than the standard bundle should still be looked at. I bought the Renegade edition because of the Black/Gold Turntable controller and the Stand/Case. The controller looks a lot better than the grey one thats standard. In my opinion and the case is very sturdy and will hold anything that inside it that comes with this edition. It includes Eminem/Jay-Z cd's, Turntable, Game, Sticker, Legs for the stand and Instructions. I usually use the stand sitting down, which works perfectly for me. When you pull the legs out further it begins to wobble but still works fine. I would reccomend the Renegade edition if you plan on keeping this game for a long time and not trade it in. The Case will keep everything it comes with looking new.

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The game overall is awesome, I think. There are a lot of great mixes that I wish I could just listen to in my car, but there are a few that I don't care for too much either. The pros outweigh the cons by far however. The game takes a little getting used to before you actually get good and are able to enjoy the game for what it is. There is a really good tutorial you do prior to actual game play that will get you on the right track.

Is the game worth the $90-$100 you would pay for just the game with turntable controller? Yes, it definitely is.

Is the game worth $199 with the addition of a music CD, a carrying case/table, and an a black and gold turntable? No, I think not. The case/table is where I am assuming most of your money is going to as the music CD is nothing fancy whatsoever. I enjoy both JayZ and Eminem, but this CD was nothing extra or worthwhile to me. The table and case are nice, don't get me wrong, but not really worth the amount of extra money it goes for; maybe $135-$150 would be a little more realistic.

If you are contemplating buying the game and can do without the case/table, then stick with the regular edition; you are not missing out on much. If you MUST have the case/table for whatever personal preferences, then you have no choice but to spend this amount, unless you put together your own (which is possible, but not convenient).

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My wife has always had pipe dreams of being a dj so when I saw the Renegade edition advertised, I had to get it for her and the release coincided perfectly with our wedding anniversary! I bought the pre-release version which was totally cooler than waiting at a store at midnight (unless that's what you wanted to do#, so it was just a matter of waiting for the delivery! As far as the gameplay, the game is really a lot of fun from what I can tell (my wife won't let me on!) But it incorporates a lot of dj stuff like sampling, scratching and crossfading. If you like Rock Band, it will be really easy to get into this, and the tutorial by Grand Master Flash is very cool and funny! The track list is awesome with selections from Eminem, Jay-Z, and Cyprus Hill to name a few. YOU HAVE TO GET THIS!!!

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Before I made my actual decision on which DJ Hero to purchase, I researched and read many reviews on Amazon to help me. I kept reading reviews on how $80 on the Renegade was ridiculous because all you get is a stand/case and a CD. Amnd through reading other people's views, I was siding with them. Yes, times are hard and no, I dont really have the money to waste but when I asked my Husband we decided to do the Renegade Edition. And I am SOOO HAPPY that we did.

I found it best to set the stand up for play. If I did not have the stand, I would have been hitting myself for passing it up. This game is truly a game for all to love. It is all and more than it was made out to be. If you are unsure whether to spend the money - get the game no matter what! But, if you are able to get the stand, it more accessible for play and to put away when done.

We cannot wait for the DJ Hero 2 to come out... hopefully soon.

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The goods:

I opted for the renegade edition because I didn't want to have to setup some a hodgepodge of coffee table, stack of books, or the right size stool to jam with. In-lap could work ok, but then the arm placement is cramped. If you feel like you'll have a good setup without the stand then I wouldn't worry about getting this edition, but I'm glad that I got it despite the crazy price because I have a setup that works well while sitting or standing and doesn't get in the way. The case gives the impression of surprizing high quality but had a slight cosmetic manufacturing defect. I decided to live with that, but some quality control here would have been nice.

The turntable itself appears to be well made and has a solid feel. One thing that surpised me, is that the crossfade does in fact snap into the middle of its track, and its enough for me to have the tactile feel I need to control it well. Many reviewers have raised the issue that there is not enough feedback there, but at least for me, I have no complaints. If I move the crossfader from one side to the other it will stop in the middle if a light enough hand is applied. I don't know if this feel is exclusive to the Renegade edition or not, as I have not tried the standard turntable.

The effects dial also has a solid feel as well as the turntable. The overall impression of the hardware is one of realism and quality. So apart from the cosmetic manufacturing defect on the outside of the case/stand, the hardware itself gets a solid A.

The gameplay:

Solid hardware or not, if the gameplay suffers there is going to be a serious problem. The presentation is right for this type of game, it is flashy and technical. Laser like effects provide feedback while spinning, lines animate and light up as they are activated or disappear after a mistake, and a lot of information is packed into a small area. Button presses, crossfades, crossfader spikes, directional scratches, generic scratches, freestyle zones, effects zones, euphoria guage, and multiplier and rewind indicator are all grouped around the spinning record animation. This is the kind of technical look that is well suited for DJing (and particularly electronica) in my mind, and I really liked it.

The gameplay itself is good on medium difficulty (have not tried easy apart from the tutorial) but it really shines on hard and especially expert difficulty. One important attribute of these types of games is that they must draw one in and give the illusion that the player is creating or greatly affecting the music. This illusion is understandbly strongest when the actions and movements the player is making are closely aligned with what is going on in the music.

This is where DJ Hero shows both a weakness vs. the guitar based genres. While I still feel connected to the jam on medium, I do not get the same connection that I did in guitar hero on medium. However, when playing hard and especially expert, I feel a very strong connection to the music and I feel like I am DJing.

As a percussionist, I have an aptitude for these games and was playing on expert very quickly. But those who had a lot of difficulty with guitar hero / rock band instruments may have a different experience than me. I think to get the most out of this game requires getting to that hard and expert level as early as possible. But once there, the experience is euphoria; there is a rush, like in guitar hero, as your mind and body struggle to keep from getting overwhelmed while laying down the beat. It is awesome, and the technical nature of the gameplay combined with the music style provides an even greater rush for me than the guitar hero style games did. The optional effects and freestyle sections allow me to bump the difficulty even further (or take a breather) when those sections come up. So two DJs could both end up with a perfect play of an expert mix, but one could really rise above the other by skillfully working those freestyle sections.

So I am very happy with the gameplay and am enjoying honing my skills immensely.

The music:

My greatest love has always been trance, followed by electro house, electro pop, progressive, and other electronica variants. And even though I also enjoy most hip hop and rap, I was worried that I might not get into the music as much as I would have hoped. The truth is, if the music did not move me then this game might as well have been a glorified version of simon says. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. The track and mix selection is varied and has a bit of something for everyone, but there has not been a single mix yet that I was not bopping my feet or head to. Many of these mixes are absolutely brilliant! If you are a music fan with varied tastes the selection will not leave you wanting! I have one of the tracks going in my head as I write this. :)

Summary:

I'm arguably biased based on my love of all kinds of music, from hip hop to rock, pop, trance, house, and most of their variants, but DJ Hero captured that feeling I was hoping for: rockin to a dope set of tracks as if I was the maestro of a bouncing block party. ;) I haven't had so much fun since I discovered guitar hero and its variants. Just listening to the mixes by themselves is divine. One final note: You'll want to hook this up to a decent system with a good subwoofer. I HIGHLY recommend this. The game would still be fun with only tv-speakers, but it would be nothing like it is when you can feel the bass thumping through a room that is awash with a river of sound. If I didn't already have a decent speaker setup I would have waited until I did before purchasing this game.

If you love music do not miss this game!

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I've always been a wannabe DJ, but never did anything other than some mixing on the computer with an old mixer called Mixman. DJ Hero is pretty cool! I just got it the other day, and so far it's pretty sweet, although I get a funny feeling that I will tire of this more quickly than I did of the other guitar hero games. I had to get the renegade edition, since I went to BestBuy and it was all they had in stock for the xbox 360. it was $80 more, and you do get a case and a portable stand to put it on, which at first I thought was stupid, however, when i think about it, I don't really want to sit down to play this, and I don't have any tables around that are high enough to mount this thing on while I "spin".

Anyway, the song selection and mixes on the game are pretty cool, and the controller seems pretty durable, it's a little small for comfort, but for an xbox game, it's not bad.

if you can go without the case and stand (which most people can) I recommend the regular version, but if you have the extra cash, and you need somewhere to put this thing while you play it, you should get the renegade edition. it comes with a CD of eminems songs (not his best if you ask me) and a Jay Z CD with some older Jay Z songs. I didnt think much of the CD's, but then again, i'm not that into rap anymore.

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My son, age 15 1/2, loves this. Has been playing it non stop. Says is works great and is sturdy. From my perspective, it packs up nicely, seems very well built, and does what he wants it to, so it's great. I am surprised it is only 1 player...seems like the kids should be able to take turns and have a "mix" contest. He says you can do that on some songs, but the other kids has to have his own system...gee, go figure, you have to buy one! haha.

I got this on a great sale from Amazon ($149) with free shipping, can't beat that!

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We got the game for christmas and its awesome! the family plays together and its the best guitar hero yet!

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Ok I must be up front in that I was initially biased toward this game as I am a guitar hero fanatic. My wife got this for me when it came out and I told her there is no way that it will be that cool. WHOA! was I wrong after getting the hang of the turntable (keeping the buttons on the right hand side of the board) I started really getting into the jams and grooving even more than I did with GH. This is NOT a RAP deal it is a club/techno thing. The songs are really sweet I say I like 75% of them very much, which is far more than I can say for any GH set cept maybe World Tour. The easy level is boring way to slow, but there is a serious curve between that and medium and even more between medium and hard, it gets quite tough and timing and tempo are key to scratching. As for the stand it is an asset albeit an expensive one but you can sell the renegade eminem CD for like 35 bucks on ebay which mitigate the added expense. I know that there are a lot of hesitant GH players out there and from one to the other if you have any liking for fast paced intense jams you need to try it. Try it in the store first there are always displays. As for music type go to [...] and search for

daft punk harder better 2007

click the first one and it is an example of some of the tracks on the game which are like 100.

hope this helps those skittish rhythm game players like myself to enjoy a way fun game.

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i am/was not a fan of hip hop or rap (indie, alternative are my things), but i found myself and my 6 year old, inside of the first few songs dancing and bopping to the beat.

one reason why it's good for kids is that there's less punishment for screwing up than in rock band or guitar hero: 1) you can never fail (yes you can unlock this in RB/GH but not get credit), 2) they have an awesome beginner mode that doesn't require worrying about specific buttons, 3) the music for that track only cuts out for 3-5 seconds - so even if they're playing awfully, they're still getting into it because the music's still there and enjoyable. my 6yo had a lot of trouble getting into GH and RB as a result, and never built up the confidence to play them. with DJ hero, he's more rewarded. plus the music speaks to him more.

i *strongly* suggest playing the game standing up. this is a game you want to dance to, and getting the whole body into it makes it so much more fun. the ergonomics are better when standing up than when sitting down, i find.

the renegade case makes the standup scenario possible. i don't see any piece of furniture in my house that would hold it at the right height for me (i'm 5'9 and am not using it at full height - at its lowest it works well for my short 6yo) and hold it steady. yes it's relatively flimsy, but it does do the job well and looks better than some boxes or books on a table.

the CDs - as someone who somehow missed the whole jay-z/eminem phenomenons, i thought these were a great way for me to catch up, and there are some great songs on them.

quick tips :

- as mentioned, play standing up

- with the music cranked up, and 'game mode' turned on your TV - my samsung LED tv added so much lag it was exceedingly hard at first.

- use a light touch on the turntable buttons

- use your thumb on the edge of the turntable to move the turntable, *not* the buttons. you'll scratch faster and more accurately. and not be as tired

- get up to hard/expert ASAP. you'll get better much faster at these levels. after a few days playing the later sets (and getting destroyed) on hard/expert, i could beat the first set on expert without a single note missed.

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I've played through all the mixes now and I must say it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Having said that, I'm not so sure that the fun will last. I've been playing Rock Band for about two years now and I'm still downloading DLC and playing just about every day. DJ Hero doesn't seem to have the same lasting appeal for me. The game is very well put together except for the lack of "Practice Mode." One of the things I loved about Rock Band was that I could take a particularly difficult drum beat and slow it down until I could understand how to play it. There is no such mode in DJ Hero. Some of the scratches are very intricate on the expert setting and it would have been nice to slow it down a bit.

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We got DJ Hero Renegade as a gift for our 2 boys. Although we were very disappointed that the Jay-Z and Eminem CD was only a CD and not extended mixes to play on the game, we got over it quickly once the entire family started to play. Their cousin also has the DJ Hero and they were able to battle against each other. We are looking forward to getting the guitar in the future since this will make it possible for them to play at the same time without having to get another package. The case and the stand are also great. It makes it easier to play and travel with. I would suggest spending the extra $ just for the case and stand alone.

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Pretty fun game if you're a fan of the genres of music involved. Typical "Hero" game though, lacks a good multiplayer option, probably because not too many people have it/want to play over Xbox Live. Renegade Edition comes with the DJ case/stand, which is pretty cool (& kinda bulky) and a Jay-Z/Eminem CD which is really like a "Best of" Compilation of their hits. I actually put the Jay-Z CD in my Xbox to rip, and even though the song list on the sleeve was accurate, the data on the CD was actually Jay-Z's Blueprint 2. So even the CDs are wonky. Bottom line, unless you can grab the Renegade Edition for a super-discounted Amazon price ($150 or less), then I'd just go for the regular edition. But it really helps if you're a fan of the type of music. Take a look at the song list first. There were some mixes that I was looking forward to that disappointed me, and some mixes I didn't care too much for that came out pretty awesome.

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