DJ Hero 2

New Features

Empire Mode 

This year's edition features a new single player career-based Empire Mode. Here players begin as an up-and-coming DJ who travels the road. If player is successful enough, they can eventually become the head of their own entertainment empire.   It also allows the player to compete in battles between both real DJs, and the fictional characters native to the series, in addition to the various setlists, mega-mixes, and bonus setlists that the player can compete in.
 

Freestyle

 DJ Hero 2 introduces freestyle scratching and crossfading.  During these sections of the mixes the player will play through, he or she will be able to crossfade between the two tracks and/or scratch as they please. 
 

Contextual Samples

Rather than simply having canned samples appropriate for all tracks, DJ Hero 2 will also have samples available to the player that have been extracted from the songs being mashed up. For example, in the "Regulate"/"Hot in Herre" mix, a sample of Warren G's voice is available. It also allows the player to compete in battles between both real DJs, and the fictional characters native to the series.
 

Microphone Compatibility / Expanded Multiplayer 

DJ Hero 2 allows for vocalists to enter the fray more than ever. While the original game featured microphone support, players were only able to freestyle/talk/yell over the music. This year's rendition introduces on-screen vocals, allowing for players to sing and rap along to the lyrics.
 
Improved Microphone Support is just one of the ways multiplayer as been expanded In DJ Hero 2. DJ Battles return, but have unique mixes specially tuned for battle gameplay. Here, players perform alternating song sections, with the winner being the most accurate of the two. Accumulator has players racing to fill an on screen bar by getting high note streaks. Party Play (as introduced in Guitar Hero 5) also makes a comeback, allowing players to build a custom setlist and both DJs and Vocalists to jump in or out of  song at anytime.
 

Soundtrack

DJ Hero 2's soundtrack is once again supporting mashups of "the hottest tracks" from "the biggest artists". This year's setlist sees over 80 new mashups that include over 100 artists. Players should note that a number of mixes can only be played in the game's DJ Battle Multiplayer mode.
 
Produced and mixed by A-Trak

• Justice - "D.A.N.C.E." (Beatjuggle)
• Naughty by Nature - "O.P.P." vs. Jackson 5 - "ABC" (DJ Battle Only)
  

Produced and mixed by Diplo

• Kanye West - "Heartless" vs. DJ Shadow - "Midnight in a Perfect World"
• Major Lazer feat. VYBZ Kartel - "Pon De Floor" vs. Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F"

Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff

• Busta Rhymes - "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" vs. M|A|R|R|S - "Pump Up The Volume"

 
Produced and mixed by DJ Qbert

• DJ Qbert - "Super Battle Breaks" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Newcleus - "Jam On It (DJ Qbert Vocals Remix)" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  

 
Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow

• Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" vs. "Metallica - "The Day That Never Comes"
• Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West - "Put On" vs. DJ Shadow feat. Q-Tip and Lateef - "Enuff (DJ Fresh Remix)"

 
Produced and mixed by Tiesto

• Adamski - "Killer" (Beatjuggle)
• Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance" (Beatjuggle)

 
Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip

• Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force - "Planet Rock" vs. The Crystal Method - "Busy Child (Still Busy After All These Years Remix)"
• Missy Elliott - "Get Ur Freak On" vs. "Dillinja and Skibadee - "Twist 'Em Out"

 
Produced and mixed by The RZA

• Damian Marley - "Welcome To Jamrock" vs. Walter Murphy - "A Fifth Of Beethoven"
• LL Cool J - "I Can't Live Without My Radio" vs. Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five feat. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee - "The Message"

 
Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts

• The Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip - "Galvanize" (Beatjuggle)
• The Prodigy - "Omen" vs. Orbital - "The Box" (DJ Battle Only)
  

 
Produced and mixed by Freestyle Games DJs

• 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman - "California Love" (Beatjuggle)
• 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman - "California Love"  vs. B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars - "Nothin' On You"
• A-Trak - "Say Whoa" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Basement Jaxx - "Where's Your Head At" vs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
• BlacRoc feat. Pharoahe Monch & RZA - "Dollaz & Sense" (Beatjuggle)
• Calvin Harris - "I'm Not Alone" vs. New Order - "Blue Monday"
• Daft Punk - "Human After All" (Beatjuggle)
• Damian Marley - "Welcome To Jamrock" vs. Dillinja and Skibadee - "Twist 'Em Out"
• David Guetta & Chris Willis - "Love Is Gone" vs. Sam Sparro - "Black & Gold"
• David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi - "Memories" vs. Pirate Soundsystem - "Bashy Bashy"
• Deadmau5 & Kaskade - "I Remember" (Beatjuggle)
• Deee-Lite - "Groove Is In The Heart" vs. Chic - "Le Freak"
• Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - "Bonkers" vs. Basement Jaxx - "Where's Your Head At"
• Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - "Bonkers" vs. The Prodigy - "Omen" (DJ Battle Only)
  
• DJ Shadow - "Midnight in a Perfect World" (Beatjuggle)
• Edwin Starr - "War" vs. Justice - "Waters of Nazareth" (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Eminem - "Not Afraid" vs. Lil Wayne feat. Static Major - "Lollipop"
• Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy" (Beatjuggle)
• Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy" vs. Chic - "Good Times" (Can only be accessed in the Tutorial mode)
  
• Flo Rida - feat. Will.I.Am - "In The Ayer" vs. Clinton Sparks, DJ Class & Jermaine Dupri - "Favorite DJ"
• Gorillaz feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack - "Stylo" (Beatjuggle)
• Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five feat. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee - "The Message" vs. Kool & The Gang - "Jungle Boogie"
• House of Pain - "Jump Around" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• House of Pain - "Jump Around" vs. Busta Rhymes - "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See"
• Iyaz - "Replay" vs. Rhianna - "Rude Boy"
• Janet Jackson - "Nasty" vs. Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."
• Kanye West - "Heartless" vs. Lady Gaga - "Lovegame"
• Kanye West - "Heartless" vs. DJ Shadow - "Midnight in a Perfect World"
• Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" vs. Donna Summer - "Bad Girls"
• Kaskade & Deadmau5 - "Move For Me" (Beatjuggle)
• Kelis - "Acapella (David Guetta Extended Mix)" (Beatjuggle)
• Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis - "Just Dance" vs. Deadmau5 - "Ghosts N Stuff"
• Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins - "Get Low" vs. 50 Cent - "In Da Club"
• Lil Wayne - "Go DJ" vs. 50 Cent - "In Da Club" (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Lil Wayne feat. Static Major - "Lollipop" vs. Flo Rida - "Low"
• LL Cool J - "I Can't Live Without My Radio" vs. Chic - "Good Times" (DJ Battle Only)
  
• M.I.A - "Galang" vs. Wayne Smith - "Under Mi Sleng Teng"
• Major Lazer feat. VYBZ Kartel - "Pon De Floor" vs. Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" 
• Major Lazer feat. VYBZ Kartel - "Pon De Floor" vs. New Order - "Blue Monday" (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Malcolm McLaren - "Buffalo Gals" vs. M|A|R|R|S - "Pump Up The Volume" (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Missy Elliott - "Get Ur Freak On" vs. Sean Paul - "Infiltrate"
• MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E. - "Bounce" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E. - "Bounce" vs. A-Trak - "Say Whoa"
• Nas feat. Kelly Hilson - "Hero" vs. Talib Kweli - "Get By"
• Nelly - "Hot In Herre" vs. Warren G feat. Nate Dogg - "Regulate"
• New Boyz - "You're A Jerk" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Newcleus - "Jam On It" vs. Donna Summer - "Bad Girls"
• Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) vs. Nightcrawlers - "Push The Feeling On (MK Mix 95)"
• Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - "Don't Cha" vs. Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"
• Robin S. - "Show Me Love (Stonebridge Radio Edit) vs. Calvin Harris - "I'm Not Alone"
• Salt N Pepa - "Push It" vs. Armand Van Helden - "I Want Your Soul"
• Sam Cooke - "Chain Gang" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Sean Paul - "Get Busy" vs. Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F"
• Sean Paul - "Get Busy" vs. Rhianna - "Pon De Replay"
• Snow - "Informer" vs. Jackson 5 - "ABC"
• Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" vs. Chamillionaire - "Ridin'"
• Sparfunk & D-Code - "Apocalypse" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" vs. Edwin Starr - "War"
• The Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip - "Galvanize" vs. The Chemical Brothers - "Leave Home"
• The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Mase & Diddy - "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" (Beatjuggle)
• Tiesto & Sneaky Sound System - "I Will Be Here" vs Tiesto "Speed Rail"
• Tiesto vs. Diplo - "Come On" (Beatjuggle) (DJ Battle Only)
  
• Timbaland feat. Drake - "Say Something" vs. Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West - "Put On"
• Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - "The Way I Are" vs. Tiga - "You Gonna Want Me"
• Tweet feat. Missy Elliott - "Oops (Oh My) vs. Snoop Dogg - "Who Am I (What's My Name)?"

Downloadable Content

Like the original, DJ Hero 2 will support downloadable content. Each DLC pack will contain 3 mixes and will cost players $7.99 on the Playstation Network and 640 MSP on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Wii owners may purchase mixes individually at $3 a piece. An update in November will allow original DJ Hero DLC to be playable in the sequel.
 
Hit Makes Mix Pack (Released November 2nd)

• Usher feat. Will.i.am - "OMG" (Beat Juggle)
• Rhianna feat. Jay-Z - "Umbrella" vs. Marvin Gaye - "Let's Get It On"
• Big Boi & Cutty - "Shutterbug" vs. Mark Morrison - "Return of the Mack"

 
Electro Hits Mix Pack (Released November 16th)

• LMFAO - "I'm In Miami Trick" vs. Green Velvet - "Shake & Pop"
• Steve Aoki feat. Zuper Blahq - "I'm In The House" (Beat Juggle)
• SMD - "Hustler" vs. Technotronic - "Pump Up The Jam"

 
Tiesto Mix Pack Presented By Coca-Cola (Released November 23rd)

• Tiesto feat. Tegan and Sara - "Feel It In My Bones" (Beatjuggle)
• Tiesto feat. Emily Haines - "Knock You Out" vs. Tiesto - "Young Lions"
• Tiesto - "Louder Than Boom" vs. Tiesto - "Traffic"

 
Hard Edge Pack (Released November 30th)

• Pixies - "Debaser" vs. The Prodigy - "Invaders Must Die"
• Beastie Boys - "Body Movin" vs. Lenny Kravitz - "Rock And Roll Is Dead"

 
Old Skool Mix Pack (Released December 14th)

• Fat Boys - "Human Beat Box" vs. Mantronix - "King of Beats"
• Tag Team - "Whoomp! (There It Is)" vs. 45 King - "The 900 Number"
• Beastie Boys - "Triple Trouble" vs. Ton-Loc - "Funky VCold Medina"

 
Linkin Park Mix Pack (Released December 21st)

• Linkin Park - "The Catalyst (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)" (Beatjuggle)
• Linkin Park - "When They Come For Me (Diplo Remix)" (Beatjuggle)
• Linkin Park - "Pts.of.Athrty" (Beatjuggle)

 
Trance Anthems Mix Pack (Released January 18th)

• Paul Van Dyk - "For An Angel" vs. ATB - "9PM Till I Come"
• Paul Oakenfold feat. Ryan Tedder - "Not Over" (Beatjuggle)
• Ferry Corsten - "Punk" vs. Armin Van Buuren - "Imagine"

 
 Pendulum Mix Pack (Released February 15th)

• Pendulum - "Salt in the Wounds" (Beatjuggle)
• Pendulum - "Watercolour" (Beatjuggle)
  
• Pendulum - "Set Me on Fire" (Beatjuggle)

 
  Indie Hip Hop Mix Pack (Released March 15th)

• Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - "My World Premiere" vs. Jaylib - "The Red (Instrumental)"
  
• The Perceptionists feat. Guru & Camu - "Party Hard" vs. RJD2 - "Ghostwriter"
  
• Atmosphere - "The Best Day" (Beatjuggle)
  

 
 Ultra Mix Pack (Released April 19th)

• Benny Benassi - "House Music" (Beatjuggle)
  
• Deadmau5 feat. SOFI - "Sofi Needs A Ladder" (Beatjuggle)
  
• Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP - "We No Speak Americano" (Beatjuggle)
  

 

Playable Characters

Like the original, many of the DJs that contributed songs and mixes appear in the game as playable avatars. These include:

• David Guetta
• Deadmau5
• DJ Qbert
• Tiesto
• RZA

 
Guest DJs play a role in the game's Empire mode as players are able to recruit them to preform opening setlists once more clubs become available. These special setlists are reminiscent to the encore songs found in the Guitar Hero series, which involve specialized introductions to the songs (for example, Deadmau5 is shown to put on his mousehead as opposed to simply walking to his turntables).
 
Joining the guests DJs are fictional characters created by FreeStyleGames. Most of the fictional DJs from the previous installment return (such as Jugglernort and Mixy Trix), as well as created characters that are new to the series. Xbox 360 players may also use their Xbox Avatar as playable characters as well.

Bundles

DJ Hero 2 is available for purchase in two different bundles. The Party Bundle includes a copy of the game, two turntable controllers as well as a microphone. The Turntable Bundle is simply one turntable controller with a copy of the game. Players also have the choice to purchase the game separately as a standalone title.