Game Reviews

DJ Rivals

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DJ Rivals
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Becoming a superstar DJ is supposed to bring you fame and fortune, but we had no idea how much it would cost to get there.

Yet, if the freemium prices needed to play out a decent set in DJ Rivals are anything to go by, most gamers would be better off sampling a less expensive hobby – like juggling bars of gold.

Mix master

Based on the Facebook game of the same name, DJ Rivals is an interesting rhythm action, location-based spin on the RPG template.

Its greatest trick is using your GPS signal to remix the shops and businesses in your town as a series of club venues to conquer – making a trip to the local chemist a far more ‘banging’ experience.

In classic RPG style, defeating DJ Drones and the tougher House DJs in each location earns you loot, cash, and collectable items needed for simple fetch quests.

Win enough and you’ll level up, giving you extra skill points to enhance your DJ’s skills.

Battling takes place in turn-based DJ combat arena; a simplistic take on Activision’s DJ Hero.

While a licensed track blasts out in the background, you pick from three attacks and then complete a short beatmatching or record scratching mini-game. The amount of damage you deal depends on how skilful you are on the decks.

Though never particularly difficult, the Tap Tap Revenge-style gameplay is perfectly matched to touchscreen controls and compelling enough for wannabe Cut Chemists.

The Ice isn’t right

The real broken needle here is the pay-to-play freemium system, however.

Battling saps your player’s stamina and, unless you’re repeatedly willing to wait agonising minutes for it to recharge, you’ll have to fork out real dough for ‘Ice’ (the game’s currency) to keep playing.

Ranging from a £10 for a small bag up to £60 for a vault, keeping your stamina constantly topped up is a seriously costly exercise.

While DJ Rivals is relatively enjoyable, it’s definitely not challenging or deep enough to justify prices that would make Jay-Z weep over his jewellery.

DJ Rivals

Sharp visuals, audio, and controls make DJ Rivals an appealing prospect, but our advice is to wait until the price of its freemium content - ahem - drops
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Paul Devlin
Paul Devlin
A newspaper reporter turned games journo, Paul's first ever console was an original white Game Boy (still in working order, albeit with a yellowing tinge and 30 second battery life). Now he writes about Android with a style positively dripping in Honeycomb, stuffed with Gingerbread and coated with Froyo