Party Video Games + music downloads!

Too be honest with you – I’m not very big on video games. Unless it is of the 8-bit variety, I’m not going to geek out over the latest game releases. However in recent years, game developers have been taping into a new market – my market: the PARTY market: Interactive video games involving dance and music have been popping up like zits on a pre-teen adolescent – and I’m sure you’ve taken notice!

Alright you DJs and dancers, before you step in with the “It’s NOTHING like DJing/actual choreography!” let me say, well duh. It’s a video game! Playing Guitar Hero is obviously not like playing an actual guitar, but these interactive music games have swept the world and stolen the hearts of many lushes and drunks in need of something to do other than play beer pong. Click on to read which games you should be trying your hands… and vocal chords, and bodies at!

DJ Hero 2 (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii)
Despite the hype of the first DJ Hero, many fans were disappointed with the game. The controller was a little difficult to handle, and the music selection wasn’t exactly stellar, especially when they thought a majority of sales would come from Europe. Where was the house music? Mash-ups of a few hip-hop classics with popular rock songs were not at all what the masses were fiending for!

Enter DJ Hero 2. While the deck is still the same, game modes have expanded with unlockable characters and celebrity DJs you can choose as your own. Yes! You too can be Deadmau5! But perhaps the best part is the much talked about soundtrack. FreeStyleGames and Activision listened to their critics and brought in more club-based music, featuring remixes and mash-ups from the likes of Tiesto, A-Trak, Calvin Harris, Daft Punk, Armand Van Helden, MSTRKRFT, and so many more! Game play is still based off mash-ups, scratching, and use of the fader – but at least the music is fun!

MIX TIP: You can buy the bundle pack which comes with two turntables and a microphone (for the new mic feature). Sup Beck?

Tiesto & Sneaky Sound System – “I Will Be Here” vs. Tiesto – “Speed Rail”

Salt N Pepa – “Push It” vs. Armand Van Helden – “I Want Your Soul”

Just Dance 2 (Wii)
As a girl who competitively danced and took several dance classes growing up and through college, I was at first very much opposed to the dance hype (ahem, America’s Next Best Dance Crew). So when Just Dance came out, I thought “Ew, who is taking a Lady Gaga song and trying to make it the new dance movement?” It wasn’t until Comic Con this year that I realized:

FUCK! This game is FUN.

I had dragged my younger brother on stage with me to do a demonstration of the second installment of Just Dance, and to my surprise, the game was something I knew would be great for a good, drunk time!

Just Dance 2 comes with four new dance modes that allows for more interaction with multiple players, so you can battle with your friends or even “duet” and dance together. What I love best are the colorful graphics and whimsical characters. Think Kid ‘n Play but “Tron’d” out.

The tracks of Just Dance 2 are also worthy of mention. While many of the songs are still of the mainstream pop variety, there are some fun songs that you club kids have known and loved before your G6 loving neighbor got a hold of them. Soundtrack includes names like Justice, Digitalism, Jamiroquai, and good ‘ol Fat Boy Slim.

Bonus: “Idealistic” from Digitalism made it onto Just Dance 2, and to celebrate, one of my fave remixes of the song!
Digitalism – Idealistic (A-Trak Remix)

Dance Central (Xbox 360 w/Kinect)
If you want more of a choreography feel and a work out, I suggest Dance Central for XBox. From what I hear, this game is a lot more difficult as everything is based on the accuracy of ALL your movements. While Just Dance 2 only cares about the placement of the Wiimote, Dance Central requires you to have the Kinect – a sensor that tracks your every movement. Many gamers love this because you can move a little more freely. So if your dream was to become a backup dancer for Janet, this is your game. Down side? Very little EDM – unless you count Benny Benassi…

Check out this girl though, she kills it on this game! You don’t have to be as talented as she, but this gives you an idea of how the game works.

Def Jam Rapstar (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii)
Alright, so this game has no dance music whatsoever, unless you buy the UK version which features Dizzee Rascal, but admit it. You’ve always wanted to give it a go at rapping and you secretly spit out rhymes in the comfort of your shower stall! Unleash your inner rap star and give this game a spin. Def Jam Rapstar is karaoke for those who would rather not sing “My Heart Will Go On” but would rather take on Redman and Method Man’s “Da Rockwilder” or Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” instead.

If you’ve ever played Karaoke Revolution or used the mic feature of Rock Band, then you’ve pretty much got the idea of how Def Jam Rapstar works. The biggest difference (aside from rapping rather than singing) is that you record and customize a video of yourself rapping, which you can then upload into Def Jam’s community to battle with other “rapstars”. Literally you can be a hip hop star from the comfort of your own home! Watch this trailer for the video game, people really get hyped up for Def Jam Rapstar!

BY: Eileen