Reviewed: December 15, 2009
Reviewed by: Jason Flick

Publisher
Clickgamer

Developer
MusiGames Studio

Released: November 17, 2009
Genre: Music
Players: 1

8
8
10
6
8.3

Game Info:

I’m a huge fan of the tap based music games that the iPhone has to offer, especially the Taptap series which I play almost daily. DJ Nights takes that similar gameplay style and mixes things up to create an awesome rhythm tapping adventure. Unlike most tap based music titles, DJ Nights offers an even simpler interface than all the other competitors.

DJ Nights: Global Tour uses the same notes falling down a highway that all music titles do these days. In DJ Nights you are allowed to tap anywhere on the screen unlike other music titles. This does make things a lot easier as well as a bit challenging. The point of this title is to not so much hit every note but to hit them in a timely manner. For each note you are graded with a bad, good, great or perfect mark

When you start racking up perfects you start gaining combos. If you screw up and start getting less than perfects you lose the combo, but it is fairly easy to regain. It is very possible to fail a song as well but it does take quite a few misses to do so. DJ Nights utilizes the iPhone/Touch’s motion sensing for certain bars where you must shake the device just as the bar hits the sweet spot. There is one issue that I found with the interface that is sort of a pain when you’re doing well.

DJ Nights features a star power like ability called “Vibe Time” which is cool. The only issue I have is how you execute it. When it’s available to use the trigger pops up in the upper right corner, just below the menu switch. If you miss while trying to hit it you are either going to kill your combo or pause the game by bringing up the quit menu, which is annoying at times. The vibe time does however multiply the points you gain while it is active.

The main goal of DJ Nights is to complete each song track at each of the 12 clubs around the world. Each location features one song that can be played one of two play types, causal or advanced. The only real difference between the two is the number of notes and the speed that they come down the screen. The difficulty for each song varies per location from easy to crazy.

The song selection is good, though I only recognized the final song by Tiësto. If you're not into the DJ/club/rave scene like me then the music will probably be unfamiliar. It's no big deal, the beats are hot and I found myself moving to the music all the time. When you enter Vibe Time, you are cheered on by an unseen crowd, which really adds to the overall effect. The main menu music is cool and heavily reminds me of one of my favorite racing games.

To complement the music, DJ Nights features a really cool visual presentation. While playing you are given a light show featuring still party scenes amidst laser light shows that pick up the pace as you scratch away. The visuals for the entire game are really solid and I didn’t see one thing that I didn’t like.

There are only the 12 tracks to be found in DJ Nights: Global Tour so if you’re looking for a long term investment then this may not be the app for you. There are the two play types that you can choose from on each track, which will prolong the experience a bit more. You can also submit your high scores via OpenFeint and see where you rank in the world. This can, in turn, challenge you to be the ultimate DJ on the leaderboards if you are remotely competitive.

At the end of my global DJ tour, I found the trip worthwhile although a bit short. Unlike several music games on the iPhone/Touch, there is no option to download new songs, but you can check the other DJ Nights title featuring Julie Thompson for your DJ fix. If your looking for something outside the normal tap rhythm market. I recommend giving DJ Nights: Global Tour a spin.