DJ Hero is getting significantly upgraded in its second installment.  DJ Hero 2 will feature over 70 never before heard mixes with artists ranging from Dr. Dre, The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Metallica, and Rihanna.  Only three mixes have been revealed: Lady Gaga “Just Dance” Mixed With Deadmau5 “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff”, Pussycat Dolls “Don’t Cha” Mixed With Pitbull “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”, and MSTRKRFT “Bounce” Beat Juggle.  Deadmau5 will also be featured as an in-game playable character.  This game will include something the original did not–a story mode.  In Empire Mode,  “players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.”  There will also be a couple new multiplayer modes.  DJ Battles will “pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay.”  This mode differs from the multiplayer experience in the first game.  Previously both players played the same notes and battled for the high score.  This new mode has players take turns with the notes, making it feel more like a genuine head-to-head DJ battle.  Gameplay is separated into checkpoints, and the objective is to collect the most checkpoints.

With the original DJ Hero, players were given the option to connect their own mic into the deck’s USB port to freestyle vocals over mixes.  DJ Hero 2 integrates the mic as a standard intrument in gameplay.  If you choose to play along with/as a vocalist, on-screen lyrics will appear at the top of the screen and you’ll be scored on pitch and accuracy.

DJ Hero 2 will arrive this fall on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii.  The “Party Bundle” includes the game, two turntables, and a microphone (if you opt for this bundle, you can select a white deck).  The “Turntable Bundle” includes the game and one turntable.  They will go for $149.99 & $99.99, respectively.  Also the game will sell standalone at $59.99.  Pre-order here.  More details will spill next week at E3, so stay tuned.  For now, check out the awesome trailer above!

[Via Engadget; IGN; Activision]