DJ Boy (Genesis) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
108A playthrough of Kaneko's 1990 beat 'em up for the Sega Genesis, DJ Boy.
DJ Boy is a surreal experience. I imagine that if you asked an average Japanese citizen on the streets of Tokyo in the late 1980s about how they imagined Anerican "street culture," the response might resemble this thoroughly unflattering yet hilarious caricature.
It is a beat 'em up on rollerskates, not so different from Konami's concept for Rollergames on the NES. You fight waves of characters based on all sorts of character stereotypes (or archetypes, if you prefer to be kinder in how you characterize it) with a basic assortment of punches and kicks, all while trying to avoid being wiped out by various hazards placed inconveniently in your path.
The original Japanese version starred a number of characters that would've been considered "culturally insensitive" by the west and have been altered in the console port, but even still, you'll probably find yourself raising an eyebrow more than once before it's over. Whether your fighting a large, donut throwing black woman, a well-dressed midget, or a flamboyant breakdancer, the game certainly knows how to pique one's interest... providing you aren't too sensitive to have a good laugh at it.
The game itself isn't as "novel" as its characters, but it does its job as a typical late 80s arcade beat em up. The challenge level is pretty high and collision detection can feel off, but it doesn't last very long, and for the short while that it lasts, it certainly kept me entertained.
DJ Boy is a perfect example of what the Japanese call kusoge, and it didnt impress the critics, but if you can accept it for the low-brow, low-rent, and ultimately disposable experience that it is, you might find some redeeming value and fun here. I did.
If you really wanted a class-A beat 'em up, though, you'd already be playing Streets of Rage.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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