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 Singstar
& Singstar: ABBA (Playstation 3 & PS2)
Sony's Singstar series continues to
expand onto different platforms and genres, and the latest trio of
releases shows the versatility and appeal of the franchise. Singstar Vol.
2 marks the series' second trip onto the PS3 with a solid selection of 30
encompassing different genres and styles. There are the usual solo and
multiplayer modes along with several new harmonizing game modes and access
to many different tracks. Two other releases on the PS2, Singstar Legends
and Singstar Country show the series adding oldies and Nashville artists
to its expansive roster. Following on these releases, comes Singstar:
ABBA, the first release to cover a single band, this time the well-known
Swedish supergroup. All of the Singstar titles offer instantly
accessible, highly-entertaining play that should appeal to casual gamers
of all types and fans of all types of music. |
Players looking for some highly
entertaining Karoake action will find a lot to like in Singstar Vol. 2 for
the Playstation 3. Following the successful formula of previous titles,
the newest installment includes a pair of microphones that players can use
to match the pitch and notes on many of their favorite songs. These
microphones are fairly easy to set up and use. They connect to the USB
ports via a hub and are backward compatible with the PS2 games as well,
which is cool. One awkward thing is having to switch to a standard
controller to navigate through the menus, which is slightly annoying.
Players can also connect their EyeToy cameras via the USB port which
allows them to view and playback their own performances, which is another
cool social gaming feature. Singstar doesn't take too much effort to get the hang of, you basically
match the notes and use the onscreen tone guides to see how well you're
matching the pitch of the song. The closer you come to recreating the
singers' notes, the higher your score and your position. It takes a little
bit of practice, but it really isn't as hard as it sounds and once you get
the hang of it, you'll find yourself freestyling in your own style, and
having loads of fun before you know it.
 Singstar
Vol. 2's structure and layout is simple which makes it instantly
accessible. As in previous games, there are competitive modes where you
can sing head to head, and a cool medley mode that shuffles through tracks
randomly, which adds to the challenge. It's not the most difficult game to
play, and you won't even need to master an instrument, just sing.
Singstar's presentation is likewise easy and its selection of songs is
above average. Where this music title sets itself apart from other rock
games comes in its inclusion of actual songs and music videos. This
approach of using the real artists adds to its authenticity and allows you
to instantly connect with the tacks. It's actually fairly simple in
approach and doesn't diverge much from the previous games, though the
video quality is much higher and the menus are a little slicker than the
PS2 editions. The PS3 Singstar includes several modes of play including
solo practice modes, competitive play, duets and more. An impressive
selection of songs spans a wide variety of eras and styles with classic
tracks from Elton John, Aerosmith, The Police, The Cure alongside more
contemporary artists like Panic at the Disco, The Killers, Gnarls Barkley
and Goldfrapp to name just a few. Most of these tracks should be familiar
and their inclusion makes the game less intimidating and more accessible
for casual players. There are 30
tracks included on the disc, but that's just the beginning, as this
installment allows players to go online and download additional tracks. As
of this writing, there are more than 300 available in the Singstore.
They're reasonably priced and work well within the existing game. In
addition, the online community features allow you to play against other
singers worldwide, and there are rankings and leader boards, which adds to
the fun. The Playstation 3 edition follows the successful mold and is
another highly enjoyable installment that should please singers. Add in
the online community features and piles of downloadable tracks which give
plenty of replay value to an already fun title and you have a great party
game that should appeal to wanna-be singers of all ages.
It's a fairly solid edition for the PS3,
but SCEA has just released two other expansions for PS2 owners. The first
of these is aimed at the oldies set and is called Singstar Legends. With
30 classic tracks from the likes of the Rolling Stones, Elton John,
Nirvana, Joy Division, David Bowie and going back further, Marvin Gaye,
Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Madonna, there's
something for the older set in here as well. It has a very similar setup
to the other Singstar games and most players will have a lot of fun going
back in time with this winning set of old songs. There are also a few
cheesy-but-fun tracks like Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart, and
The Monkees' Daydream Believer thrown in here as well, which makes this
another fun party game that adds some fun stuff to the Singstar library.
It includes most of the usual single player and competitive modes, though
its also fun to sit back and watch some of the videos as well. Another fun
idea is to change to words to some of the songs, which you can do to add a
lot of mirth to some of these vastly over-played songs. Overall, Singstar
Legends lives up to its names with many well-known artists and their most
famous tracks represented throughout the package. For those players who
want a bit more of a focused experience, the next Singstar title offers an
entertaining genre experience.
 While
the previous entries had a broad selection of tunes to choose from,
Singstar: Country focuses on a single genre. It adds a twang to the long
running series with an impressive selection of artists and genres that
should appeal to the Nashville set. This package includes a variety of
tracks from well-known artists such as Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn,
Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Martha McBride and more. There
are also a number of classic tracks from the likes of the legendary Johnny
Cash and Willie Nelson, along with some emerging artists as well. The
tracks range from the usual country fare with a good variety of moods and
styles represented from ballads to rockers and traditional songs. Most of
the songs are easy to learn and understand, and Country offers most of the
same single-player, co-op and competitive modes players have come to
expect from the series. It's easy to play through the tracks, and their
level of difficulty isn't as hard as you might expect. All of this is tied
together with an instantly accessible interface that makes playing through
very easy. Like the other Singstar titles, players can choose to play
either a standard or short length track, play through multiple tracks in
medley mode and compete against others as well. This is a fairly decent
package for country fans, and its focus means it should appeal most to
those who like the genre, though it's fun and instantly accessible
approach means Singstar: Country's gameplay will make for a great party
game regardless. This is another solid entry in the series that proves the
formula works well with a variety of music styles.
The grand finale in this season’s
releases has to be Singstar: ABBA, a great collection focused on the
Swedish supergroup. This is the first Singstar title devoted to a single
artist and it’s a great choice given their universal appeal and enduring
popularity with fans of all ages. The game allows players to go through an
extensive selection of the band’s songs including well-known favorites
like ‘Dancing Queen’, ’Mama Mia’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’
and ‘Take a Chance on Me.’ ABBA fans will also find lesser known
tracks like The Day Before you came’, ‘Fernando’, ‘The Day Before
you Came’ and ‘Voulez-Vouz.’ This gives a good overview of the
band’s career and style. There are 30 classic tracks in all, spanning
the groups entire career. Like the other Singstar releases, the game
allows you to play either solo or with another player. Performing duets
allows players to recreate those essential harmonies that made their music
so memorable. Singstar Abba includes all of the usual solo, single player
and competitive modes you’ve seen in other Singstar titles. It’s an
almost instantly accessible and enjoyable title and most players should
have little trouble getting in on the fun and singing along. You can also
use the EyeToy camera to view and save your great performances if you want
to, which allows you to immortalize your fun karaoke nights. Singstar ABBA
is available for both the PS2 and Playstation 3 and the differences
between these releases reflect the consoles, though both games have
identical track listings, the PS3 edition allows players access to the
Singstar online store where they can purchase additional songs. Obviously,
the PS3 edition’s HD video is superior and its interface is a smoother,
but either release will make a great addition to your Singstar library.
Overall, these Singstar titles consistently deliver an entertaining accessible music game
experience that should appeal to casual gamers looking for a
non-threatening and entertaining party game.
- Michael Palisano
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