I’ll admit it. I like Karaoke games.
So as you can imagine I was anxiously awaiting for SingStar to arrive on PS3 since it was announced way back when. Delay after delay and about 5 months after it was released in the UK, SingStar hits the states and I can finally bring it home (US Release Date -05/20).
My first reaction after loading up the game disc was ‘This is pretty slick!” The interface is nice, organized, and just has a good flow and feel to it.
I choose single-player mode, and go to song selections and surprisingly the list is pretty small, and actually pretty weak. No biggie though, there are a couple favorites included and I should be able to download a lot more from the online store, right?
Not so much. The online store is less than impressive at the moment too. Sure, there’s 300+ songs but only a handful I’d consider buying and I think I have pretty generic taste when it comes to Karaoke. So I’m sure most users feel the same way when going to the online store, instead of being excited about all the songs you can buy and sing, you’re disappointed in what isn’t there….
JT? Nope
Gwen Stefani? Nope
More Weezer? Nope
Hmm, how about Red Hot Chili Peppers? or Nirvana? Nope and Nope
The store gets updated every other Friday (or at least is supposed to. But the updates have been really weak, and there hardly is any new content worth buying. This is the games weakest point, the content or lack thereof.
Sony needs to really take a cue from Rock Band…regular updates and good content.
OK, so what about the actual game? The Karaoke?
Well, the actual game is pretty good. As most of you already know, the music video to the song of your choice plays in the background as you try to match your voice/pitch to the words and visual cues.
It is more sensitive than other Karoake games I’ve played, and I really like the layout and presentation. But weren’t these videos supposed to be in HD? Wasn’t that one of the features Sony touted?
Well, to my surprise and probably yours there is not one HD music video included in the game or available in the SingStar store. Not ONE!
Dealbreaker? No. But yet another thing I expected the game to offer and it doesn’t.
However on the plus side are vocals reduction options such as ‘fade’ (the volume of recorded vocals lowers as you sing), ‘off’ (vocals digitally removed) and ‘on’ (vocals always on). The options work pretty good for the songs I tried and could come in handy based on your familiarity with the song (Need the vocals as a guide, or know the song by heart).
There’s also a lot of modes that could be fun for parties(Duet, Pass the Mic, Battle). But what if we’re not having a party. What if….. ‘gasp’ we are playing SingStar alone? Surely I can play online, right?
Wrong again, my friends . You can’t compete with anybody over the air, only watch their videos and post your own. So basically its YouTube:Karaoke Edition. Thanks.
So SingStar what are you giving me?
Good Graphics, Interface? Yes, indeed
Good Tracklist included? Not so much, I don’t think by anybody’s standards
Good Online Library? Negative. This online store pales in comparison to Rock Band.
Good Online Gameplay? No online gameplay. You can only watch and load vids/scores.
Good Regular gameplay? Yeah, it’s pretty darn good. But, we need more content.
Accessories? You can get the pack with 2 included mics. But don’t expect to be able to use your own bluetooth ones or those from Rock Band either.
A lot of the negatives of this game can be fixed if Sony steps up their game and starts releasing a lot more content. The updates we have gotten here in the US are basically useless.
I’d hate to say it but SingStar let me down, and until the content improves chances are it’ll let you down too.
INFO you may find useful….
List of US SingStar Songs available through Online Store…
http://www.singstargame.com/en-us/Browse-Songs-Home/SingStore/
US SingStar Tracklist (INCLUDED with game)
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Beck – Loser
Blind Melon – No Rain
Blink 182 – All the Small Things
Britney Spears – Toxic
Coldplay – Clocks
Corinne Bailey Rae – Put your records on
Dave Matthews Band – Crash into Me
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Faith No More – Epic
Franz Ferdinand – Do You Want To
Jane’s Addiction – Been Caught Stealing
New Found Glory – My Friends Over You
Ne-Yo – So Sick
Outkast – Hey Ya!
Pixies – Here Comes Your Man
R.E.M. – Losing My Religion
Radiohead – No Surprises
Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancin
The Automatic Automatic – Monster
The Cardigans – Love Fool
The Killers – Mr. Brightside
The Pussycat Dolls – Beep
The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
The Smashing Pumpkins – Today
U2 – Beautiful Day
Warrant – Cherry Pie
Weezer – Buddy Holly
Wolfmother – Love Train
