Singstar has been a fairly popular game since its release, giving everyone in the world the chance to have a karaoke without leaving their living room. One of the great things about the game is that the track list offers such a huge choice, in fact fans of the PS2 version will probably be used to paying out for all of the different versions that release on a regular basis and it seems that the same will now be the case for the PS3 fans out there as Singstar Vol.2 gets its UK release.
Normally when the PS2 gets a new version all that has changed is the songs, however this is not the case with Singstar Vol.2 as it introduces quite a few new features, as well as the 30 new songs which grace the disc. The main feature on the new disc is Harmony mode, which basically allows for two people to sing together, it’s a great addition, although it does seem like something that should have been present before now. Wisely Sony seem to have limited the Harmony mode to songs which suit this mode, meaning that singing Offspring’s “Pretty Fly For A Wise Guy” together is a complete no no.
Other new additions to the new disc is the ability to swap discs with a simple press of select, just like in the old PS2 games, however more impressive is the added ability to use Remote Play via the PSP in order to access the Singstore, Singstar Online and any of your saved data, such as videos, vocal tracks or pictures from wherever you are. The Remote Play feature really is a great addition, it’s great to be able to preview new releases on the Singstore or even buy them, however the best part is watching all the latest videos which have been uploaded to Singstar Online, it’s fun enough watching them on the PS3, but having the ability to view them through the PSP is just genius and yet more proof of how well the two machines work together.
As previously mentioned there are 30 brand new tracks on the disc, and they are quite diverse, from songs such as Aerosmith’s “Dude Look’s Like A Lady” and Nirvana’s “Lithium” to more unusual songs such as Paul McCartney’s ”Frog Chorus” and the classic (open to opinion) Proclaimer’s track “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”, yes as usual there is certainly plenty for everyone, which is probably why the game is so popular.
It is also worth mentioning that if you own the previous disc and have bought songs from the Singstore, these will be present as soon as you access the new disc’s song menu, you will also keep your previous wallpaper. For those who didn’t purchase Singstar Vol.1, all of the same features appear on this version, you can access the Singstore, view other people’s uploaded efforts and also save your own videos and watch them back when you are feeling sufficiently brave enough to embarrass yourself in front of your friends.
As far as presentation goes, the menus offer the same Hi-Def, glossy look that the previous disc did, all of the menus look very swish and are very easy to navigate. The videos and vocals are all presented in the usual high quality that you will have come to expect from the series, so overall top marks in this department.
Singstar has always been a fun game to play, sure there are some people who wouldn’t go near it, but for them there are another 10 people who would. What Vol.2 does is take a great idea and then add some new innovative ones, such as the Harmony Mode and the PSP Remote Play option, not to mention the very impressive track line up. If you are a fan of Singstar then Vol.2 is probably a must buy for you, sure the songs may appear on the Singstore at some point in the future and Vol.1 has already been updated to include the new features, but why wait? After all who could resist singing I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) this Friday night?
