Game of the Week [12/15/03]: Karaoke Revolution

Sing your heart out America! This is karaoke the way it was meant to be.

By itself Karaoke isn?t the most obvious concept for a video game, but somehow Konami managed to take this institutionalized ritual of public embarrassment and not only turn it into a game, but turn it into an incredibly fun game.

It?s simple really?you just choose a song and then start singing along to the lyrics. The game grades you based on your performance. Match the pitch and tone of the pre-recorded vocal track, and you will be cheered on by your adoring virtual fans. Stray too far from the game?s clinical definition of the perfect voice and you risk being booed off stage. Hey, it?s a tough crowd out there.

Songs in the game run the gamut from classics, such as ?Son of a Preacher Man? and ?It?s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)?, to current hits like ?Complicated.? All of the songs are recorded by cover artists, but the performances are pretty spot on. Casual fans will be hard pressed to tell the difference between the Karaoke Revolution covers and the original tracks.

An adjustable difficulty setting keeps things bearable, so even the most tone deaf person out there can have fun, while unlockable content draws you back for ?just one more round.? Because you have the ability to turn the vocal tracks on and off, the game can also be a great way to learn the lyrics to a favorite song by imitating a professional singer.


Yes, you too can be a SUPERSTAR!

As much fun as it is by yourself, the real fun in Karaoke Revolution only becomes apparent when you bust it out in front of a group. It takes a few minutes for the first player to give it a go, but once someone grabs the mike everyone else immediately starts demanding a turn. If you?re planning a holiday party, this is a must-have game.

Although it was first released last month in a bundle pack with the microphone, the high cost of the bundle was a turn off for some, especially those gamers who already had a USB microphone for their PS2. This week?s release of the game-only package for $40 should be reason enough for everyone else to give it a try.

Karaoke Revolution review.
Karaoke Revolution hands-on.
Karaoke Revolution first look.

Comments [0]

post a comment

Post a Comment