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SingStar Legends Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

SingStar Legends Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

SingStar Goes Legendary!

SingStar has certainly been on a roll lately, with more than ten distinct titles coming out this year alone. It has definitely established itself as a powerhouse in the realm of karaoke gaming, even in the face of would-be competitors like Lips on the horizon. But the very genre-focused SingStar releases this year have done a terrific job of catering to specific music fans. SingStar Legends, however, loses the niche genres and goes all-out by providing a very inclusive track list featuring major and iconic vocal performances from the past fifty years. But be warned, it isn’t so easy to be a Legend!

SingStar Legends screenshot

One of the biggest things that SingStar veterans will notice about Legends is the difficulty level of the game. Because the songs here are generally known for their amazing vocals, you might expect a little bit of a challenge from this title, but those who are used to playing this title on hard might be in for a little surprise when they attempt Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” Of course, there is no way to “fail” a song in the SingStar series, but it is a lot easier to get the shameful “Tone Deaf” on these more challenging songs.

In addition to “I’m Your Baby Tonight” SingStar Legends has plenty more songs that fall into “legendary” status that reach back over fifty years. Included in these songs are Patsy Cline’s country classic “Crazy,” Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man,” and David Bowie’s “Life on Mars.” There are also some contemporary pop classics here as well, including “Papa don’t Preach” by Madonna and “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie. And if that still isn’t enough, there are plenty of other legendary tracks from the likes of The Jackson 5, The Smiths, Ray Charles, and James Brown. The tracks in this title definitely live up to the “Legends” title of the game, and chances are good that you’ll probably know all the words to these songs before you even reach for the mic.

SingStar Legends screenshot

But aside from the more difficult songs, pretty much everything else is SingStar Legends remains the same as it has always been. There are 30 different tracks that are unlocked from the beginning, and you can hop right in and sing songs by yourself or with a group of up to eight friends. The core singing mechanic features on-screen note bars that are filled with a blue color when you sing the correct note. If you don’t sing the right note, however, the bar will remain empty, and the game will show the actual notes that you hit on-screen.

SingStar Legends screenshot

There are three main multiplayer modes in SingStar Legends that veterans will surely recognize: Battle, Duet, and Pass The Mic. The Battle mode is the game’s chief competitive mode and allows you and a friend to sing the same song and see who hits the most notes and garners the highest score. The duet mode is the exact opposite and allows you and a friend to sing a song together to get a good combined score. But the most popular SingStar mode has to be Pass the Mic, which allows up to eight people to alternate singing verses and choruses with the game’s two mic inputs.

SingStar Legends screenshot

One thing that really surprised me in SingStar Legends was the spotty quality of the visuals. Although graphics are generally unremarkable in SingStar games, I have to say that I was very disappointed in the quality of some of the older music videos. For example, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” looks like it came to your PS2 via an antenna signal from the next county. The picture is very grainy and dull, and there are random lines that just popup. I really wish that SingStar Legends featured remastered versions of some of these old videos like those in SingStar Volume 2 for the PS3. But other than some of the questionable video quality, this title looks the same as any other SingStar title on the PS2 with identical menu structure and style.

SingStar Legends is a karaoke title that takes some of the most iconic and memorable songs from the past fifty years and lets you try your best to sing along. While this title is essentially the same in form and function as others in the SingStar franchise, its expansive catalog definitely sets it apart and makes it one of the most genre-inclusive titles to date. So, if you think you’ve got the chops to sing with icons like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and James Brown, then SingStar Legends will definitely keep you singing long into the evening!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.6 Graphics
Although the visuals are nothing out of the ordinary, some of the older music videos are of very poor quality and needed some remastering. 4.0 Control
Grab the mic and sing! That’s all there is to it! 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The track list here is absolutely superb and is one of the best assembled this year on any karaoke-style game. With classics like “Unchained Melody” and “Ring of Fire” alongside modern classics, you can’t go wrong with these tunes. 3.7 Play Value
This title certainly maintains the status quo, but the more challenging tracks will be appealing to longtime fans. 3.7 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • SingStar Legends is the seventh installment in the series and features new modes that let up to eight players compete in a sing-off.
  • Rather than focusing on one genre or era, as Sony has done with previous games, Sony has gathered classics from across the musical spectrum.
  • Fans can look forward to belting out classic tracks such as The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” David Bowie’s “Life on Mars,” and The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.”
  • Multiple gameplay modes, including Solo, Freestyle, Pass the Mic, Battle, and Duet
  • SingStar technology accurately recognizes pitch, tone, and rhythm

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