Karaoke Revolution Party

When it comes to party games you just have to hand it to Konami and its list of dancing games and, of course, their karaoke games. It doesn’t matter if you have two left feet or (like me) can’t carry a tune to save your life because there’s no Paula Abdul or that snooty English guy to pass judgment … that honor will belong to your friends. So karaoke fans or those who love to see a friend unintentionally butcher the likes of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” it’s time to clear your throat and pick up the microphone because Karaoke Revolution Party for the Xbox is here.

Leave it to the Karaoke Revolution games to bring us a hefty number of tunes that sound just as good as the originals but mix it up with game modes that have friends competing against each another. Last year’s version added team play with Duets mode - a much welcome addition that makes its return in this game. Enter Karaoke Revolution Party; a game that mixes a bit of Konami’s other party game, Dance Dance Revolution. That’s right, if hitting the notes right wasn’t hard enough this year’s game allows players to use their DDR pad to sing and dance.

The song list covers today’s Top 40 as well as a load of classics that range from Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.” Feel like crooning like Dean Martin, Nat King Cole or Tony Bennett, well you’re in luck because there are classics like “That’s Amore,” “Unforgettable” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” The mix of Michelle Branch’s collaboration with Carlos Santana “The Game of Love” is joined by the likes of Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” For those who love the old-school funk there’s “Brick House," “Superstition,” “Turn The Beat Around” and “Play That Funky Music.“ And what’s a karaoke jam without “American Woman” or “I Love Rock And Roll?”

The game is broken up into four main playing modes including a Karaoke mode that basically just acts as a standard karaoke mode where no points are earned and there are no judges. The real challenges come from One Mic Party, Two Mic Party and Sing and Dance. There’s even a Character Creator option that allows you to create your own avatar or take an existing one and add new clothes, hairstyles and accessories. One Mic Party basically can be played using one Xbox microphone or an Xbox Live Communicator headset and play an Arcade, Medley, Sing and Dance, KR Challenge or three Minigames. The best part is that you can play alone or share the mic with up to eight other players.  Arcade has you singing against a group while Medley has you singing a medley that includes three songs you can pick out or allow the game to pick for you. KR Challenge has you playing a variety of the above modes to see who is champ.

Two Mic Party offers KR Challenge and the same Minigames but now you can hook up two mics and play Duets, Duet Medley, Knock Out or Knock Out Medley and Sing Off. The emphasis here is on Duets where you can pair off in groups of two to see what group can perform the best. Knock Out is a head-to-head competition against your friends while Sing Off has two players singing alternating phrases to see who has the best vocal range. Minigames offers three challenging mini games such as Yo! Dude! Rock! where you have to say the three words Yo, Dude or Rock at the appropriate moment to get the stage divers to jump into the crowd successfully.

The best new addition in Karaoke Revolution Party is Sing and Dance where, using a Dance Dance Revolution pad made for the Xbox, you’ll have to hit the right notes vocally while also attempting to hit the directional arrow with your feet. I tell you, guys, this reviewer loves to dance but when adding the vocals to the mix be prepared for the biggest workout ever. Really, you’ll send much-deserved props to artists like James Brown and Mick Jagger who actually can sing and dance at the same time while laughing at the lip-synching antics of Brittany Spears and Ashley Simpson. Much like Dance Dance Revolution, directional arrows will appear on the bottom of the screen so you’ll have to land on the right direction at the right time.

You’ll be judged for your singing skills in this game and I’m not just talking about your friends who will snicker at your awkward attempt to do your best Sting with “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” The judging levels can be worked to be easy on you or be really strict. Your ability to match the song’s tempo and pitch will earn you points that can be used to unlock even more songs (like “Me and Bobby McGee”). So if you’re looking for a great judge that lets you know if you can carry a tune then boy is this the game for you.

On the graphics front, though, not much has changed from past Karaoke Revolution games. The avatars still look pretty funny but they sway with the music and do a good job of moving their lips along with you as you perform. You can dress up your avatar in flashy clothes as well. There are a nice variety of venues and they’re even colorful and neatly detailed. The stage lights and dazzling visual effects add up to a game that’s easy on the eyes.

There’s a nice amount of songs here and they’re performed as close to the original that you won’t tell the difference in some of the tunes. The rest of the sounds come from the audience that will not hesitate to cheer you on if you’re singing on cue or boo you if you belt out those high notes Archie Bunker-style. The best part is that the each venue sounds packed so you’ll really feel like you’re singing to a crowd. Go ahead and play this one with the volume cranked up.

Once again Konami delivers yet another enjoyable party game with Karaoke Revolution Party. Its various game mode types has enough challenges that will have you passing the mic in a true party styled competition or hook up with a friend for the ultimate duet/dance off. The sheer amount of tunes is impressive but the diversity might not sit well with others. When all is said and done, though, this is a game you’ll definitely want at a party.

Gameplay: 9.0
With a generous amount of game modes and a variety of tunes, this title has party game stamped all over it. You can sing against your friends or grab a friend and sing “Unforgettable.” If that wasn’t enough you can also use the Dance Dance Revolution pad to sing and dance as well. The game even tosses in three minigames.

Graphics: 8.2
The cartoon-like avatars are as colorful as the venues and they even sing and groove to the music while you sing. As for the backgrounds, the venues are nicely detailed especially the Vegas and Beach Party venues. The audience pumps their fists accordingly and bobs their heads if you are doing great. The flashy effects are nice.

Sound: 8.5
As far as the songs are concerned, they’re right up there with the original versions and that’s a great thing since the song list is plentiful. The audience sounds amazing enough that you’ll eat up their cheers and feel the sting of their boos. So play that funky music, white boy.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
You can change the setting so the judging can be a lot more demanding but the game is pretty challenging from the start. The competition can get fierce in the game’s Knock Out and Sing Off mode but the challenge here is trying to get through complex songs like “I Will Always Love You” or Aerosmith’s “Crazy.”

Concept: 8.5
With an emphasis and competition and the ability to use either an Xbox microphone or the Xbox Live headset, the game just has enough to share with a group of friends. The ability to use a DDR dance pad is also a major plus and adds more challenge to the game. There are plenty of songs but you can always download a few more through Xbox Live for a fee.

Multiplayer: 9.5
This one is a true party game and hooking up two mics or two headsets, up to eight people can play against each another in a number of game modes that range from a great elimination-styled competition or square off one-on-one with a friend. Let the bursting of eardrums begin.

Overall: 8.5
If you’re looking for the ultimate party game then all you have to do is pick up a copy of Karaoke Revolution Party for the Xbox. With a healthy dose of game modes and songs, you can’t go wrong with a game that encourages dancing and singing, and just having a great time with a group of people. Play this one loud, karaoke fans.