SingStar Legends review

A return to form for Sony's karaoke series?

Here we are again looking at the latest SingStar release from Sony. Reviewing these things is pretty easy, as the actual game software doesn't change from version to version we're left with just reviewing the songs on offer.

SingStar Legends is something of a return to form for the franchise after two poorer releases. SingStar Rocks didn't, being a collection of mostly wussy rock. Anthems, the next release, was a ripoff - it featured some good songs but was let down by only featuring 20 tracks instead of the usual 30.

This time around Sony has provided us with a rather crowd pleasing selection that's bound to keep most folks at a post-pub party happy. There are some genuine classics in the song list this time and the well-chosen list should have a broad appeal.

From hairy old rocks like me diggin' Black Sabbath's Paranoid to the drunken slappers' karaoke favourite The Greatest Love Of All by Whitney Houston.

Take a look at the full tracklist:

Aretha Franklin - Respect
Barry White - You're The First, The Last, My Everything
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Blur - Parklife
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence
Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)
John Lennon - Imagine
Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Patsy Cline - Crazy
Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind
Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug
Sam Cooke - What A Wonderful World
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
The Monkees - Daydream Believer
The Police - Roxanne
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil
The Smiths - This Charming Man
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
U2 - Vertigo
Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love Of All

Not a bad selection eh? Some of these songs are pretty tough too. I've not got much of a voice and I even struggled on Ring of Fire, though I reckon I did a pretty good job of Paranoid. My wife has an excellent voice and even she struggled with some of the songs, Patsy Cline's Crazy is a real workout.

Those of you familiar with the series already will not be surprised by any of the game's setup. Singstar Legends plays just like those previous games. You choose a skill level - which changes how accurate you need to be - and have a variety of party games to player between teams with performances being scored.

I'm getting a bit bored with the structure of the franchise though. Surely it's about time that the actual game element was revamped? Perhaps with something akin to the concerts from Guitar Hero.

That being said, overall SingStar Legends is one of the better releases in the series. The variety and quality of songs is the finest Sony has given us, though of course that sort of judgement comes down to personal taste.