Karaoke Revolution

"Now I can become a star, at least in my college dorm!"

Well, since I love the rhythm games of all types (DDR, Mad Maestro, Unison, etc.) I was so excited when I was able to finally use my voice to a game. Now, I can't sing at all...but the game begs to differ! Karaoke Revolution is awesome, and uses the most amazing technology to grade you.

Story: N/A
There is no story in KR. There is, however, a Showtime Mode which is where you just go to different stages until you reach the final one to become a star. It's nothing noteworthy though.

Gameplay: 10/10
This is the most fabulous part of the game...and the main part of it. First off, it requires a USB microphone to play. Luckily, one is included with the game. You place it on like a pair of headphones, and the microphone is near your mouth. Anyway, you first pick a mode: Arcade or Showtime. Arcade allows you to pick any song, any difficulty. It's similar to Dance Dance Revolution. The Showtime Mode gives you different venues, each with four songs. You choose a song, and then if you pass it you can go to the next stage. The judging system is based on how well you match the pitch and rhythm to the music. You can adjust this difficulty level as well. When it's performance time, you have a box at the bottom of the screen. The lyrics go by, and when they reach a certain bar (called the Now Bar) you sing them. The lyrics are accompanied by thin tubes. These tubes indicate the note of the lyric, and how long you must hold it. A set of these tubes make a verse, and if you sing the lyrics well you get a Great or Good rating. These allow you to form combos. The other ratings are OK, Poor, and Lousy. Do bad enough, and you get kicked off stage. If you encounter a glowing set of tubes, you can get a crowd boost if you sing it well. This will cause the entire stage (and your character) to light up. If you keep singing well, the crowd will clap their hands to the rhythm, giving you a sense of encouragement. At the end, you're graded on your performance, and if you do well enough you'll receive either Gold or Platinum rating. It's awesome! The sound and pitch are adjustable, so you can match it to your personal tastes. As I said, the technology used is fabulous. It's a real treat to play this game.

Graphics: 9/10
While the characters do look a bit weird with their oversized heads, it really doesn't matter because you can switch their outfits and unlock new ones. Their lips move correctly with the song playing, although you'll be too busy watching the lyrics fly by. When you do well, the microphone glows, which is pretty cool. The settings are a lot of fun. When you see the audience clap their hands or cheer you on, it's quite the inspiration. I enjoy the graphics.

Music and Sound: 10/10
Over 35 songs are in this game and all are enjoyable to sing. Unlike the DDR selection, you've most likely heard of all the songs. We have some Michelle Branch, Cher, Madonna, REM, Nickleback, just to name a few. All songs are mega hits and are a blast to sing along with.

The sounds are good. There really is nothing else to say about that. As mentioned, the hand claps and the cheers giving by the crowd are a pleasure for your ears.

Replay Value: 10/10
There are a ton of songs and outfits for your characters to unlock. Many of the songs are quite difficult and you'll try again and again to get a Platinum rating on them while being graded on Expert. I'll be playing this game for a long time. I also hear that there will be expansion packs full of new songs coming out to the United States. This adds even more replay value.

Difficulty: Various
You can adjust pretty much everything in this game, and the difficulty level is no exception. There are many options that will allow you to play with enjoyment while still being challenged. Almost any age can play this game.

Buy or Rent: Buy
It's a good deal, considering you're getting a game that comes with a USB microphone and allows expansion packs to be added. I got a discount on mine (CONNECTIONS!!) but the real price is 60 dollars. All I can say is, SO WORTH IT!

KR really gives a new feeling to the rhythm type games. There are tons of songs to sing, and great features to unlock. Now remember, this review is coming from someone who can't sing (but has improved thanks to the game). It's a great buy, and highly enjoyable. Don't miss your chance to become a star!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/12/03