Karaoke Revolution: American Idol
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Review
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American Idol Karaoke Revolution is a blast to play! It’s truthfully the most fun I’ve had in quite some time and definitely reduces stress levels. Don’t we all need that this day in time? What’s also great is that this is not just a fun game for teens. Anyone, any age, any gender can appreciate the fun this game brings. Even if you’re not familiar with the songs available, there is a mode in the game where you can learn by practicing the song without judge’s critique or crowd pressure. You can practice as many times for as long as you want – until you’re comfortable performing it for a rating. So that’s why it’s fun for just about everyone. Plus, despite the game’s title, you don’t need to be familiar with American Idol or a fan of the show to play this game and enjoy it.
Here are some things that I personally really enjoyed:
1) The song list for me was pretty fantastic. There are only a couple that I don’t care much for. (That however will differ from person to person based on musical taste so take that for what it’s worth) Speaking of the music though, there’s one BIG bonus to this particular game. Even though the game makers weren’t able to use the original artists for the tracks, they worked really hard to find singers who could produce an almost identical sound both with voice and melody. I honestly didn’t know that it wasn’t the original artist until I watched one of the unlocked videos during game play. So, for the most part, if you’re used to hearing your favorite song on a CD or the radio, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to sing it in the game because the difference is so subtle from the real thing.
2) The graphics are pretty realistic to the real American Idol stage. Obviously it’s a game so there are some limitations in this department but I thought they did a fantastic job.
3) There are different difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard and Expert) so you can set this to what’s comfortable for you.
4) The American Idol judges are pretty fun to listen to their critique of your performance. However, I must add here that any AI fan will notice that Paula Abdul is not one of the judges. For whatever reason, they replaced her character with a lady named Laura. To me that didn’t really matter since it doesn’t change game play whatsoever but some people may not like that so I thought I should warn you. Both Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell are in the game though.
5) You can keep game play from being monotonous because there is an unlock feature which awards you for a set amount of platinum records, points scored, etc. There are tons of milestones so this could take you a little while depending on how much you play. Some of the unlocked add-ons are pretty fun (i.e. American Idol videos from the show) but some are in my opinion a bit lacking.
So overall, this is a great way to pass the time…to play by yourself or with friends/family for a karaoke party. One thing that is VERY important is that some people aren’t aware you need a special microphone to play this game. The Logitech microphone works very well and can be found right here on Amazon as well. (Check for it where you see “Customers who bought this item also bought…”) You can also purchase something called the EyeToy Cam which allows you to take a picture of your face and put it on your character in the game, which some people would enjoy. I definitely recommend this game! I hope this review helps you.
One more thing: I wrote another review for the follow-up to this game (American Idol Karaoke Revolution Encore). I only mention that here because I was not impressed personally. This original release is miles ahead in every way. If you’re playing this game series for the first time, I’d really recommend this game and not the 2nd release. Just a thought! I hope you enjoy it & have as much fun as I have!
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Feature
- Compete in the new American Idol mode, which can be played in single or multiplayer
- Also features popular Karaoke Revolution game modes such as KR Challenge, Medley and Quickplay
- Up to 8 people can compete in head-to-head or team-based modes
- Players can sing together in Duet Mode to see who has the most star power
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Overview
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol lets you become an American Idol contestant! After you audition, you’ll earn an invitation to Hollywood and perform in front of the crowd on center stage. Choose to sing from 40 all-new songs, including hits from the show, and receive verbal feedback on their performance from the judges. Build the perfect contestant with new skin tones, clothing, hair styles and accessories. Players can also import images of their face with the EyeToy USB camera brings you directly into the action. Karaoke Revolution: American Idol delivers an immersive Idol experience as players sing their way to victory.
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Specifications
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol lets you sing and perform using a USB headset/microphone as you compete through a fully recreated virtual season of the #1 TV show in America. Play the part of an American Idol contestant as you audition, earn an invitation to Hollywood, and ultimately perform on center stage at the finale. As you progress through the game your popularity with the crowd and comments from Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, both positive and sometimes outrageously negative, will affect whether or not you move on to the next round of competition.
Will you impress the American Idol judges? |
The actual American Idol stage is available for performances. View larger. |
Duets are back and are just as challenging. View larger. |
Will the audience like you more than the judges? View larger. |
40 songs from the hit show are available to choose from. View larger. |
Karaoke, idol style!
Konami’s latest foray into the culture of Karaoke mixes the fun of the typical sing-alongs with the star power of the hit TV show American Idol. Design an Idol contestant from scratch or use a photo of yourself (taken with the USB EyeToy Camera, USB Camera not included). Pick out your accessories and clothing but pick wisely- those sensitive-eared Idol judges will be watching and listening, as well as the vast audience who will be voting on your performance.
As in previous games in the Karaoke Revolution series, players sing into a USB microphone or headset while their selected song plays sans vocals. While a headset is not included with this title, players are free to use a microphone from a previous installment of Karaoke Revolution. Once players select a song the lyrics and pitch of the melody are displayed for them to follow.
If a singer can manage to keep within the margins of good pitch, they are awarded bonuses and multipliers for their song rating. A new twist on song rating, however, comes in the forms of the virtual American Idol judges, who will make quips and comments on your performance. The comments aren’t just for show- they will actually directly influence your final song score. This is not unlike the actual American Idol show, in which the judge’s running commentary can sometimes sway the voters towards a certain performer. The addition of the virtual judges is quite welcome, and it’s great to see them congratulate you if you performed well, and equally as fun to see them give light insults to those performances that were lacking.
Over 40 songs
A number of the songs in the title are updated for a contemporary audience and have been used on the actual television show by notable contestants. The breadth and depth of the song list has always been a strong point in Karaoke Revolution games, and American Idol is no exception to this rule. From the strong, crooning passages of “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’” to the fun pop sounds of “Build Me Up Buttercup,” there’s a track for everybody to enjoy. A number of tracks are especially good for beginners, and the judges will sometimes take pity on a first timers’ performance and offer a few more pointers than criticisms. Sometimes.
The lengthy song list for American Idol includes:
All My Life
Alone
(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me
Be Without You
Breakaway
Build Me Up Buttercup
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Dilemma
Do I Make You Proud?
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me
Don’t You Want Me
Easy
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Flying Without Wings
Heartbreaker
Heaven
Hungry Like The Wolf
If You Don’t Know Me By Now
It’s Not Unusual
Just The Way You Are
Let’s Stay Together
Love Will Keep Us Together
More Than Words
Photograph
Piano Man
Proud Mary
Rock With You
Saving All My Love For You
She Bangs
Stand By Me
Stickwitu
Straight Up
Sugar, We’re Going Down
The Real Thing
Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Unwritten
What A Girl Wants
You And Me
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling
You can Buy It! or See Complete Specs and Reviews
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 17, 2009 21:05:20
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