SingStar '80s Bundle - Review

SingStar '80s Bundle
Ages: Teen

There are some games that shouldn't be reviewed sitting down. For games like SingStar you have to go where the kids congregate - after school spots - perhaps even libraries. There you will be involved with the excitement that performance games generate. Seeing kids reaching to get their hands on a guitar or mics is to realize that that is where the action is.

SingStar '80s Bundle is the fourth in the series of Sony's karaoke games. It includes two microphones and a USB converter. You can also buy the "Stand Alone" version which includes just the game. As you sing the meter ion screen will indicate how close you are in pitch and timing to the original and throw out comments like "cool" or "awful". This is not really a play alone game - it is geared for a crowd willing to party - or at least make fools of themselves. Using the dual mics you can pit teams against each other in the multi-round battles where both players sing at the same time. For a massive bash you can play "Pass the Mic" involving eight players.

The '80 is the era where the sing-able songs came from and this selection has a nice mix of male and female performers. The list is enough to make you start humming.

  • Alice Cooper – Poison
  • Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth
  • Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
  • Blondie – Atomic
  • Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
  • Dexy's Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
  • Dolly Parton – Nine To Five
  • Duran Duran – Rio
  • Erasure – A Little Respect
  • Europe – The Final Countdown
  • Fairground Attraction – Perfect
  • Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is
  • Frankie Goes To Hollywood – The Power Of Love
  • Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
  • Katrina And The Waves – Walking On Sunshine
  • Madness – Our House
  • Madonna – Material Girl
  • Marillion – Kayleigh
  • Nena – 99 Red Balloons
  • Run DMC – It's Tricky
  • Simple Minds – Don't You (Forget About Me)
  • Soft Cell – Tainted Love
  • Starship – We Built This City
  • Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger
  • Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
  • The Cure – Just Like Heaven
  • The Pretenders – Brass In Pocket
  • Tina Turner – Simply The Best
  • Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
  • Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

If you want pop or rap you might want to get your hands on a Singstar Pop stand alone disk. The disk-swap feature lets you play other Singstar disks. When you think you are good enough - you can make your own recording, tweak it up and maybe send it to American Idol.


Fun Factor: It's a phenomenon. (def: known through the senses rather than though thought)
Female Factor: Good mix of guys and girls
Player Friendly: An Eye Toy bundle would make it even better - and friendlier.

Reviewed by: Editor - 04/08

  • SingStar '80s Bundle
  • © Sony Computer Entertrainment
  • Platform(s): PS2
  • To Order: PS2 http://www.amazon.com/ $49.99