SingStar is a tried and tested formula that Sony knows works, not only works you understand but works really well. While the first SingStar game was released way back in 2004, this will be the sixth installment for the PS3, following closely on the heels of SingStar Queen. With each new installment comes a new audience, and perhaps the saying ‘variety is the spice of life’ best describes SingStar because each edition features an entirely new tracklist of songs for gamers to belt out and it is this that keeps the franchise selling like hotcakes.

SingStar Pop Edition is no exception to this rule, with the tracklist seeking to draw in both fans of the series and newcomers alike. As usual the tracklist includes a couple of golden oldies that feature artists whose wild bushy hair makes you wonder whether people of the eighties had lost their minds (Bon Jovi, Queen I am talking to you) and the music videos make you feel embarrassed to have actually lived through this era. The rest of the tracklist features a great selection of the latest hit songs from terrific artists including The Killers, Kings of Leon, Pink and Chris Brown.

Yet, despite the dodgy 80’s music videos that bring hysterical laughter to your evening and make you argue over who gets to sing next because the non-singers get to enjoy the music videos more than the singers do, these songs are absolute classics and amazing to sing. Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ have always been and remain to this day two great rock ballads and definitely bring a touch of class to the tracklist.

And once you have watched some of the music videos from the songs of this decade, you can’t help but to wonder if the next generation of gamers will be left giggling at the hairdos (and perhaps lyrics too) that will no doubt appear funny to them by that stage.

So how does SingStar work? It’s quite simple really, so there’s no excuse for not joining in when your friends rock up with a copy of the game unexpectedly! Select a song and then sing it, trying to keep your voice in line with the on-screens prompts. The game measures the pitch of your voice and scores you against the note the real artist is singing, with points being awarded for singing in tune (somehow fundamental to being a SingStar), singing phrases in tune and hitting those golden notes.

You can sing alone, but if you leave your dignity and all inhibitions at the door, singing with friends is always way more fun! The best is to team up, where you can select from a variety of options including Battle, Medley, Duet and Pass the Mic before the fight for SingStar supremacy begins. It’s also a great way to keep the neighbours up extra late on New Years.

The PS3 versions of SingStar all allow you access to the SingStore, an online song marketplace that features over 600 songs. This enables you to personalize your SingStar song collection because you can download your favourite tunes and you can even share videos of you singing (recorded with the EyeToy), if you are into that kind of thing.

Pop Edition is the first SingStar game that features the new Voice Control function. This means you don’t have to use the PS3 controller anymore, simply speak into the SingStar microphones to select a song. You can search by genre, songs or artists, navigating through the menu by saying ‘go left’ or ‘go right,’ ‘continue’ or ‘go back.’ The feature works impressively well, picking up your voice correctly but it is only really functional if you know the tracklist because browsing left and right can become a bit tedious. You can also use this new function to shop and search through the SingStore.

If you have ever played Pass the Mic with the normal SingStar mics you will know that every second counts and that valuable time is inevitably lost as you get the wires tangled up attempting to pass the mic to your friends. SingStar is now wireless and fancy free thanks to the new wireless SingStar microphones (also a first for the SingStar franchise). Still presented in the SingStar tradition of one blue and one red mic, the microphones also come with improved high-quality sound and are conveniently compatible with both the PS3 and PS2. Although they retail separately to the game they are a valuable investment for any SingStar fan.

While this edition of SingStar features the same gameplay as the previous installments for the PS3, it also boasts Voice Control function and, in my humble opinion, one of the best SingStar tracklists that has ever been released. If you are a SingStar fan I would highly recommended adding it to your collection and if you are a SingStar newbie I would suggest that there is no better place to start than with SingStar Pop Edition.

The full tracklist follows below:

- Alphabeat - 10.000 Nights Of Thunder
- Amy Winehouse - Rehab
- Black Kids - I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance
- Bon Jovi - Livin’ On A Prayer
- Chris Brown - With You
- Chris De Burgh - Lady In Red
- Cyndi Lauper - True Colors
- Gloria Estefan - Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
- Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown - No Air
- Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat
- Kate Nash - Mouthwash
- Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
- Klaxons - Gravity’s Rainbow
- Little Jackie - The World Should Revolve Around Me
- N*E*R*D - Sooner Or Later
- P!nk - So What!
- Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody [DSCIMG]
- Robbie Williams - Angels
- Robyn - Be Mine
- Rockwell - Somebody’s Watching Me
- Sam Sparro - Black And Gold
- Solange - I Decided
- Sugababes - Girls
- The Feeling - Rose
- The Killers - Human
- The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
- The Script - The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
- Will Young - Changes
- will.i.am Feat Cheryl Cole - Heartbreaker
- Yazoo - Don’t Go

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