SingStar Anthems

6.9
Average

Gameplay	10	"Less content for a niche audience at the same price."
Graphics	7.0
Sound	8.0
Value	5.0

By Liam O'Connor

As the name suggests, Singstar Anthems is a compilation of wailing ballads. Long, drawn-out high notes for the inner diva in all of us. For $59.95 you get 20 new songs; you will also get: the revelation that Bonnie Tyler truly is the female version of Meat Loaf; understanding of how truly charismatic Gloria Gaynor was; a good giggle at Robbie Williams’ early days with Take That; and a chance to finally understand the lyrics to Radio Ga Ga and how truly bizarre they are.

However, like a sock, cheap humour only draws attention to how little there is in reality. It’s unfortunate, but Singstar Anthems has a track-list that is missing about 10 songs. After all, it’s the same price you’ve paid for the past releases.

20 songs feels like you’ve been short-changed a bit; something the presentation helps to reinforce. There are no new features or modes whatsoever, and the presentation is a tad soulless compared to previous versions. Indeed, the intro movie just seems like Studio London threw a little party and taped it.

Oh, it fits nicely when you consider that the chief ingredient in house parties is anthems – if you’re 30. Fittingly, that appears to be the age of the people in the intro. Which is Singstar Anthems number one flaw: there isn’t something for everyone this time.

The joy of Singstar was that you always knew at least the chorus to at least one song. But the anthems included are aimed at a much older age group: one that plays Singstar at office parties, rather than teenage house parties. Total Eclipse of the Heart, If I Could Turn Back Time, and I Will Survive are all easily recognisable a lot, but be prepared for questions asking who the hell is Bananarama; I Heard a Rumour was a hit single in 1987.

If you’re looking at the track list and you’re wondering what decade these songs crawled from, you might want to hold off. After all, there are only 20 songs included, and only a handful of them are worth learning if you don’t know them, so you’ll soon find yourself defaulting to an older version. However, if you’re familiar with the songs included and you’re just searching for a way to unleash your inner diva, or if you simply need every Singstar, then you’d be wise to go pick up Singstar Anthems.

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