Karaoke Revolution
Added September 17th, 2004 by Fargo
If there’s one thing that the Xbox is severely lacking in, it’s definitely the music genre. Microsoft’s last expedition into the music video game world, a “game” called "Xbox Music Mixer”, didn’t bring anything new to the table and felt like everything was tacked on at the last second. Amidst this all happening, the PlayStation 2 was creating the ultimate in music video games. Titled “Karaoke Revolution”, it featured a new innovative system (That won many awards) that measured your pitch while you sang and graded you. While most of us where depressed with the lack of the “karaoke” in the Xbox Music Mixer, our PS2 brethrens would go on to enjoy the Karaoke Revolution series for two incarnations.
Not anymore.
“Well we definitely wanted to give the Xbox owners more than a straight port of the game” said series producer Shawn Green. “…we've added our biggest song list ever to this version, over 45 songs including 10 Motown songs with the original recordings!! We're also planning on supporting Xbox Live for even more song downloads!!” The PlayStation 2 series game has been developed by Harmonix and WaveGroup, both who are on the team for the Xbox version, but also includes the aid from veteran Xbox developers Secret Level (Magic the Gathering: Battlegrounds, The Unreal Engine).
Karaoke Revolution Xbox features the full song list from Karaoke Revolution PS2 and selected ones from Karaoke Revolution Volume 2, along with the ten original recorded Motown songs. When asked what the ten secret Motown songs are, we got the reply of, “We're not getting into specifics just yet. but if you've listened to the Motown 1's CD you've heard quite a few of our songs. I'm really fighting my... temptations to tell you about some of the songs! I've heard through the grapevine that this great song list will make you stop in the name of supreme fun! Unfortunately I can't announce any songs at this time.” For now, we’ll just have to guess.
For those of you who have been wondering what to do with the Xbox Music Mixer microphone, you’re in luck. Karaoke Revolution Xbox will be the most “microphone compatible” release yet, supporting the following:
Or a special Konami Logitech Xbox microphone bundled in, usually at a additional $10.00 cost.
Karaoke Revolution’s scoring system is very unique and never seen before. Utilizing the pitch of your voice, and the “live” audience’s reaction, it gives a good lesson on voice control and some serious fun. If you can’t control your pitch, the audience will boo you offstage faster than Vanilla Ice’s career. Do good and they’ll clap along? It’s really good, and especially fun….did we mention the intoxicated part?
The games graphics feature an on screen character, ranging from a cheerleader to a fat Elvis impersonator. Your character sings along to the song (utilizing awesome lip-synching technology) and will dance around depending on your current status. Again, do bad, and your character slugs along, do well, and he’s hopping everywhere.
The lyrics scroll by on the bottom of the screen with the pitch meter on top of them. The little blue lines are the actual pitch and duration of the lyric, and the arrow is your voice. Do good and the arrow turns green and follows the path. Do bad, and your arrow is red and goes everywhere.
There are several modes in Karaoke Revolution Xbox; you have your standard “Arcade” mode where you just jump in, pick a song and play. You also have regular “Karaoke” mode where there’s no scoring or anything. But the crème de le crop is the “Showtime” mode. Think of it as American Idol, where you start off singing at parties, working your way up to the Enormobowl and Superstar TV. It’s great fun for single and multiplayer.
Overall, if you’re looking for a great party game, and a wonderful package, you can’t go wrong. You don’t even have to be a good singer to enjoy the game, and you don’t even need friends! How much better can it get? Well look at the tentative song list and decide!
Addicted - Simple Plan
I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross
All You Wanted - Michelle Branch
It's the End of the World as We Know It - R.E.M.
Are You Happy Now? - Michelle Branch
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
Believe - Cher
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Like a Virgin - Madonna
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
Red Red Wine - UB40
Celebration - Kool & The Gang
Save Tonite - Eagle Eye Cherry
Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
Complicated - Avril Lavigne
She Talks to Angels - Black Crowes
Crawling in the Dark - Hoobastank
Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Every Morning - Sugar Ray
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon
Waiting for Tonight - Jennifer Lopez
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
You're the One That I Want - Olivia Newton-John
And likely some from this list:
"Baby One More Time," - Britney Spears
"Jesse’s Girl," - Rick Springfield
"Born to Be Wild," - Steppenwolf
"Lady Marmalade," - Patti Labelle
"Cry," - Faith Hill
"Let’s Get It On," - Marvin Grae
"Drift Away," - Uncle Kracker
"Miss You," - Aaliyah
"Every Breath You Take," - The Police
"My Girl," - The Temptations
"Friends in Low Places," - Garth Brooks
"Papa Don’t Preach," - Madonna
"Genie in a Bottle," - Christina Aguillera
"Perfect," - Simple Plan
"Heartbreak Hotel," - Elvis
"Rich Girl," - Hall and Oates
"Here Without You," - 3 Doors Down
"Rock and Roll All Night," - Kiss
"Hot Stuff," - Donna Summer
"Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay," - Ottis Redding
"I Believe in a Thing Called Love," - The Darkness
"Sweet Home Alabama," - Lyrnrd Skyrnrd
"I Hate Everything About You," - Three Days Grace
"The First Cut Is the Deepest," - Sheryl Crow
"I Will Survive," - Gloria Gaynor
"The Joker," - Steve Miller
"I’ll Make Love to You," - Boyz 2 Men
"Toxic," - Britney Spears
"I’m With You," - Avril Lavigne
"Virtual Insanity," - Jamiroquai
"Irresistible," - Jessica Simpson
"We Are Family," - Sister Sledge
"It’s My Life," - No Doubt (Thanks parasitic)
"White Flag," - Dido
"I’ve Got You Under My Skin." - Frank Sinatra
and on that note, let’s get the Karaoke started!
Not anymore.
“Well we definitely wanted to give the Xbox owners more than a straight port of the game” said series producer Shawn Green. “…we've added our biggest song list ever to this version, over 45 songs including 10 Motown songs with the original recordings!! We're also planning on supporting Xbox Live for even more song downloads!!” The PlayStation 2 series game has been developed by Harmonix and WaveGroup, both who are on the team for the Xbox version, but also includes the aid from veteran Xbox developers Secret Level (Magic the Gathering: Battlegrounds, The Unreal Engine).
Karaoke Revolution Xbox features the full song list from Karaoke Revolution PS2 and selected ones from Karaoke Revolution Volume 2, along with the ten original recorded Motown songs. When asked what the ten secret Motown songs are, we got the reply of, “We're not getting into specifics just yet. but if you've listened to the Motown 1's CD you've heard quite a few of our songs. I'm really fighting my... temptations to tell you about some of the songs! I've heard through the grapevine that this great song list will make you stop in the name of supreme fun! Unfortunately I can't announce any songs at this time.” For now, we’ll just have to guess.
For those of you who have been wondering what to do with the Xbox Music Mixer microphone, you’re in luck. Karaoke Revolution Xbox will be the most “microphone compatible” release yet, supporting the following:
Xbox Music Mixer Microphone
Xbox Live Communicator
Or a special Konami Logitech Xbox microphone bundled in, usually at a additional $10.00 cost.
Karaoke Revolution’s scoring system is very unique and never seen before. Utilizing the pitch of your voice, and the “live” audience’s reaction, it gives a good lesson on voice control and some serious fun. If you can’t control your pitch, the audience will boo you offstage faster than Vanilla Ice’s career. Do good and they’ll clap along? It’s really good, and especially fun….did we mention the intoxicated part?
The games graphics feature an on screen character, ranging from a cheerleader to a fat Elvis impersonator. Your character sings along to the song (utilizing awesome lip-synching technology) and will dance around depending on your current status. Again, do bad, and your character slugs along, do well, and he’s hopping everywhere.
The lyrics scroll by on the bottom of the screen with the pitch meter on top of them. The little blue lines are the actual pitch and duration of the lyric, and the arrow is your voice. Do good and the arrow turns green and follows the path. Do bad, and your arrow is red and goes everywhere.
There are several modes in Karaoke Revolution Xbox; you have your standard “Arcade” mode where you just jump in, pick a song and play. You also have regular “Karaoke” mode where there’s no scoring or anything. But the crème de le crop is the “Showtime” mode. Think of it as American Idol, where you start off singing at parties, working your way up to the Enormobowl and Superstar TV. It’s great fun for single and multiplayer.
Overall, if you’re looking for a great party game, and a wonderful package, you can’t go wrong. You don’t even have to be a good singer to enjoy the game, and you don’t even need friends! How much better can it get? Well look at the tentative song list and decide!
Addicted - Simple Plan
I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross
All You Wanted - Michelle Branch
It's the End of the World as We Know It - R.E.M.
Are You Happy Now? - Michelle Branch
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
Believe - Cher
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Like a Virgin - Madonna
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
Red Red Wine - UB40
Celebration - Kool & The Gang
Save Tonite - Eagle Eye Cherry
Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
Complicated - Avril Lavigne
She Talks to Angels - Black Crowes
Crawling in the Dark - Hoobastank
Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Every Morning - Sugar Ray
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon
Waiting for Tonight - Jennifer Lopez
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
You're the One That I Want - Olivia Newton-John
And likely some from this list:
"Baby One More Time," - Britney Spears
"Jesse’s Girl," - Rick Springfield
"Born to Be Wild," - Steppenwolf
"Lady Marmalade," - Patti Labelle
"Cry," - Faith Hill
"Let’s Get It On," - Marvin Grae
"Drift Away," - Uncle Kracker
"Miss You," - Aaliyah
"Every Breath You Take," - The Police
"My Girl," - The Temptations
"Friends in Low Places," - Garth Brooks
"Papa Don’t Preach," - Madonna
"Genie in a Bottle," - Christina Aguillera
"Perfect," - Simple Plan
"Heartbreak Hotel," - Elvis
"Rich Girl," - Hall and Oates
"Here Without You," - 3 Doors Down
"Rock and Roll All Night," - Kiss
"Hot Stuff," - Donna Summer
"Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay," - Ottis Redding
"I Believe in a Thing Called Love," - The Darkness
"Sweet Home Alabama," - Lyrnrd Skyrnrd
"I Hate Everything About You," - Three Days Grace
"The First Cut Is the Deepest," - Sheryl Crow
"I Will Survive," - Gloria Gaynor
"The Joker," - Steve Miller
"I’ll Make Love to You," - Boyz 2 Men
"Toxic," - Britney Spears
"I’m With You," - Avril Lavigne
"Virtual Insanity," - Jamiroquai
"Irresistible," - Jessica Simpson
"We Are Family," - Sister Sledge
"It’s My Life," - No Doubt (Thanks parasitic)
"White Flag," - Dido
"I’ve Got You Under My Skin." - Frank Sinatra
and on that note, let’s get the Karaoke started!
