Make no mistake - the big day is nearing. Can you feel it? The excitement, I mean. Well, can you? Has your gut started tingling in anticipation - or is it just the dodgy Chinese from down the road toying with your usual bowel movements again? That's right ladies and gentleman - Christmas is almost upon us! Ah, come on - at least try to look cheery! Soon, you're going to be able to crack open that last cardboard door on your advent calendar and revel in the sheer chocolaty goodness that awaits inside! You'd better brush up on those phoney remarks and nervous smiles too:
"Aww...you shouldn't have!"
"Why, that's what I've always wanted!"
"AWESOME!! YOU GOT ME GEARS OF WA...SOCKS?!"
Then there's the whole family get-together nonsense:
"My, haven't you grown!"
"During the war..."
and everybody's most feared holiday catchphrase "Give your Nana a big kiss!".
Eugh... But fear no more! Sony has a solution to keep Nana's lips preoccupied this year. Everybody - meet SingStar: Legends.

You really won't be able to put your finger on why SingStar Legends is so darn appealing. Perhaps it's the delightfully simple interface or the cracking selection of songs or maybe - just maybe - it's just that deep down, in our heart of hearts, everyone wants to relish in the limelight of stardom - if only for a little bit. Ah, come on... don't deny it! Have you really never Googled yourself? Nicked a catchphrase from one of your idols? Sang a bit of Beyoncé in the shower? (Just me then?). SingStar Legends lets you live out all those childhood fantasies - and unlike many party games before that boasted "fun for the whole family", the SingStar concept really will appeal to everyone; especially for Legends, given its back to basics approach - but more on that in a mo.

Unless you've been kidnapped by Bowser and locked away in a Mushroom Kingdom Castle for the last couple of years, you'll probably know that the SingStar franchise has been something of a success story for Sony. Created in 2004, the original SingStar prided itself in bringing pub-style karaoke to the living room - only without the drunken, smelly men trying to grab at your mum's ankles as she sings Jamelia's Superstar. Top that off with a set of USB microphones and you need never get groped by a lonely bunch of forty-somethings on a Saturday night ever again. "But wait up AceGamez! Didn't this come out about three months ago?!" you say with feverish haste. Well, you'd be correct in assuming that, especially with SingStar Anthems making its debut in August. However, seeing as the compilation was fairly camp (Charlotte Church, Girls Aloud and the Pussy Cat Dolls anyone?), it's safe to say that Anthems wouldn't appeal to anyone outside the eight-year-old girl category. And with Chrimbo coming up, it's only natural that Sony would want to capitalise on the whole family.

So what's new for Legends, then? Understandably you'll still be warbling down microphones like The Chipmunks (if you're anything like me anyway!) only this time with a much more diverse assortment of tracks. Unlike the genre-orientated selection of tracks found in the SingStar Rocks, 80's and Pop compilations, Legends hearkens back to the likes of the original SingStar, with a track list designed to keep everyone humming along as they wait their turn. As the name implies, the artists featured within this compilation are, quite frequently, referred to as being musical 'legends'. It's safe to say that the track list really is quite superb, covering a broad array of genres and generations - from the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to the Pop Princess that is Madonna, there really is something for everyone here.

Don't like your pop music? Then Nirvana and their lead single Smells Like Teen Spirit or Black Sabbath's Paranoid might just do it for you. And there's certainly nothing better than chanting along to Blur's Parklife half-cut as you burn the Christmas pud, that's for sure. I could go on all day about the mighty-fine track list, but you guys would have aged quite considerably if I go on any further and Geoff has started making various 'wind it up' gestures. Sure, there's always going to be a little controversy as to whether every artist featured here deserves the title of 'legend' - and despite still not featuring any Metallica or Iron Maiden (a fact I'm still trying to forgive after the questionable SingStar Rocks track line-up) there's plenty here to keep you shattering windows with your no doubt terrific singing abilities.

But that's okay, because you really don't have to be Whitney Houston to reach the throat-fracturingly difficult notes in Greatest Love of All. As those who played previous iterations of SingStar will expect, Legends is similar in that it allows for the odd 'bum' note. And if the thought of reaching the nut-crushingly high pitch of The Jackson 5 seems a wee bit daunting, you'll be happy to hear that the SingStar mics allow you to drop it down an octave or two. In fact, it's even possible to hum along to the tune if you really must - but where's the fun in that, eh?!

Visually, all of the tracks feature the correct vids (and of course, original soundtracks) to accompany your legless warbling - and, if you don't yet know the words to these classics there's always the scrolling subtitles at the bottom of the screen to keep you on track (no pun intended!) As you'd no doubt expect for a game made for the whole family, the overall design and menu aesthetics have been kept uncomplicated and simple so that everyone can pick up a mic and have fun.

At heart, SingStar, achieves what all other party games attempt - to provide fun for the whole family. As such, many of the giggles you'll have with SingStar are the result of the brilliantly simple 'Pass the Mic' multiplayer mode - whereby eight pals or relatives go head to head in a team-based singathon to prove their warbling prowess. And, as always, there's the ability to pop in the Sony EyeToy and display your mug - it's nothing new, but it allows you to personalise the experience somewhat, and let's face it, it's always a bit of fun to see your gran on the telly shouting along to Nirvana (you'll see!)

There really isn't much to the whole SingStar concept and while some will bemoan the lack of thought and effort that goes into such a randomly flung together package, there's no denying that SingStar Legends is a whole lot of fun. Nothing has changed on a technological front, sure - but with a cracking set of songs covering a broad array of genres, generations and a satisfyingly eclectic range of artists, you'd have to be The Grinch himself not to find any joy with this when the big day comes. In fact, forget The Grinch - SingStar's going to steal Christmas this year.

And for those who are curious, here's the full international track list in all it's glory:

Aretha Franklin - Respect
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)
Jimmy Barnes - No Second Prize
Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Man
John Farnham - You're The Voice
John Lennon - Imagine
John Paul Young - Love Is In The Air
Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind
Sam Cooke - Wonderful World
Silverchair - Tomorrow
The Angels - No Secrets
The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
The Monkees - Daydream Believer
The Police - Roxanne
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
U2 - Vertigo
Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love Of All


Reviewed by Ricky Lee Staines for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).