The second of the PS3's double helping of SingStar this Christmas, SingStar ABBA leaves very little to the imagination. There are twenty-five tracks on offer - five less than is expected in a disc-based version of everyone's favourite console-based karaoke series - all of which come from the legendary Swedes. There are no other bands present here, which is sure to please the many fans of the band; instead, nearly all of the group's best-known hits are included in what some may consider the best SingStar game to date. But can this really be true or is it only worth it for people who already know each and every lyric?

The answer is yes, because unless you love ABBA, this game is wasted on you. Unlike other music games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, you really need to know a song to enjoy performing it; in karaoke you have to sing, rather than time button presses. This is why the Guitar Hero games like the recent Aerosmith edition hold fairly broad appeal, as you can still enjoy playing even if you don't particularly enjoy the band in question. The other problem is that in ABBA you only have songs from the one group, unlike the aforementioned Aerosmith release, where bands that were inspired by the title bearers showed up too. On the other hand, this lets the game avoid the over diverse qualities of the other recent titles in the series; by just plundering ABBA's wealth of hits, the game is more focused and makes for an ultimately better karaoke experience. If the likes of Steps and Bananarama were included here then the legacy of ABBA would most likely be lost; but this is a game made purely for the fans, of which there are a more than considerable number.

Unfortunately, because of the single artist in SingStar ABBA, there are plenty of songs that feel like filler. The best tracks are the obvious choices of Mamma Mia, Gimme Gimme Gimme and Dancing Queen, and consequently, songs such as the virtually unknown Under Attack and Head Over Heels feel out of place next to the greats. You don't get to sing some of the band's better records either, with Lay All Your Love On Me and I Have A Dream missing from the track list. These faults aside though, this is the only place where you can enjoy the delights of SOS and Super Trouper on any console. The track list is strong all in all, with a much-needed emphasis on the classics. When you get fellow ABBA fans together to play, you feel like you're singing through ABBA Gold, making this SingStar edition a great accompaniment to a party. There are certain songs that seem out of place and some that are mysteriously missing, but when compared to any other SingStar game on the market, the amount of songs that anyone who buys it will know is more than worth the price. It's consistently enjoyable and even if you play every single song in one night, you'll still want to keep coming back for more.

There are two versions of SingStar ABBA available in the shops; the PS2 and PS3 versions. They may look identical on the shelf, but the pricier PS3 version features five extra tracks and an edge over the older console's game. The five extra songs are the weakest in the collection, with Happy New Year being the only one worth singing more than once, but this isn't the reason why PS3 owners should fork out the few extra pounds; the ABBA videos may not be up to today's standards - some are so bad that watching yourself on screen through the PlayStation Eye is more enjoyable - but they do look much better in HD. Retaining the full screen loveliness of the other PS3 SingStar games also means that you get to see all of the band's knitted jumpers in their full glory, a sight that you see in nearly every video on the disc. The game sounds better too, with more precise audio showing just why PS3 is the place for SingStar right now. And on top of all that, you can even download and play songs from the SingStore using the ABBA disc, meaning that you don't have to force yourself to choose between the three PS3 Volumes currently available. If your only console is a PS2 then obviously you don't have a choice but if you are looking at the two prices and edging towards the cheaper of the two, think about how much you want to see the band in glorious faux high definition.

SingStar ABBA is not what fans of the series are used to. Only the German release Die Toten Hosen has featured songs from a single artist and it works extremely well. Though, as you can tell by the score above, the game is still SingStar and this time, more than ever, it depends on your preferences in music. Never really listened to ABBA? Then avoid this pop-filled edition of SingStar like the plague. Think they are the greatest band ever? Then increase that score to a 10 and buy this immediately. If you are an ABBA fan then SingStar ABBA should be at the top of your list this Christmas - it's an essential addition to your collection. There hasn't yet been a game in the series that has been this focused and downright fun for people who enjoy the artist in question, and for that ABBA deserves as much praise as a karaoke game can get. Depending on your feelings on the band, this could be the best or worst SingStar game yet and which category the game falls under for you is entirely down to how much you love ABBA.

Reviewed by Sam Atkins for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).