Since the original game's release back in 2004, Sony has delivered an incredible amount of versions of the karaoke classic SingStar year on year. Chances are though, that 2008 will be known as the year where the most SingStar titles were released; seven titles across both PlayStation consoles. Now that Christmas is on its way, Sony is rolling out releases on both systems and SingStar Vol 3 is the third game in the series for the PS3. It's yet another example of a disc release rather than downloadable packs but is the track list strong enough to warrant a place at your Christmas day party or should you trade your copy in for Microsoft's LIPS?

After reviewing Singalong with Disney and Boybands vs Girlbands, both for the PS2, the video quality found in the PS2 games has become all I expect from a game in the series. Now that another PS3 SingStar game is here though, the improvements made to the graphics causes the older games look ancient. Videos fill the whole screen and the lyrics do little to impose on the often HD quality music videos that accompany the songs. Menu screens use the theme you have selected in any of the other volumes currently on the market, with new themes available in the SingStore. This consistency across the games is one of the many subtle touches that makes SingStar on PS3 such a well conceived series; Microsoft's LIPS may look slick but SingStar still has the edge. SingStar has always sounded great but, unlike the PS2 games, the audio is coming through an HDMI cable and so it sounds just as good as any CD player you can buy. SingStar Vol 3 looks and sounds better than ever on PS3, but the real deciding factor about any game in the series is the track list - and there's no exception here.

As is the case with the last two volumes on PS3, Vol 3 doesn't have a specific theme. Instead, there's an extremely diverse set of hits to choose from, ranging from The Ting Tings to Barry Manilow. The tracks are more on the pop side of things, not counting the indie/rock music that was included in Vol 1 and 2, which help to iron out the issues that many had with these versions. The variety comes from the game's obvious split between golden oldies and new chart hits, with no single generation getting favoured over another. They are all great songs to sing though, no matter which era they come from, and the selection on this disc is a sure-fire way to get a party going. Songs from artists for which the series has become known for are featured, such as Take That's Could It Be Magic, and Coldplay's Viva La Vida, but the best tracks come from much requested artists who make their first appearance this time round, with Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and Barry Manilow's Copacabana standing out as two of the best songs on the disc. The Ting Tings' Shut Up And Let Me Go is welcome too, as is the double helping of Timbaland that is sure to have many men embarrassing themselves while trying to hit the highest notes in Apologize. The track list is strong but is the diversity so overpowering that people won't get enough karaoke for their money?

The balance between old and new songs rarely falls either way of the split, with just as many classics as new songs - tracks from the Seventies sit alongside ones that were released just a few weeks ago. This should mean that there is something for everyone but, as previous titles have shown, a focused karaoke experience is much more enjoyable. The inclusion of David Bowie's Space Oddity may seem like the perfect choice at first but kids won't have a clue on the lyrics. This happens with the new songs too; the rap heavy sounds of Dizzee Rascal's Dance Wiv Me will probably be too much for your parents to deal with. Some inclusions, as is almost always the case, are just plain strange - Kate Bush and Leo Sayer in karaoke? But once again, this doesn't detract from the great songs on the disc; everyone should find at least five tracks that they are familiar with, probably more. The track list doesn't have the universal appeal that SingStar ABBA has, but no matter what sort of music you enjoy, there is something for you here.

SingStar is a series that is increasingly harder to judge, especially with the SingStore now filled with songs to buy, as it all depends on the amount of tracks you know and like that each volume contains. There are now four SingStar games available on the system and so you have four track lists to choose from. My pick would be Vol 1 and at a bargain price pre-owned, there's no excuse to not buy it. Then you have Vol 2 and its focus on the older generation of songs, which may well warrant your attention. Vol 3 isn't a disappointment -very few SingStar games can be called a disappointment nowadays - but it isn't as strong as the other volumes and the other new entry to the series, SingStar ABBA. No matter which release you choose though, SingStar still has the edge over the first competition it's had since Karaoke Revolution a few years back; LIPS may seem like a revelation, but when you have a back catalogue as extensive as SingStar's, there's only one karaoke game to really care about.

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