Image via Complex Original
Let's face it: most of us can't carry a tune. But we'd like to think we can -- in the shower, in the car, outside late at night when we think no one's looking, and on American Idol. But we can't all be rock stars. Luckily we've got plenty of games to help us keep up the illusion. There certainly could stand to be a few more, but right now survey 15 of our favorite singing/rapping games.
"SingStar" (PS3)
The SingStar installments for PlayStation 3 improved upon their counterparts from the previous generation by allowing members of the community to upload and share clips, as well as allowing players access to an impressive library of additional songs. More Kylie! How could you go wrong?
"Karaoke Revolution" (Xbox 360)
The current-gen revival of the PlayStation 2 mainstay for avid singers brought with it updated graphics, achievements, and licensed songs -- for once. A few fun tweaks such as challenges and literal records to collect made Karaoke Revolution an entertaining alternative to Rock Band and Guitar Hero, even if it is a little cheesy.
"Get On Da Mic"
One of the scant few rap-centric games out there, this PS2 cult hit predated Def Jam Rapstar, allowing players to spit tracks like "Beautiful," "Nothing But a G Thang," and "Push It." Unfortunately, the game suffered some hiccups due to its usage of covers -- some lyrics and even timing of familiar songs are a little off, but it filled the void left by Karaoke Revolution and SingStar by introducing a rap-only sim, which was actually quite serviceable otherwise.
"Band Hero"
An addition to the Hero collection, Band Hero gathered more current (for the time, at least) pop tunes in a format marketed toward the whole family. Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, and more -- except for one horrid Filter song. Trust us, that live version of "Take A Picture" is worth skipping. What were they thinking?
"Def Jam Rapstar"
Picking up where Get On Da Mic left off, Def Jam Rapstar was an exciting new release for hip hop fans, unlocking a new world of additional rap hits, with a career mode to further enhance play. But no cover songs here. Only radio edits, which, aside from the occasional lapse in verses, were a vast improvement from the rap game prior.
"Boogie Superstar"
The Wii was in dire need of a serviceable karaoke title that didn't include the words "karaoke" or "revolution," and for the most part Ubisoft's gamble with Boogie Superstar worked. Part sing-along and part rhythm game, it lent a cartoony lilt to the genre that was worth investigating, especially if your only exposure before was through Rock Band.
"SingStar Queen"
We wanted it all...and got an entire SingStar compilation with plenty of classic Queen songs and the music videos attached to the them. Simple scoring and a wealth of "fat-bottomed girls" made the Queen edition one SingStar to watch.
"Rock Band 3"
While Rock Band 2 found a groove, Rock Band 3 came packing another explosive set list, new challenges to complete, and a revamped menu system as well as expansions to the already robust character creator, with additional goals and new achievements to conquer. Drop in and drop out play rounded out the slick package, and made Rock Band 3 a fantastic step forward, even if its on-disc songs weren't up to the caliber of Rock Band 2's.
"Lips: Number One Hits"
The next installment to the Lips series packed some fantastic tunes and an enhanced scoring system into another compilation with hotter party songs to keep the action going all night: "Viva La Vida," "She Drives Me Crazy," and even "Karma Chameleon." Work that vibrato!
"SingStar '80s"
SingStar's PlayStation 2 collection gathered some memorable hits, but the '80s version of the popular series served up some crazy classic '80s hits that'd make you go "Tubular!" or something equally '80s. And you know when it comes to banging out some tunes late at night in the safety of the soft glow of your TV (or out at your favorite bar) the 1980s rule.
"Lips"
Microsoft decided to throw their hat into the ring with the excellent and stylish Lips for Xbox 360. Coupled with svelte wireless microphones and accompanying music videos in the vein of SingStar, Microsoft's new franchised breathed new life into the genre, and also let players use their own songs (albeit usually without lyrics) via Zune.
"Green Day: Rock Band"
A raucous singalong, this collection of Green Day's greatest hits brought a new dynamic to the karaoke game after the success of The Beatles: Rock Band. From "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" to "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day's specialized Rock Band outing is a deliciously guilty pleasure to play solo and a drunken odyssey with friends.
"The Beatles: Rock Band"
The Beatles' epic song catalogue finally made its way into karaoke gamers' consoles and all was good. Classic band, classic tunes, and a trippy "story mode" to boot. What's not to love? You know...unless you're not a Beatles fan.
"Guitar Hero 5"
The fifth numbered Guitar Hero installment certainly wasn't without its share of controversy (Kurt and Johnny, anyone?) but served up Tool and a bevy of other artists that hadn't truly made an appearance in prior karaoke titles. Plus, you could still play with the band -- or in most cases, the rest of your family or friends.
"Rock Band 2"
Why not Rock Band 3? The franchise hit its stride with the second outing, bringing with it an impressive set list and multiplayer mechanics. It cleaned up Rock Band's occasionally messy pitfalls and enhanced everything from character customization to set list creation. Rock Band 3 went on to do great things, but Rock Band 2 reigns supreme as simply one of the best options out there.