Lips: Party Classics

Party Classics is the third main game in the Lips karaoke series and builds on the concept of the previous games. The visuals have been slightly overhauled, which is most apparent in the menus, with different themes. Largely the same modes are supported, along with the ability to sing long or short versions of the songs. There is a singleplayer mode, and multiplayer with versus, co-op and a number of mini-games. Players have to sing along with lyrics on the screen using a microphone to fill empty bars, along with pitch and timing lines to get it right, while a video plays in the background. Songs can never be failed, players just receive less points. The real music videos are supported, along with custom, animated ones. Points are awarded based on accuracy. This builds a meter that can be used to unleash a Star Scream. When it’s available you tilt the microphone and all lines are filled with stars. You can then fill them with your voice.

The motion controls are still used when your avatar (or a silhouette if you have none) turns up in between verses. They show a motion such as moving their hands in the air or playing a guitar and you have to mimic it. You move the microphone as if you’re playing the instrument. There are some new moves such as clapping to the beat in time.

Just like the previous games the series’ sensitive wireless microphones are supported, but for the first time regular USB microphones can be used as well, from Rock Band or Guitar Hero for instance. With those, avatar movements, mini-games and percussions instruments are not supported, as those peripherals are not motion sensitive. Importing custom songs in the Freestyle mode from a USB device is also still possible.

The disc-swapping mechanism to import songs from other Lips titles is still retained. Those songs can be imported by swapping the disc in-game. The only improvement is that the original disc does not need to be reinserted after every song anymore. Once Lips: Number One Hits has been inserted for instance, you can continue singing songs from that disc without having to swap back constantly. The mic tutorial makes a return, to making syncing the microphones easier.

New to the series is the performance viewer. Any performance can now be saved to watch again afterwards. The Jukebox mode has been removed and it is replaced with the ability to make a playlist from the main menu.

The 40 songs ranging from 60’s up to the 90’s included on the disc are:
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up
Alannah Myles – Black Velvet
Amy Winehouse – Rehab
Aqua – Doctor Jones
Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started
Cameo – Word Up
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
DeBarge – Rhythm of the Night
Deee-Lite – Groove Is in the Heart
Divinyls – I Touch Myself
Don McLean – American Pie
Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man
Foreigner – I Want to Know What Love Is
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
James – Laid
James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
Kiss – Rock and Roll All Nite
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
Mr. Big – To Be With You
Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walking
New Order – True Faith
Opus – Live is Life
Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman
Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn
R.E.M. – Shiny Happy People
Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy
Robert Palmer – Addicted To Love
Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me
The B-52’s – Love Shack
The Cure – Friday I’m in Love
The Knack – My Sharona
The Pretenders – Brass in Pocket
The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
The Spice Girls – Wannabe
Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now
Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
UB40 – Red Red Wine
Village People – Y.M.C.A.
Whitesnake – Is This Love