ShareThis"SingStar: Queen"
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PS2
Genre: Music
Publisher: Sony
ESRB Rating: T, for Teen
Grade: 4 stars (out of 5)
Not enough people will admit it, but I will say it without fear: Queen rocked.
And it rocked hard. If you can watch clips from the 1986 "Live at Wembley Stadium" concert and not be moved by the awesome spectacle of the group's blowing away more than 100,000 people, then I don't know what to do with you. There will never be another musical presence like Freddie Mercury, and Queen was a defining band of the era.
Is Queen the greatest band ever? No, not at all. But few bands' music has been crooned along with in cars, homes and karaoke sessions like Queen's. So having Sony make a "SingStar" game dedicated to the British band is perfect for those who want to experience the franchise as it was meant to be.
Every track a normal karaoke fan would want is here: "Under Pressure," "We Are The Champions," "Fat Bottomed Girls," "Another One Bites The Dust" and "I Want To Break Free" are just some of the 20-plus songs on the disc. There are PS3-only tracks like "Radio Ga Ga," "Killer Queen" and "Hammer to Fall" that, if you are a Queen fan, will make the PS3 version the must-own.
The game itself plays like typical karaoke, where the goal is to sing along with Freddie and hit all the notes like he does. Good luck with that. Freddie was dynamic performer unmatched in vocal range and moxie by other rock stars. So enjoy trying to hit the harmonies on "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Who Wants To Live Forever" -- but at least you and your friends can laugh together as you try.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that this is not a "Rock Band" or "Guitar Hero" game. But "SingStar: Queen" is a noble effort.
"Still Life 2"
Platform: PC
Genre: Action
Publisher: Encore Software
ESRB Rating: M, for Mature
Grade: 2.5 stars
You may be reading this and thinking the same thing I did: There was a first "Still Life" video game?
I had no idea the original came out in 2005. However, it seems that little background is necessary to get up to speed on the sequel's story line.
The game is played from two vantage points. First, there is the main character, Victoria, a cop on the trail of a serial killer. The other is Paloma, a reporter being held by the killer and looking desperately to escape. This back-and-forth gives the game some spice, though the action is generic and tame.
The game play is eerily like a pitch for "Saw X." The serial killer plays similar games with cop and victim, with almost constant cryptic puzzles to solve. Sometimes they are enjoyable, sometimes not. But the pacing is well done.
Perhaps the game's greatest strength is that the lead characters are female. It's beyond ridiculous that in 2009 just about the only way women can make it into games is as buxom damsels in distress or even more buxom, scantily clad warriors in fighting games.
If the gaming industry wants to truly cross boundaries, it's going to need to push for greater diversity. "Still Life 2" doesn't feature the most strong-willed women possible, but it's better than the traditionally dolled-out character sketches.
"Still Life 2" is not going to set any records or redefine a genre. It will, however, give you a decent puzzle/sleuthing adventure without making you hate the purchase or rental.
(E-mail Chris Campbell at game_on_games(at)mac.com)
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