PlayStation 3

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore

There's no doubt that singing My Heart Will Go On and Knockin' On Heaven's Door is fun, but Encore's limited customization, barebones modes and ho-hum visuals are stacking the deck against you putting the time into the more than 20 unlockables. In its first foray onto the PS3, Karaoke Revolution has turned in a performance that isn't Ashlee Simpson bad but is far from the headliner we cheered for on PS2.

American Idol Encore remains fun for roughly the length of time it takes to sing through all of the included songs that you like. A wide selection of downloadable content adds value, but not enough when you consider that each song is an additional investment on top of your $70 'game + microphone' bundle. Unfair though it may be to draw comparisons, Rock Band has raised the bar for games of this sort. If you're the sort who loves pop music and who can happily do without master recordings or guitar/drums, American Idol Encore is a decent enough alternative for achieving your goal of virtual superstardom.