Konami makes a song and dance of it!

21st October, 2005

Konami of Europe has announced it is to release Karaoke Stage 2 for PlayStation 2 in March 2006, with the original game's singing elements hugely expanded via a number of innovative gameplay additions.

Based on the US game Karaoke Revolution Party (the fourth in the successful US series), Karaoke Stage 2 retains the core gameplay elements of its processor, but now includes duets and a unique 'Sing and Dance' mode that is compatible with dance mats used in Konami's companion Dancing Stage series. Selecting a character from the extended roster now available, players are invited to pursue a singing career by crooning into a special microphone along to a series of well-known, licensed tracks.

Starting in small venues and making their way to huge arenas, a clever rating system judges how well the player can pitch and hold a note and their timing. An onscreen crowd then reacts accordingly, with anything over 'Good' met with adulation, while bum notes and 'Poor' ratings see the fickle crowd desert in droves. Karaoke Stage 2's song-list comprises 50 new tracks, covering all aspects of the sing-along spectrum.

New solo tracks include 'Drive', 'Fly' and 'Crazy in Love', while the new game also benefits from an all-new duet mode. Songs such as 'The Time of My Life' and 'Endless Love' are designed to challenge the co-operation and voices of two singers via two compatible microphones, with the ratings bars reacting to the different voices during the songs.

Also new to Karaoke Stage 2 is an all-new 'Song and Dance' mode. Using both the microphone and a dance mat controller, players are charged with both hitting the high notes and performing a pre-determined routine in a game mode that will sort the stars of stages from the hapless wannabes! A series of new sub-games designed around the player's vocal range have also been added to the mix. The player can also truly 'star' in Karaoke Stage 2 by using Sony's EyeToy^® USB Camera for PlayStation 2 to create a 3D model of your head for use in the game, while the screens in key venues will also show the user as they sing and dance!

Complete song list:

(I've Had) The Time of My Life

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

Ain't Too Proud To Beg

Always

American Woman

Brick House

Call Me

Crazy

Crazy in Love

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me

Drive

Dust In the Wind

Endless Love

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Everywhere

Fame

Fly

For You I Will

Headstrong

Here I Go Again

I Don't Wanna Be

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

I Love Rock and Roll

I Will Always Love You

If You Could Only See

I'll Be

Material Girl

Me and Bobby McGee

Pain

Pieces of Me

Play That Funky Music

Start Me Up

Superstition

Sweet Caroline

Take On Me

Taking Care of Business

That's Amore

The Game of Love

The Greatest Love of All

Time After Time

Truth Is

Turn The Beat Around

Unforgettable

Uptown Girl

Waiting For A Girl Like You

What I Like About You

Who Can It Be Now?

You're My Best Friend

Karaoke Stage 2 will be released for PlayStation 2 in March 2006. For more information please contact Steve Merrett at Voltage PR on 020 7903 5122 or email steve@voltagepr.com.