The first of these is SingStar Party, which can either be purchased with microphones, or as a disc-only expansion pack for those that already own the original complete pack.

The interface is more user friendly in Party than the original, and at the carousel (track selection) screen, the original SingStar disc can be inserted and its 30 tracks played with the new features.

It can also be used in conjunction with the EyeToy. Players may project their own image onto the TV screen instead of watching the accompanying video, and can take mugshots of themselves which will appear on the high score and menu screens. The EyeToy can also be used to create groovy psychedelic visual effects. Video clips are good - although not DVD quality. Audio quality is limited to what your TV or stereo speakers and the PS2's lasers can produce, although some tracks are of noticeably better quality than others.

Where the original was more suited to one or two players, SingStar Party contains some great new features which make it more attractive to groups of would-be karaoke stars. One such feature is the upgraded 'pass the mic' team mode with its points challenge, where the first player to 5000 wins. The random player/track selection feature helps avoid arguments whilst adding an element of surprise...or dread! Each team is allocated 'shuffle tokens' which can be used to reshuffle the songs if they should strike one with which they're unfamiliar. Also worth a mention is the new duet mode, which allows players to sing separate parts. The prime examples of this are Sonny and Cher's I Got You Babe and Elton John/Kiki Dee's Don't Go Breaking My Heart.

Like its predecessor the track selection is diverse, with something for practically everyone. Having said that though, we have to question the inclusion of one or two more obscure tracks. Elvis' Way Down is one which immediately springs to mind.