PlayStation code provided by the publisher
I’ve always been a big fan of music party games since I was a kid. I grew up around Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and the Disney Sing-It series, so getting a chance to try Let’s Sing 2021 brought me back to those simpler times. Being able to just hang out with family or friends and mess around with different songs and modes is just the thing I needed during such a rough year. It’s a very lax game with a beautiful way it pulls out the joy it wants its players to feel while playing it.
Gameplay
When you boot up Let’s Sing 2021, right from the start just about every mode is open for you to enjoy without having to worry about unlocks. There are 7 modes in all and each one is carefully tuned to differentiate itself from one another. Some offer the vanilla singing experience where you just read the lyrics on-screen as you try to match the original artist’s pitch. There are some really awesome elements added into other modes that allow the player to experiment with just how comfortable they are with the songs. Throwing things on-screen or trying to divert your attention in order to confuse you.
The newest game mode featured is the Legends mode in which you’ll accept challenges given to you by different bosses. Once beating their challenges and progressing enough, you’ll go toe to toe with each one in a sing-off. It’s an interesting mode that switches up the gameplay a little bit. It’s the modes like this that have other elements to them that makes this feel like there was more work put into it to make it more than just another karaoke game. It’s a party game first and it definitely proves that.
While many of the different game modes indeed have the AI capabilities to play solo, it really shines when you can play with friends or family. I felt like I did when I was a kid and I didn’t have to worry about any adulting duties. Singing and getting into our favorite songs or fumbling the words and laughing to our less familiar ones really made the experience an enjoyable one through-and-through. I really see this game being big this holiday season for the folks that aren’t going to parties and maybe staying in with their live-in family, friends, or roommates. Folks that find joy in music and company are going to be delighted with just how much can be done with multiplayer through its hectic Let’s Party mode and FEAT. mode duets.
Aside from the actual gameplay elements that build up the core of Let’s Sing 2021, there are some things that you can collect along the way. Just playing the game unlocks new looks for the 4 in-game avatars you can choose from. The fact that you can’t go into a deep customization system really didn’t both me since you really never see your character too often. As you play the songs throughout the game you’ll actually unlock them for the Jukebox which serves as a way for players to listen to them and sing along at their leisure. You can see the music videos on-screen and the lyrics still pop up too.
Talking about the tracklist in Let’s Sing 2021, I would’ve liked some more songs added to the list. There are 30 in total and while they are all great, just a few more would’ve sealed the deal for me. They do plan on releasing more tracks in post-launch DLC but I would’ve appreciated more songs at the price of free. I just felt like I was getting tired of playing my favorite 10 songs over and over. I will definitely be looking into the DLC packs for sure.
When I saw that this game utilized the Let’s Sing smartphone app, I decided that I wanted to play the game fully, just using the app as my microphone. Luckily, it’s a great alternative to pulling out a bunch of wired microphones. They were always one of the things I’ve hated about music games and am glad it’s moving away from them. This is a fantastic selling point and really broadens the margins of who’s actually able to play. I really didn’t have issues with my phone’s mic keeping me on point either. It’s a clean app and I never found myself getting lost trying to navigate it.
Visuals
Besides the beautiful color palette that’s been utilized in-game, the main focal point is always on the music videos going on during songs. They did a really great job of bringing them to life with the resolution and balancing them with the colors and lyrics going on at the same time. Especially when it comes to the Let’s Party mode, there’s a great balance of background and foreground elements that mesh together perfectly. I really like the cartoony additions that the mode brings onto the screen to create its madness.
Audio
Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about the audio in this title. It’s the thing that’s most the most important and I didn’t experience any issues. Each song is mixed well between the actual artist and how high the volume is from the singing players. The menu music too is great too. It’s a little dancey and makes it feel like a party.
Replayability
There’s a tremendous amount of replayability in this title and I see it being very popular because of what it does. It has a unique set of game modes that make it feel more like a game as opposed to just being a karaoke simulator. It takes the elements of older music party games, enhances them to today’s standards, and wears them on its sleeve. This is a title that makes a mundane night in feel like a party is happening in your living room. I think that the DLC packs will only strengthen the longevity of this title.
What It Could Have Done Better
My only issue with this game is the number of songs it has a release. I’m a huge music guy and I love to sing as many songs as I can. I felt like I started to find my favorite songs to be getting old solely because I had played them so much. I’m going to be looking into the DLC packs as I’ve said, but again I think a few more songs would’ve made it a rock-solid experience.
Verdict
Let’s Sing 2021 nails-it at being a music party game and actually sets itself apart from some of the other games of the genre. It’s just a really fun game and that’s something that I believe we all need in our lives right now. Even with the size of the tracklist being slightly too short for me, these are still some truly stellar songs that just about match any music fan’s taste. If you’re stuck indoors and miss the nights of going out to karaoke, clubs, or concerts then this game should help tide you over until things get back to normal.
