When Microsoft first announced Lips, it wouldn’t have been stretching the limits of cynicism to think that it was just another tick in the Xbox’s ‘casual market’ checklist, with the console on its ceaseless drive to become all things to all people (or, depending on your viewpoint, innocently expanding its audience). It was only when I heard that iNiS were involved, cult creators of such rhythm-action classics as Elite Beat Agents and – best of all – Gitaroo Man, that my interest was piqued.

Any hope that iNiS’ grasp of eccentricity would carry over into the mainstream world of karaoke gaming was dashed when Lips eventually emerged last year; nevertheless it was a well-designed, exceptionally slick affair. The only surprise was how traditional their take on karaoke actually was (a bouncing ball for the lyrics the most pointed – and cute – addition). iNiS’ involvement was also reassuring because it showed that Microsoft had an awareness of the history of music gaming, as well as a desire to release a karaoke game of real distinction. Did we mention that the wireless microphones had pretty lights?

Although Lips has been amply supported with regular DLC since launch, Number One Hits is the first full standalone expansion. As the name implies, it collects together 40 tracks that once topped the charts somewhere in the world. The selection rests heavily on eclecticism, veering from hip-hop to pop, from permanently annoying singer-songwriter types to the avant-garde (thanks to Aqua’s Barbie Girl and DJ Otzi’s Hey Baby). This wide spectrum of music is almost to the detriment of the game. As opposed to an entire disc based around one genre (which has consistency and a clear audience), there is the possibility that, by spreading itself too thinly, Number One Hits won’t be enough to engage any group for any significant length of time. This is of course all subjective; my experience of playing in a party of 4 was always fun, but it’s a point worth raising all the same.

The interface and controls are largely identical to the original game, bar a few minor tweaks. The biggest of these is Avatar support, with prizes unlocked for high scores (neatly represented by planets which grow in size as more points are accumulated). Integration with LIVE leaderboards also has a welcome emphasis on competition; your global ranking is announced at the end of every song, whilst a particularly strong performance – something I, er, never achieved myself – will see your ranking rise in real-time as you progress through the song.

The actual mechanics of singing are also very well implemented. Personally speaking I can’t see the appeal of karaoke (this might be because I can’t sing), but Lips – like Rock Band – bridges this gap neatly with features that will be more recognisable to gamers, and that make the whole nature of karaoke that bit more comfortable and fun. Of these the innate nature of points collecting and climbing the leaderboards has already been mentioned, but the subtle visual feedback also deserves credit. Successfully hitting a note, a combination of timing and pitch, will fill the corresponding chart bubble; meanwhile a pitch wave tracks your singing, showing you how high or low your voice needs to go. It’s a combination of guidance and encouragement that could, in principle and over time, improve your singing ability. One note of caution is that although all your Lips content – provided that you have a save file from last year’s Lips – is displayed and picked up by the Number One Hits disc, to play any songs from the first game you will need to swap discs, something which could quickly get annoying.

Altogether more successful than other recent Xbox 360 forays into the lifestyle gamer territory (You’re In The Movies anyone?), Lips excels because it feels like there is a clear vision underpinning the franchise, one that has gone from the first idea to the final design with a cohesion lacking in the actual tracklisting. Anyone hoping for the Ouendan to burst in and take over the experience would be a tad disappointed, but on this evidence Lips has an assured future, albeit one without many surprises.

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