Yes now you sing as you would in any other version of KR by getting as close as possible in pitch and timing to the original song as you can. The more successful you are, not only allows you to complete the song, score big points, and win over the audience, but now you have to impress the judges including the infamous Simon Cowell. In the spirit of the show Simon and Randy have lent their voices and likeness to the game giving advice, critiquing, and sometimes if you are bad, insulting you after each performance. There is a third judge named Laura, as for some unforeseen reason Paula is absent from the game, even if her hit Straight Up is not.

KR: American Idol has your standard modes such as Quick Play, Medleys, Duets, KR Challenge, and Karaoke for those who hate to be judged. The meat of the game; however is the American Idol competition itself. You have 3 levels of length to choose from as short as 8 rounds to a lengthy full 18 round competition. You, of course, also have 4 levels of judging, easy, medium, hard, and expert, each stricter than the next.

While unlike the previous American Idol video game, you are not judged by how your on screen character looks, so if you want to wear the big bear suit the entire show, you may do so. This is the only hitch in the game’s accuracy to the show as the rest of the game is spot on.

You begin in the audition round performing a short version of a song you choose. Depending on how well you perform, you move on to Hollywood and the rounds that follow. In the later rounds, you must perform full versions of each song. What’s more, the further you get into the competition the better you must do on each song, so make your choice of song wisely and do the songs you know best last. I was upset to see that each week was not broken up into individual genres such as 80’s, or R&B, etc., which would challenge gamers into singing songs out of their knowledge library. Who knows, if this game is as big of a hit as the show, maybe we will see this implemented into the next version.

Speaking of songs, there are 40 new songs in this version of KR and in my humble opinion, one of the best lineups in the series so far. You will hear oldies such as Build me up Buttercup, Let’s Stay Together, Stand by Me, You’ve Lost that Lovin Feeling and Can’t Help Falling in Love. Mix it ups with hits from the 70’s and 80’s hits like, Rock with You, Always Something There to Remind Me, Hungry Like the Wolf, Piano Man, More Than Words, Saving All My Love for You, and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me. To newer songs like All My Life, Breakaway, Do I Make You Proud, Flying Without Wings, and You and Me. Of course, there is plenty more and all are really great songs. For once, I can finally say I have a version of KR that there is not one song I can throw on Medley and be angry it came up on random.

While there is still no online to be had, the multiplayer experience is best with a group of friends anyway. Not only can you belt out of tune together in various modes, but also you can show your competitive vibe by having an all out American Idol competition against one another. What’s more, you can use the Eye Toy to accurately capture your own image and watch yourself boogie on screen and in front of the judges doing moves you wouldn’t do even if you were alone.

Much like the hit show, there is no slowing down the popularity and appeal that the KR game brings to gamers who love to sing because they can, or have that “shower only” voice. No matter what your ability is, there is fun to be had by all and adding the popular show tie in only makes for more enjoyable experience than before. Just keep one thing in mind, Simon doesn't mean to be rude, he’s just being honest.