subject: Games Taken Right Out Of The London West End [print this page] A London theatre break is a great way to spend a weekend with friends or loved ones but sometimes you'd rather stay indoors, especially when it's cold and rainy. Just because you're not at the theatre doesn't mean that you can't indulge your love of the West End though; these days there are several theatre-themed computer games to keep you busy.
Let's look at the best of the bunch, the four theatre-themed console games that any theatre fan would be glad to spend an afternoon or two playing.
1) Dance on Broadway (Nintendo Wii)
Dance on Broadway is a very simple dance game which is far easier to enjoy than those techno-blaring Dancing Stage games that you'll find in pretty much every seafront arcade in the UK.
There's no story to follow in Dance on Broadway, and no difficulty settings, making it a great game for casual play. You can choose from 21 different well-known Broadway tunes from shows including Hairspray, Cabaret, Legally Blonde, The Lion King and The Sound of Music.
To play, just hold a Wiimote in your right hand and copy the movements on screen, simple as that. You'll even work up a sweat if you play for long enough, so not only is it fun, it's good for you too!
2) Grease: The Official Video Game (Nintendo Wii)
Grease: The Official Video Game is, simply put, a must-play for theatre fans, especially if you've recently enjoyed a London theatre break to see the musical. Unlike the rather simple Dance on Broadway, Grease: The Official Video Game is far more than just a dance game.
You'll dance and sing your way though all of Grease's best-loved tracks with occasional breaks to play Grease-themed mini games which are scattered throughout. For maximum fun with friends and family, play 'Party Mode', this allows you to play in the traditional group Wii style, taking turns and passing the Wiimote around.
The balance board is well-employed in the dancing sections and should you fancy playing alone, Grease: The Official Video Game's Story Mode guides you through the familiar story of the hit musical with mini games, songs, and dances to perform as you progress. Quite possibly the best theatre-themed video game currently on the market.
3) Singstar ABBA (PS3)
If you've ever seen Mamma Mia! at the cinema or even visited the live show as part of a London theatre break, you'll know that it's a truly infectious and unforgettable experience.
Now you can recreate that experience (to some extent) on your sofa. Singstar is, as you probably already know, a karaoke game which has been a favourite of semi-inebriated groups of 16-60 year olds for quite some time. This edition does away with the standard well-known pop songs and replaces them with ABBA favourites including; Fernando; Money, Money, Money; and Mamma Mia.
The interface is simple and the game is quite forgiving, so you don't need to be a West End theatre standard singer to play successfully but you will need to buy some of Sony's USB microphones.
4) Lips (Xbox 360)
Microsoft's answer to Sony's rampantly successful Singstar franchise, Lips is another simple but rewarding karaoke game.
What sets Lips apart from its competitors is the recent addition of several downloadable songs by the inimitable Andrew Lloyd Webber. Fans of the Lord's iconic music can use Lips' wireless microphones (better than Singstar's wired ones) to croon along to Memory from Cats, All I Ask of You from The Phantom of the Opera, Love Changes Everything from Aspects of Love, Don't Cry For Me Argentina from Evita, The Phantom of the Opera from The Phantom of the Opera and Any Dream Will Do from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
No doubt more songs will be added to Lips' downloadable content in the near future so if you're the sort of person who is likely to want to enjoy a bit of West End karaoke quite regularly, Lips is your best buy.
