Deutschland sucht den Superstar - boxed - PS2

American Idol is a rhythm game based on the reality TV singing competition of the same name.
Players can create characters of either gender by choosing from several character templates and then customising them with height, skin tone and one of three singing voices per gender.
The created characters can then be guided through the game's various modes. In the main "Competition" mode, the player progresses through various stages modelled on the TV show, from auditions to shows with a live audience, all the way to the final. Between performances, outfit, hairstyle, hair colour and make-up can be adjusted, as not only singing but also style is judged.
In the actual gameplay, there is a target on the screen into which icons move from four directions. The correct button must be pressed in time with the music when the corresponding icon reaches the centre. Besides single presses, there are also connected icons where the button must be held and released, or two buttons must be pressed at the same time. The game also supports dance mats as an alternative control method. Each icon hit or missed is scored based on timing. If you miss icons or hit them out of sync, the singing becomes increasingly off-key and it becomes much harder to progress to the next round. Completing the various competition stages unlocks bonus costumes and sets that can be used in the game's other modes.
Besides the competition, there is a practice mode, where songs can be practised without a jury. Jukebox mode allows songs to simply be played, while karaoke mode lets players sing along to the songs. There is no scoring, but it is possible for other players to judge the performance afterwards. In party mode, up to four players can hold a small competition in which players are allowed to rate each other.
Visually, the game uses a cel-shading style in which singers and judges are rendered. The American version features the likenesses and voices of the three original TV judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. The British version only includes Cowell, and the German version has no original judges, their places being taken by generic characters. The game's soundtrack consists of around 40 licensed pop songs. Between the stages of competition mode, video clips from the respective regional versions of the TV show are played.