My doughy gamer figure sits in this chair drenched in the sweat of success. That's how I feel about the Kinect from Microsoft for the Xbox 360. Despite my apprehension that the device would be like a yahoo messenger webcam that would be priced out to wazzoo, bogged down and laggy at it's best, I was completely and utterly mistaken.
It is, not only handy, but delightful. I'm having more fun than I did when I opened the box of my first "motion" controller. It is so much more than, you move here, it moves there. It's you move here, and it recognize "how". For instance, it can recognize hands from feet, head from knees, and that sort of bag. There are times, however, where it will "loose" parts of your body when you turn sideways or your arms cross in front of your torso, but at the speed it recalibrate, it's always only a minor issue.
This device is proving to be much like a newly released console. What I mean by that, is the fact that it will be defined by the games that utilize it, rather than like most accessories, where the console defines the accessory. So far I have only 2 games for it, I hope to get more in the near(ish) future. Mostly, I'm excited to see "what" comes forth from such a beast. News articles and blogs have been pouring forth with ideas and hacks and mods for the system, everything from augmented reality to remote controlled couches, but really, I'm mostly excited for the hard backed and decently funded game companies to really work some magic. I've been testing the slew of demos that are currently out for it, and each one I see promise for something truly awesome.
One of the flaws of the Kinect is space. You "can" play the Kinect in as little as 4-6feet, but position the sensor above the TV. Really, you want a shelf behind your flat screen to really get the most out of the system. Around 7-8ft is the sweet spot, however. The best face recognition, the best non-lagging movement tracking, everything is from a 2 space cone burst 8ft out from the sensor. Mostly if you live in a super cramped studio appartment in Europe or East Asia, this might not be for your living quarters. However, a lot of this is just a manner of repositioning your furniture so you don't have anything to destroy your shins as you flail and propel your body about.
There is a slight lag in the system. This is to be expected of any digital device. The Kinect is focused mainly on steady fluid movements of the human body. Something sort of upper mid-range out of all the motions we can carry out. This poses a minor problem in the shape of mind over matter. In a fighting game, as far as fighting circles go, the difference of who's hard core, and who isn't, is who can juggle their opponent the fastest. That's what wins. The Kinect, is a little unable to track incredibly fast movements of the human body. It has some speed, don't get me wrong, but as always biological muscle can be a little too fast for the current digital "eyes". It however, is not as near as finicky about movement as Wii controllers, but there is a slightly noticeable lag between fast and moderate movements.
So, without further adieu, here's the load-out:
Device: Xbox360 Kinect
Platform: Xbox 360
Rating: Initial Rating 8. Rating may change depending on TBA games.
As I mentioned above I have 2 games for the Kinect. I'll review them both here, one after the other:
Game: Dance Central
Platform: Xbox 360 w/Kinect
Developer: Harmonix
Ah Harmonix, the wonderful people that brought us Audiosurf and the first Guitar Hero. Dance Central is yet another one of their petri-dish creations. Bumping and Thumping bacteria dropping down hard pumping bass beats making wonderfully, almost, science music at our fingers. It is easy to see that they tried to keep this game semi-close to other music games on the shelves right now *cough* Rock Band *cough* by listing artists, titles, and even album covers of past and present musical talents.
What I like about Dance Central is simply the fact that you, yourself, are dancing. Even if it's sometimes questionable choreography, your still moving. One of the things that has always been a major turn off for me in the music game industry, is that they never really have anything for you to "look at" while your doing things. It's always a Dance Dance Revolution type of setting. Dance Central, has a tiny smidgen of that in there as they try to teach you the moves. But the best part, is that your movements are represented by the avatar on the screen, so you can see how your doing. It's just fun to see yourself fumble about each step.
What I don't like about Dance central can be summerized into two parts. Part one: Some times the wording of the choreography is hard to understand. There's got to more difference in verbal explination between "Boom Boom Pop!" and "Bom Boom Pow!" in their respected directions of movement. However, once you slow it down a little bit, and really watch the visual que, I can work it out some times. Part two: This one is not a minor issue. There is this free-form mode that interrupts each song. Every song. Every single song has sparkly rainbow glitter time splinted right in the middle of it. They just plop it there. Least they could do is give you a few ponies to play with during the cute storm. When playing with a large group of people, free style mode would be great if it popped up randomly during 1 or 2 songs in an entire set, as something a little special, but every song it starts to become a chore. That, and with my schedule and location, when you play it all by your lonesome, it's just a time to go sit down and have a glass of water before the song starts up again. The game would benefit greatly if it had either an option where you could turn freestyle off completely, or have a play mode, like a workout mode, where it would just have smooth choreography all the way through without interruption. Other then those, the game is wonderfully done.
Rating: 7 Falcon PUNCH! Show Me Your Moves!
Game: Kinect Adventures
Platform: Xbox360 w/Kinect
Designer: Microsoft Game Studios
Every one of these move mechanic devices have come with a short mini game that I have liked to call "Here's how to show off your new toy." With the Wii, it was Wii Sports, for the Ps3 Move, it's mostly Sports Champions, but they have a few other things out like "Shoot" or other single verb games, but for the Kinect, it's Kinect Adventures. Although there are not that many games within Kinect Adventures, as like all the others, it's a series of mini-games, but each one has very entertaining game mechanics.
The hardest one for me is space bubbles. I just can't seem to move my avatar fast enough to pop the bubbles. That And I always end up off screen, lol. My favorite one is the dodge ball simulation. Yeah.
I don't really have much to say about it. I like the fact that you can walk off, some one else can walk on, and they are added into the game play. Even while you are playing, a player 2 can just magically appear and start playing at any time, is just amazing.
Way to go Xbox, yet another page in your book of major achievements, bravo.
Rating: 8 "Bonk!"
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