Review: Kinect Adventures

Kinect Adventures is the pack-in game with the Kinect. It’s probably going to be many people’s first experience with Microsoft’s no-controller sensor. So is it a success proving Microsoft’s gamble? Or is it a game that is destined to collect dust like so many other pack-in games?

The Story
You’re adventurers adventuring. Truly, story doesn’t matter here. It’s just a convenient excuse to get you to jump, dive, and generally look like a fool.

The Gameplay
Surprisingly enough, the games that make up Kinect Adventures are fun party games. They also demonstrate how easy Kinect is to use, even to non-gamers. There’s no more confusion over which button or press or pausing to switch characters. Instead, users quickly figure out how to hover over the buttons or jump in and jump out as required. I have to say, the easy switching between players amazes most people.

Also, the sync between your movements and the movements on screen are close enough–even if it isn’t exactly one-to-one. However, the Kinect had a interesting snafu. I’m Asian and I had another Asian friend over to play. In real life, we don’t look anything alike at all. Except the Kinect seemed to think that she was me and would put my avatar in when she was playing. When we were both playing, I had the generic avatar. Do I have to mark my arm with a Sharpie so the Kinect can recognize me?

There are five games to play: River Rush, Rally Ball, Space Pop, 20,000 Leaks, and Reflex Ridge. As you complete “adventures,” harder difficulty levels appear which can be selected in free play.

River Rush: You are in a raft, floating down a river and you must collect gems or pins. Move side to side in real life to move the raft; bend forward to speed up; and jump to make the raft jumps. In-air double jumps are also possible. It’s a decent game, but also one that will result in arguments over who missed the last gem. Communication is key.

Rally Ball: It’s Breakout but you’re the paddle. Bounce a ball at a wall of wood panels to break them and discover the pins. This is probably the game where you you’re mostly likely to accidentally smack your loved ones. One Review Crew member smoked his young child in the face while playing this game so watch the flailing limbs. Again, this game is another fun one that’s quite distinct from the other games.

Space Pop: If there had to be a dud in the group, this is the game. You’re in space and you have to collect bubbles. Flap your arms to gain height and put your arms by your side to drop. Move forward and backward to catch the bubbles at the front and rear of the room. That’s it. Still, it is funny to watch friends madly flap their arms and run around your living room.

20,000 Leaks: This is by far my favourite game. In a glass tank underwater, you must stop all leaks using your hands, head, and feet. Like a watery Twister, I found this an oddly relaxing game. It’s also the best game to capture goofy photos of yourself which you can than upload for some sweet Gamerscore (you get an achievement for your first upload).

Reflex Ridge: If you want to work up a sweat, this is the game. You’re on a rail cart where you have to dodge, jump and duck around obstacles. To gain speed, you have to jump repeatedly. You’ll also have to collect pins or time gems in the harder difficulties. If you didn’t want to head to the gym for some cardio, go to Advance and do all the courses. You’ll work up a sweat in no time.

There’s also the Living Statues game which Kinect Adventures presents as an award, along with Avatar Awards. But, honestly, “award” this one ain’t. The Kinect records your movements and voice and then plays it back, but instead of you on the screen, it’s a pair of hamsters (or some sort of rodent) or something else odd like your avatar dancing in the mouth a shark. It’s bizarre and probably only of value if you’re drunk.

The Graphics
Since so much of the processing power is devoted to capturing movement, not much juice can be devoted to the graphics. That isn’t to say Kinect Adventures is ugly or anything. Colours are bright and I really enjoy the embroidered camp badge theme. But don’t expect anything more than polished Wii-quality graphics.

The Downsides
If you’ve played one round of Reflex Ridge, you’ve experienced all there is to that mini-game. Ditto for all the other games. They don’t change up the gameplay much. For example, instead of collecting pins, you can collect time gems to extend play. Yeah… that’s not much of a change. They are fun to play, just not after an hour or two of gameplay.

I can also complain about space required in your living room, but I think this is going to be an issue for every Kinect title I play in my tiny condo. But it seems that with Kinect Adventures, I have to move the couch as far as possible to accommodate two flailing adults. It’s a downer when observers just want to sit on the couch and the furniture is practically in the hallway.

The Bottom Line
Kinect Adventures does a great job at introducing Kinect and how to interact with it. I’m really glad Microsoft chose not to include a sports game. The games are fun and make it really easy to play with a friend. Now would I have bought this game on its own? I have to say no. It’s not because it’s a bad game; I’m just not really interested in playing Rally Ball or Reflex Ridge over and over again.

The Good
Games are different from one another and fun… for a while
Demos for Dance Central, Kinect Joy Ride, and Your Shape are included
Only one game (Space Pop) is a dud

The Bad
Moving the couch all the way back puts viewers too far from the action
Play the same thing over and over again