Watch me duck, jump, swing, and dodge!

     So I posted a blog about my thoughts/review of the Kinect system. If you haven't read it yet check out the blog titled "I have kinected. Have you?" in the November blogs. This blog I will be giving my review of a couple Kinect games I have played. The games are Sonic Free Riders and Kinect Adventures. I'll break down the two games separately and talk about the graphics, game play, and most importantly how the controls feel. Let's get it on!

Sonic Free Riders:

     To me this game is almost like Mario Kart, but with Sonic characters and on hover boards. As graphics go the game is very colorful and the character models look good. It's nothing that will blow your mind but it doesn't look bad. The level designs are very good and there's always something happening in the background which adds that little extra something to the environments. Like Mario Kart you can pick up weapons and use them to slow down the other racers and try to inch your way into first place.

     As far as controls go it's kind of a mixed bag. This game really has a learning curve and I can't stress that enough. If you think you'll just pop the game in and be able to be the best free rider you are mistaken. This isn't to say the controls are bad. They just aren't very easy. You stand as if you are on a skateboard (or in this case a hover board). You have to lean left or right to steer, lean forward to boost speed, face forward to stop, and can even slide your foot like you're pushing a skateboard to give yourself a boost. When you pick up weapons you throw missiles like you're throwing a football, or throw a giant bowling ball with the same movement you bowl in real life. To perform tricks you have to jump at the right moment as you race off the end of a ramp.

     From my time with the game the controls worked fairly well, but it does take time to get a feel for them. At times I felt like I was Marty McFly on my hover board and I actually had a good time with this game. The frame rate is smooth and there are plenty of your favorite Sonic characters to play as. You can unlock new hover boards and enhance them which add some depth to the game. I don't think this game is for everyone, but if you can be patient with the controls it can be a fun Kinect experience.

Kinect Adventures:

     If you don't know, Kinect Adventures comes already packaged with the Kinect system which is very nice for the price you pay for the Kinect. I have to say I wasn't thinking this game would offer too much because it was thrown in with the system. I was wrong! So far I have had so much fun with this game. Graphically the game is very bright, colorful, and lets you explore the jungle from your living room. The environments look great and the water effects on the rafting levels are pretty good. Kinect Adventures consists of different mini games that range from block breaker, rafting, stopping leaks in an underwater cube, and catching tokens while riding a moving platform.

     The controls on the mini games are very responsive. If you want to steer your raft all you do is step to the left or right. When you jump your raft will bounce in the air. In the token mini games you will have to stretch your arms out to catch tokens or lean and duck to avoid obstacles. The block breaker game has you waving your arms and legs to smack red balls at a stack of blocks at the end of a hallway. It's fun to be able to play these mini games as your Xbox Live avatar. Also, at certain points the Kinect system will take pictures of you playing the game. You can view the photos and even share them with your Xbox Live friends or even on Facebook. I think the developers did a really good job at making this game accessible to almost anyone. You will be able to jump right into the mini games and feel like you know what you're doing. It's a very fun game and is a good way to show off your Kinect to your friends and family.

Final Verdict:  Sonic Free Riders  (7 / 10)

                        Kinect Adventures (8.5 / 10)

Written by: Alter Ego 83