Kinect Adventures

In this article, I'll write on a game which is more for family use than anything: Kinect Adventures.

The game's name said it all: with the use of the Kinect, the motion sensing camera, the player must use his whole body to play, by jumping, crouching, bending or even simple hands/arms/legs motions. It was released in 2010, pratically at the same time of the Kinect system, by Good Science Studio. This game is one of the most sold on Xbox 360.

Both game and graphics are simple but fun and suit each others: the game use your avatar, the character who represents you in the console and make it go thought various adventures. There isn't a real story, but you can obtain some objects for your avatar when you complete a level or obtain a high score. You can play up to two players but it's funnier when other players take a turn as well.
There are five environments in this game, each one of them with different rules and way to play. You must either complete the level or obtain as much points as you can before time runs out.

The first of those, Rally Ball, is in a protected hallway where you must stop and launch the balls using hands, body and feet to hit the targets and the boxes at the other end.

Of course, like in every good game, you can get bonus, in this case, like in pinball, you can have extra balls to gain points easier ans faster. The hardest part is to aim and fortunately, the body is transparent, which help in the task.

The second level, Space Pop, is in a space lab, where you have to catch soap bubbles by moving up and down, left and right and even back and forward!

It can be a little hard to move with precision since you mostly use your arms to imitate a swimming motion to go up and put them on you sides to go down.

In the third environment, 20,000 Leaks, the player is under water, in a special cube which is constantly attacked by sharks who are trying to eat you. Here, you must use your avatar's body to stop the water from entering and repair walls, floor and roof.

Of course, like Rally Ball, the body is partly transparent to allow you to see were the sharks hit the glass and where cracks form. The quicker you are to seal the holes, the more points you gain.

The forth level is on a platform, itself put on rails and is called Reflex Ridge. In this one, your avatar is placed on a roller coaster and launched in a journey through woods.

This level is likely the one that requires the more activity from the player. It requires, indeed, to jump over hurdles, crouch to avoid low beams and jump to side to evade the obstacles. This way, you must avoid take damages, and lose points, and acquire the coins to raise your score.

Lastly, River Rush, the fifth environment, takes place on a river, with the player on a raft. To control it, you have to step on the left or the right to turn and by jumping, the raft jumps too.

By taking ramps, you can access to secrets places where the coins are more numerous.

Kinetic Adventures is a good game but it's even better if played by two or more people; it's funny seeing the other players jump and make what look like silly moves to complete the tasks or avoid obstacles!

At the end of each level, the game takes some of your most funny poses and put them in a photo with a little title. Those poses can to be takes in any moment, so be aware that they can be a little embarrassing.

Even though jeuxvideo.com gives this game a 13/20 and gamespot.com a 7/10, I think a 16.5/20 is fair, especially if this game is played together as it should be. Even if you don't, it's a good way to move and do some physical activity.

That's all and thanks for reading.