| 20 November 2010
I wasn't planning on getting the Kinect when it launched, but I was at a local Best Buy and they were bringing some off the truck and I caved. I brought it home and set it up within minutes; luckily I have a large gaming area so we didn't have any issues with space. I've been running it through its paces over the past few days, and here are my thoughts on the experience.
Hardware and Interface:
As far as the Kinect's interface is concerned, you've probably already read that there's a lot to be desired, and that's mostly true. It simply feels like the menu software hasn't caught up to the Kinect yet. It is pretty neat to use voice commands within the "Kinect Hub" (the menu system that is like a dumbed-down version of the Xbox Guide), and it works especially well with the ESPN program. Unfortunately, it's not fully implemented in many apps, and I found myself saying the word "Xbox" way too much. You can use hand gestures instead, but those take much longer since you have to hover your hand over an option for five seconds each time just to select something. Also, the interface is pretty slow, and I spent a lot of time watching "now loading" screens. My guess is that a lot of this will be fixed in future software updates, but for now, it's easier to navigate with a controller.
One of the coolest things about the system (and the one that gets the most wary looks from co-workers) is the Kinect ID, which maps your face in various positions throughout the room in order to recognize you as you come into the Kinect's line of sight. It's pretty neat when my wife can walk in front of the screen and the Xbox recognizes her, signs her into her profile, and adds her to whatever game I'm playing (provided it supports two players).
Playing Games:
When it comes down to it, there's one thing that many gaming outlets have failed to really drive home to potential buyers: playing games without any controller is really, really impressive and fun. You thought the bowling on Wii Sports broke down some barriers? Nearly any activity on the Kinect surpasses that experience with ease. Plus, no batteries! Also, each of these games have 1,000 achievement points to be had, which really ups their replay factor. And the idea that some of these game will feature DLC is a great move on Microsoft's part to keep these games from collecting dust in the future.
The Kinect pack-in game is Kinect Adventures which is a mini game collection ranging from river rafting to handball. I think there are only five or six mini games and they get old pretty quick if you're playing alone. That being said, it might turn out to be a good party game. Kinect Adventures comes with demos for Kinect Sports (which I bought) and Kinect Joy Ride. The latter doesn't control as well as I hoped, and definitely won't be taking the cart racing crown from Mario anytime soon.
Kinect Sports has six events (and one of those events, track and field, has five events within it), and each of them are impressive. There isn't one that's wholly skippable. Each of them require the player to get a feel for the timing and rhythm of the game, but once you nail it down there's no reason to complain. I think I like beach volleyball the best, although table tennis is a close second. Many of the games are linked to an upload site (kinectshare.com) that allows you to upload and share videos and pictures of you playing, which is a neat feature that I hope will expand in the future.
Lastly, we bought the current Kinect buzz game, Dance Central. It's the most polished and impressive game of the bunch by far. I've only played a few songs and I was surprised at how well the game identifies every move you make. This isn't a dance simulation game like DDR, this is a full-on dance game. My wife has played it much more than me, which is a sign of how fun it is. There are a few game modes, like dance battles, practice, and aerobic modes, but I couldn't find an option for two-player simultaneous dancing, which would have been perfect. It comes with 32 songs and they're already releasing DLC, which is a good sign.
Overall, I am happy with my purchase, and would encourage anyone that's looking to buy and Xbox 360 to get one with the Kinect added. The Kinect itself isn't going to take over my gaming experience anytime soon, but it is a great compliment to my pre-existing library. It would be really neat if the big companies start implementing Kinect support like voice commands or using the Kinect to lean around corners in shooters. As uncertain as the Kinect's future may be, I know one thing for sure: I'm getting rid of my Wii.
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