When something works, build upon it. This has been an idea that’s been passed down for generations, and many have thrived upon it. It’s also a logic that works effectively in games, thus why we’ve been getting a bunch of sequels as of late. When Kinect Sports released for the Xbox 360 last year, it became an instant hit, showing people how much fun it can be to play sports without needing to hold a wacky-looking remote. Now, capitalizing on that success, Microsoft and Rare Studios (along with some help from BigPark) return with Kinect Sports Season 2. And while this isn’t quite lightning in a bottle like the last time around (due to selection of sports), it’s still sufficient all-ages entertainment. The game features six activities to choose from, just like the last game. This time around, though, there’s a bit more diversity. Downhill skiing, baseball, golf, tennis, darts and football are ripe for the choosing, inviting you to take part in quick contests, multiplayer match-ups, and special skill games, more of which you unlock as you play through the game. So, yeah, no major surprises, as that’s how last year’s game went. But, again, we come back to that logic, so let’s continue.
Let’s break down each of the sports by themselves. The first is darts. Now, this is tricky in its own right because, well, you’re just using your arm, and you’re thrusting forward, and if you’re not in the most amicable of spaces, your motions won’t be read properly. Fortunately, we were in a suitable space, but still, we couldn’t help but feel this selection wasn’t the greatest one. Half the time, the sensor doesn’t properly read when you’re letting go of a dart. The other half, it misjudges your arm swing, and what’s intended to be something to go into the “20” zone instead flies right off the scoreboard. Just play real darts instead. The next weakest sport is football, and that’s mainly because it’s even more limited a mini-game than the one featured in last year’s MotionSports. You play on offense and toss the ball to open receivers, or go for a field goal when you can’t complete the first three downs. The main problem with this game is limitation. All you do is pass and run, you can’t really move the player beyond that. Worse yet, the AI is as sharp as a tack, and as a result, you’ll hardly get a breakaway that results in a full-blown touchdown. Tying down this activity’s possibilities make it one you’ll probably pass over after a few tries – that is, unless you’re a fan.
Moving on, we come to golf. It plays as expected, with you taking a Tiger Woods stance and taking shots at the fairway or green. Accuracy isn’t so much a problem here as the Kinect reading your stance in certain spots. Your swing comes off just fine, but every once in a while, aiming becomes problematic. Still, there’s some hope with this mini-game as you get further into it, and it becomes even more entertaining when you add some friends to your game. Now we’re getting into the good stuff. Tennis plays as intended, with you holding a virtual racket and swinging to hit a ball back and forth. Sometimes it gets a little weird, as you have to reach the racket over to your opposite side and it doesn’t read properly, but overall it’s a likable alternative to the mini-mini game that was included in this year’s previously released Virtua Tennis 4. Seriously…that could’ve been expanded much better, Sega. Keep it in mind for part 5. Back to Kinect Sports. The next great game is baseball. And here, you’ll do a lot more than, say, what happened with Nicktoons MLB last month. The game has you performing specific pitches using actual pitches, and it reads them like a pro. You can also do fielding, which is average at best, and batting, which is a complete blast.
This feature review concludes on the next page, please click Page 2 below to read more of our final thoughts on Kinect Sports: Season 2.
