This is a sports compilation that includes 10 sports, as the name implies ( Deca is a prefix in the metric system, also a numerical prefix, denoting a factor of ten).
If the game looks familiar, it might be because it is a rework of a Wii title that came out a while back.
The game has some fun gameplay to its credit, but also seems to fall short in other areas.
Special thanks to bloodnutman and ScottRad1234 for helping me with the online achievements in this game.
GAME: Deca Sports Freedom
REVIEW SCORE: 5/10
The fact that the game offers 10 sports is a plus, as it allows for a wider variety. And, to be fair, some of the sports are actually pretty fun.
I seemed to experience a handful of sensor issues though that seemed to damper my appreciation for this game. For one, my in-game avatar will often be stuck in a sitting position (although I have no similar issues with any of my other Kinect titles). This makes hitting certain returns in Volleyball and Tennis near impossible in some instances.
Also, there is an issue of quantity over quality as far as some of the sports go. Whereas boxing and archery are fun and interesting to play. Sports like Kendo and Paintball are not. Kendo isn't really a bad event, it just doesn't work well in a Kinect compilation, and Paintball utilizes a first-person shooter setup that falls short of my expectations.
There is also some issues with Kinect being able to recognize players with this software. I played some co-op with my wife and we were constantly having issues. If we moved too far out of range and came back, the game would not always remember the player and would register one of us as "Guest". And at one point, the game mixed us up and we were playing under the other persons' gamertag.
This game is fun in small doses, and manageable when concentrating on playing your favorite events.
FITNESS SCORE: 5/10
Aside from Figure Skating and Mogul Skiing, you don't really get yourself in motion. Games like Tennis and Volleyball have your in-game avatar automatically move into position, you just have to swing your arms. Archery and Paintball read body movements, but are limited to turning your body certain directions. Kendo, Boxing, and Dodgeball have you stand in place and move your arms, and Snowboarding has you stand in place and lean.
Still, Mogul skiing is enough to work up a sweat, and Boxing is great for flailing around your arms.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- If you enter the "Locker Room" from the main menu and yell "Hudson" (with the Kinect mic turned on), you will unlock an Avatar Item T-shirt.
- Achievements are not affected by option changes. You can feel free to play the game on the easiest settings and the minimal number of matches. (Unless the achievement specifies certain option criteria).
Thursday, February 10, 2011
GAME COMPLETED #6: ADRENALINE MISFITS
This is a pretty fun game that is extremely easy to complete. It took about 4 hours or less for me to earn the complete 1000GS in this title. It has its ups and downs, but I would recommend a rental.
GAME: Adrenaline Misfits
REVIEW SCORE: 6/10
First and foremost, the game does a great job incorporating the Kinect sensor, which is always a huge plus. In addition, the game has several different game modes to enhance gameplay and replay value.
Second, the game is easy to learn, easy to play, and pretty fun.
The concept is fairly simple. You control a snowboarder who maneuvers, races, battles, and styles the way to first place. As you beat levels and earn high scores, you unlock new characters and new boards with increased stats.
Unfortunately, the game seems a bit too easy. Even using the most basic characters and boards, the enemy A.I poses little threat as long as you understand the basics of gameplay.
Also, the game seems to try to do a little too much. For instance, it has offensive and defensive weapons that you can pick up (in the spirit of games such as Mario Kart), but they rarely are of any use. In fact, some of the game modes (big air and trick modes) focus on individual actions. The enemies in this case are doing their own thing, and the weapon system becomes obsolete.
Also, many of the game modes (like those listed above) are won by reaching certain criteria (most air time, most balloons collected, most trick points, etc.), which is fine, but the game is still set up a like a race; except, you can cross the finish line 2 minutes after everyone else but still win first place.
I just kind of felt like the game would have been better suited if it concentrated on fewer play variants and just built around them.
But I was still overall impressed with the quality of motion controls and simple fun involved.
FITNESS SCORE: 4/10
The game doesn't involve to much moving around. Mostly standing in place while leaning one way or another.
There is however, some modes that require lots of tricks, which require lots of jumping. And since this is a Kinect title, lots of jumping means lots of jumping.
Even though it only took about 4 hours to finish the game, I had some fairly sore thighs the next day from leaning and jumping.
You will get some leg exercise as well as some ab work in, but nothing for the arms (aside from holding them straight out for some of the tricks, but it doesn't offer much of a workout).
TIPS AND TRICKS:
-When playing the game mode for getting the most air time (as well as getting the big air achievement), it is best to choose a rider who is of 'Jump Type'. In addition, whenever you hit a huge jump, hold your arms straight out to the sides. This will cause your rider to glide. This keeps you in the air longer, and allows you to make more air time.
- When playing the game mode for getting the balloons, you do not need to worry about beating the other racers to the bottom of the hill, just concentrate on hitting the balloons. Further more, you should concentrate on stringing together your balloons so you keep your combo going. This is key to getting an A rank.
-On the game mode for scoring trick points, you can ignore the track completely. Just keep jumping in the air and doing simple twist or flip tricks. By the time you reach the finish line, you should not only have enough points to make 1st place, but you should have enough to get an A ranking (and the achievement that is associated with it.)
GAME: Adrenaline Misfits
REVIEW SCORE: 6/10
First and foremost, the game does a great job incorporating the Kinect sensor, which is always a huge plus. In addition, the game has several different game modes to enhance gameplay and replay value.
Second, the game is easy to learn, easy to play, and pretty fun.
The concept is fairly simple. You control a snowboarder who maneuvers, races, battles, and styles the way to first place. As you beat levels and earn high scores, you unlock new characters and new boards with increased stats.
Unfortunately, the game seems a bit too easy. Even using the most basic characters and boards, the enemy A.I poses little threat as long as you understand the basics of gameplay.
Also, the game seems to try to do a little too much. For instance, it has offensive and defensive weapons that you can pick up (in the spirit of games such as Mario Kart), but they rarely are of any use. In fact, some of the game modes (big air and trick modes) focus on individual actions. The enemies in this case are doing their own thing, and the weapon system becomes obsolete.
Also, many of the game modes (like those listed above) are won by reaching certain criteria (most air time, most balloons collected, most trick points, etc.), which is fine, but the game is still set up a like a race; except, you can cross the finish line 2 minutes after everyone else but still win first place.
I just kind of felt like the game would have been better suited if it concentrated on fewer play variants and just built around them.
But I was still overall impressed with the quality of motion controls and simple fun involved.
FITNESS SCORE: 4/10
The game doesn't involve to much moving around. Mostly standing in place while leaning one way or another.
There is however, some modes that require lots of tricks, which require lots of jumping. And since this is a Kinect title, lots of jumping means lots of jumping.
Even though it only took about 4 hours to finish the game, I had some fairly sore thighs the next day from leaning and jumping.
You will get some leg exercise as well as some ab work in, but nothing for the arms (aside from holding them straight out for some of the tricks, but it doesn't offer much of a workout).
TIPS AND TRICKS:
-When playing the game mode for getting the most air time (as well as getting the big air achievement), it is best to choose a rider who is of 'Jump Type'. In addition, whenever you hit a huge jump, hold your arms straight out to the sides. This will cause your rider to glide. This keeps you in the air longer, and allows you to make more air time.
- When playing the game mode for getting the balloons, you do not need to worry about beating the other racers to the bottom of the hill, just concentrate on hitting the balloons. Further more, you should concentrate on stringing together your balloons so you keep your combo going. This is key to getting an A rank.
-On the game mode for scoring trick points, you can ignore the track completely. Just keep jumping in the air and doing simple twist or flip tricks. By the time you reach the finish line, you should not only have enough points to make 1st place, but you should have enough to get an A ranking (and the achievement that is associated with it.)
Friday, February 4, 2011
PROGRESS UPDATE
The last couple of weeks have been pretty tough. My Kinect progress has pretty much come to a complete halt.
I am in the middle of two fitness games, both of which require loads of dedicated time and little gamerscore to show for it.
I am also having trouble finding time and bodies to help with multiplayer achievements, which is holding up not only my Kinect progress, but my Gamefly queue as well.
I am stuck with 900GS on Deca Sports, only missing the achievement for playing all 10 sports with another player. I was able to talk my wife into standing in. Unfortunately, even after meeting the requirements the achievement did not unlock. I think it has to do with a sensor issue where one of our profiles was registering as a "Guest" and not by our accounts. I would just try it again, but my wife isn't dedicated to the cause enough to go through it again. Luckily, I have been contacted by a gamer who needs the achievement as well. Hopefully by the next update, I will have this game complete.
I am having similar issues with Kinect Adventures, except I have no problem finding people to play with, I just have problems connecting with them over Live. We keep getting messages like "Game Session Has Ended" whenever we send each other invites (followed by an infinite load loop that requires me to restart my game). Hopefully I can get this resolved as well.
On the plus side, I just got Adrenaline Misfits in the mail from GameFly, and after about only 4 hours, I have 910/1000GS. The remaining 90 are local co-op achievements, but the short and easy variety. I should have it back out in the mail within the week.
I am in the middle of two fitness games, both of which require loads of dedicated time and little gamerscore to show for it.
I am also having trouble finding time and bodies to help with multiplayer achievements, which is holding up not only my Kinect progress, but my Gamefly queue as well.
I am stuck with 900GS on Deca Sports, only missing the achievement for playing all 10 sports with another player. I was able to talk my wife into standing in. Unfortunately, even after meeting the requirements the achievement did not unlock. I think it has to do with a sensor issue where one of our profiles was registering as a "Guest" and not by our accounts. I would just try it again, but my wife isn't dedicated to the cause enough to go through it again. Luckily, I have been contacted by a gamer who needs the achievement as well. Hopefully by the next update, I will have this game complete.
I am having similar issues with Kinect Adventures, except I have no problem finding people to play with, I just have problems connecting with them over Live. We keep getting messages like "Game Session Has Ended" whenever we send each other invites (followed by an infinite load loop that requires me to restart my game). Hopefully I can get this resolved as well.
On the plus side, I just got Adrenaline Misfits in the mail from GameFly, and after about only 4 hours, I have 910/1000GS. The remaining 90 are local co-op achievements, but the short and easy variety. I should have it back out in the mail within the week.
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