Pellissier

FAMILY FUN AND PARTY ENTERTAINMENT (aka...Kinect Adventures 2) This has been one of my purchases for Kinect this weekend along with Michael Jackson: The Experience. While the latter provides a nice breakaway from Dance Central, this one again will provide variation on Kinect Adventures. Both new releases almost come close to leveling both their predecessors on par...almost. After having bought Carnival Games I was rather anxious to try the gameplay out at home, fearing I might have just wasted my money on a dud. I am happy to report though that I'm rather impressed with this game as it will definitely go down with family "functions" and game nights for everyone. This title definitely delivers on the Kinect experience. Gameplay - Carnival Games feature mini games, in fact 20 of them, which you can play single or with another. This was done pretty well and the second person can join very easily and opt out just as easily. My wife and I got this going for a while and were pretty impressed by the co-op ability. Games are similarly structured to that of Kinect Adventures. Menus are easy to navigate and not that complicated as other Kinect titles have proven. I don't have much negative feedback for this game, as I truly didn't expect a masterpiece. This is entertainment for everyone after all. My wife and I agreed that Wii will have to shape up on this front if it want's to keep the family from leaving their "experience", as we also have a Wii at home and since Kinect has come out we have not used the Wii for family entertainment again...a little sad though as it gave us hours of fun with Wii Resort and other titles. As long as Kinect regulates the release of these games to ensure they aren't all released at the same time, the market should not be saturated by ttiles such as Kinect Adventures and now Carnival Games soon. The only problem being that of quality as other titles have proven to lack recently. Overall, a good buy. For kids to enjoy, families to hang loose a little, and a crazy addition when the 'party' gets stale.

It will be difficult not to compare this to Dance Central as the latter has set the standard for dancing games on Kinect, but having said that, if you liked Dance Central, this is the closest to it that you will get. So until Dance Central 2 comes along or something better, I'd advise you to go for Michael Jackson: The Experience. Cons: 1 - Navigation can be clunky by times. I don't understand why developers make the fonts so small when they should know by now we use our hands to navigate through the menus. 2 - The initial feel to the game can be...well, overwhelming. Basic moves seem a bit difficult and complex from the get go. 3 - Singing is not as shaped as made out to be. Yes, you can throw your vocals in there, but it seems to mess it up more than enhance the game. Pros 1 - You get to be MJ. Dance and discover how his moves were choreographed. My wife and I tried a few and was rather surprised by the complexity, yet ease with the execution. 2 - If you can't 'beat it' the first time, the set up allows you to practice again and again. 3 - Visual and audio are excellent. That's what one would want. Gameplay: Songs are broken down into dance steps, not unlike that of Dance Dentral. Difficulty varies and you start off with low settings. Learn the moves, and then get graded on them. You can choose songs differing from just dancing, or just singing (like The Earth Song) or a combination of both. Multiplayer - only online - allows you to get down with friends. The ultimate future of these dancing games will be when we can fit at least 2 people comfortably in front of the Kinect and have them show off together ~ something that seems to be still problematic for game developers of Kinect at this moment. I've read some reviews saying this is a great game for a party starter, but I won't totally agree with that. You need to know a little how this game works and have mastered a few moves before I'd throw it on for the party. Also, choose songs with a slower beat, like Billie Jean, before you jump into Smooth Criminal (my biggest mistake) as it will give you a better feel and you will adapt more naturally. If you want a dance game and you haven't bought Dance Central yet, then go buy that first. If you have that already and need something else to tie you over for the time, then Michael Jackson: The Experience is it. If you own a Wii, a PS3 and an Xbox and can't decide which one to go for, trust me on this: Kinect will give you the closest to satisfaction needed for this purchase.

If you don't like a bit of getting off your feet or having fun with your friends and family, then avoid this title. But, if you are planning for the upcoming holidays a get-together with family and wondered what you could do that will make all have a good time (aside from stuffing yourself) then you can't go wrong with Kinect Sports. I've played it alone, with my family and with friends over. Everyone - and even the skeptics - loved it, and wanted more. If you know Wii Sports (Resort) then this is at least ten times better and more enjoyable. The sports are presented in a very enjoyable way, and there are options to play with others or on Xbox Live. The mini-games are also great fun. This game is definitely a good buy for a fun night with friends and family in order to get sociable, but if you'd rather play Call of Duty: Black Ops online the whole weekend with your friends, then this title may not be your forte.

I dont' like the gym and I know I need exercise. Kinect is giving me that opportunity, and if you are as lazy and unfit as I am, then this title is just the thing for you. There is a small lag if you watch your avatar on-screen, but if you follow with the trainer and focus on their avatar, you can't go wrong. Your avatar is good for correction, but don't focus on it too much. As a beginner title in the Kinect series, I hope to see more add-ons in the future, but for now, this will get you exercising and moving. The programs do seem to be a little limited, but I have learned from experience that too much variety creates confusion. For beginners like us, this is the perfect title. In the future one can look at other titles like EA Sports Active 2. I do hope that one day someone will design a title focusing exclusively on yoga, pilates and tai chi.