The launch of the latest edition of Xbox's Kinect Sports series, Rivals, could not have come soon enough. Despite the new Kinect 2 included with every Xbox One, gamers have had few chances to really put the motion-sensor device through its paces. With Kinect Sports Rivals we can finally see if it is as impressive as first impressions indicate.
There are six games in Rivals: wake racing, climbing, target shooting, soccer, bowling, and tennis. But before you can pick up a racquet or mount your jetski, the Kinect first scans your body and then your face, creating an avatar of remarkable likeness. Super cool.
Wake racing, which featured in the demo available since the launch of the Xbox One, is the highlight of Rivals. Players take a stance with their arms outstretched in front as if gripping the handlebar of a jetski, and move their body and arms to turn accordingly. Kinect's sensitivity impresses here, with even the smallest movement affecting the jetski giving you a real sense of control.
The tennis game also impresses, with a range of shots available through subtle changes to your arm movements when hitting the ball. Bowling is a blast, particularly with two players, although it is a tad easy to regularly get a strike. The rock climbing is exhausting and a challenge - players are advised to play in a high-ceilinged room as there is a bit of jumping involved.
Target shooting is a bit hit-and-miss, as it feels a bit strange aiming your fingers at your TV and not pulling a trigger to fire at targets. The soccer game is also weak. It barely resembles the actual game and striking at goal is awfully frustrating. The moments as goalkeeper are fun, but make sure you've got room to stretch out if you need to dive to make a save.
