No bit of hardware is any good if there is no software to show it off. Arguably, Wii Sports was the system seller for that console, and the fact it came bundled with the Wii only made the whole shebang that much more appealing. Microsoft is making the same bet by bundling Kinect with an equally casual title: Kinect Adventures. Does it measure up?

Well, let's jump right into the minigames. Players are well accustomed to the Breakout-esque Rally Ball Microsoft profiled during Kinect's big unveiling in 2009. This is a fine minigame, and does exactly as promised, with players leaping about to knock balls back in a surreal game of Wall Ball. Another game, 20,000 Leagues, entailed being in a glass box under water, and as the box cracks, players twist their body around to plug the holes.The most enjoyable however, would be Reflex Ridge and River Rush. The former is an obstacle race, in which you have to jump left and right, squat below barriers, or leap above them while collecting little tokens. River Rush dealt with a lot more moving to the left and right, as you control a raft by jumping and leaning around. Both of these are very, very physical, probably more physical than any other game I've played before.

Ultimately, these are all grand in single player, but the mini-games become much more dynamic and fun when done in multiplayer. Seriously, I had a blast running through Reflex Ridge against Hamza Aziz, and jostling with friends while leaping about is surprisingly fun.  Multiplayer can be done local or online, and drop-in play is as simple as walking in front of the camera, with Kinect recognizing player's faces and applying the correct avatar.

Unfortunately, while I was entirely enthralled by the physicality of the games (my legs and abs were aching after ten minutes), and how the interaction between players corporeally makes this game incredibly dynamic, I am concerned that Kinect Adventures will offer fun in only short bursts. The game is exhausting after any substantial amount of play, and the party-centric nature of Kinect Adventures means those looking for a long lasting game might want to pick up some more software when Kinect launches. Thankfully, Kinect Adventures, as a pack-in title, looks to be more than entertaining enough to introduce players to the device.Good Science Studios and Microsoft Game Studios may or may not have a runaway hit like Wii Sports, butKinect Adventures fulfills its promise of showcasing what the device can do.

http://www.destructoid.com/impressions-kinect-adventures

To be honest, when I read that Kinect Adventures is fun in short bursts I thought that that was perfect because Wii Sports is exactly the same way. When something is very physical like Kinect Adventures the last thing you want is the requirement to keep going.

While I won't be buying this, be sure that I will be trying it out. They have a Play and Trade by my job. I know I can get my 360 loving co-worker to come and look silly with me.

Good to hear since Destructoid has been pretty negative towards Kinect the last few months.

They also have some Joy Ride impressions

http://www.destructoid.com/impressions-kinect-joy-ride

Same person.

Joyride doesn't hold my interest, mainly due to a lack of being able to control the acceleration and braking, but this quote bothers me ever more.

"Hold your fists like holding a wheel, tilt your hip left and right to change directions, pull back to fill up a boost meter, push forward to boost, and twist your body around when your little avatar-driven cars are in the air to perform trick."

Do you steer by turning your arms like a steering wheel or do you turn by moving your hips?

Did a pig fly by my window?

Lol, why is that?

What people need to realize is that while something gets negative and/or positive press by a website, it is not reflective of the entire site's staff, but rather just that one person writing the article. This becomes even more apparent when we have GoTY awards.

This is how games like Demon's Souls won GoTY at Gamespot despite not having the highest overall score on the site. The entire staff agreed that it was superior to all other titles release in 2009.

You use your hips to drift.  Turning is with your hands.

Reassuring but still I dislike that I lack a brake and accelerate pedal. Kinect can detect my feet so to be 100% honest MS has no excuse for not adding it in.

You have a link for the "drifting" thing? I would like to read it.

Thanks in advance.

Destructoid has been very negative about Kinect.  Even saying things like the first batch of commercials are the worst commercials in this industry ever.

That was Jim Sterling, not Destructoid.

Who is Jim Sterling and why does he behave like a tool?

Is this like his gimmick to gain notoriety?