Review: Kinectimals for the Xbox 360 Kinect

I knew I had to get the Xbox 360 Kinect when my 3 year old first saw the trailer for the game Kinectimals. He was so excited and talked about the "tiger game" for weeks before I finally got my hands on one of the Kinect sensors. In this game, players can care for, play with, train, and go on adventures with their very own tiger, lion, panther, cheetah, or leopard cub. While we are only about half way through the game, I can certainly say that we have had lots of fun. Here is a review of my experiences and challenges with Kinectimals for the Xbox 360 Kinect.

Storyline

My first concern with Kinectimals was that it would be another typical pet game where you feed, care for, bath, and raise a pet with absolutely no story line. The problem with the typical pet game is that they eventually get monotonous and boring. Kinectimals offers a different dynamic to pet games. In this game, your primary objective is to explore a tropical island by completing challenges and looking for hidden treasure.

Ease of Play

One of the best features of the game is how easy it is to play. My toddler is able to easily perform and understand most of the basic moves. Throughout the game, you are lead be a lemur-fairy creature that gives you tips and instructions. To progress through the levels, you have to earn points by playing mini challenges and making your pet do tricks. Even if you are absolutely horrible at a particular challenge, you are still guaranteed to earn some points. One thing that makes the game even easier is that your cub will respond to several voice commands. So, even players who have never played video games can easily join in on the fun.

Age Appropriate

While Kinectimals is rated E for everyone. I think the game is more geared toward kids who are probably ages 10 and under. Its ease of play, simple instructions, and constantly changing activities makes it great for younger players. This is definitely a unique trait to find in a video game since many titles are usually geared toward older more coordinated players.

Multiplayer Challenges

In Kinectimals, most of the game is geared toward single player play. However, throughout the game, there are dozens of challenges that can be played with multiple people. Once unlocked, you can easily go back to the multiplayer challenge by accessing your map. In the challenges, players take turns and compete to see who can get the highest score.

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