In doing just a little more Kinect research I came across this game i have never heard of called
Kung Fu High Impact. It sounds like the type of game my son would love, as he is into old school comic books and martial arts. It has crazy mixed reviews though. Its got a 40% gamerankings rating and all the "majors" seemed to pan it, but if you look at user reviews at amazon, best buy, gamestop, etc. it seems that everyone really likes it. Not that I give much credit to those user "reviews", but usually you get the opposite result. Some of the more positive reviews make it sound like it could be pretty fun and funny. The wide descrepancies in the reviews are what is curious.
http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/637 ... index.html
Positive Reviews:
http://www.kinectaku.com/reviews/2011/1 ... impact_360
"Kung-Fu High Impact combines a very unique and fun gameplay mechanic with a great sense of humor and enjoyable presentation. Don’t let the wacky look of the game fool you, though, because this game is HARD. HardCORE, even. Anyone looking for a Kinect game with an edge will certainly walk away from Kung-Fu High Impact feeling satisfied, and probably more than a bit sore."
http://www.maxim.com/amg/GAMING/Article ... [quote]Out of ten?
9, High Impact is easily the most fun we’ve had playing Kinect and it’s nice to see that someone went out of their way to make a game that utilizes everything Kinect can do without making it feel forced. Hardcore gamers have tended to shy away from motion controls but, if there was ever a reason to put down your xbox controller and flex some muscle, this is it.[/quote]
http://www.oxmonline.com/kung-fu-high-impact-review-0
It’s an incredibly simple concept, but one afforded some variety across 14 story stages. Beyond basic punches and kicks, you can lean back and jump to perform onscreen backflips, electrocute foes via proper arm movements, and even shoot fiery arrows (among other actions). And unlike with some camera-heavy Kinect games, your human warrior blends in well with the colorful backdrops, plus the motion-comic cutscenes you’ll pose for are an absolute riot.
When the game works well, it’s a novel thrill — and one hell of a workout — as your hurried motions effortlessly translate into gameplay. But that’s not always the case, and losing a mission due to a botched jump or an unregistered power-punch move can be downright infuriating, especially when you’re drenched in Kinect-fueled sweat.
http://www.amazon.com/Kung-Fu-High-Impa ... ewpoints=1
......The accuracy is tracked very well, the game does seem to think physical jumps are sometimes back flip gestures, but you're usually having so much fun you do not care. The game is also challenging in two ways outside of the occasional missed movement: the first one being that you will work up a sweat, although the missions are short, within 5-10 minutes you may be winded; secondly you will find that the computer can be quite brutal, you MUST learn to block and dodge. That being said, it is quite fun to mix up your attack strategies and try different moves to defeat enemies.
Also worthy of mentioning are the "digital comics poses." You basically from time to time are asked to fit the silhouette or outline of a character and mimic that pose. Your poses are captured photographically into memory and then used in the comic strip and are often rather humorous. Finally there are a few different game modes outside of the main story (which can be completed in 3-5 hours, although you probably won't be playing it in one playthru unless you are a ninja in real life). You can create your own scenario in "Mayhem Designer" and can also play multiplayer matches where the other players use the controllers to control your enemies (I think it would be virtually impossible to play two or more people with the Kinect sensor, somebody definitely would get punched or kicked).....
It's a shame that game media outlets will more than likely trash this game (if they even review it), since it definitely is the best Kinect game I've played this year (IMO way better than Kinect Sports Season 2 and even Dance Central 2). Although it isn't perfect, it's well worthy of being played by every Kinect owner with enough room to punch and kick around your living room (watch out for lamp shades and pets!).
Negative Reviews:
http://www.gamesradar.com/kung-fu-high-impact-review/
...Don’t get us wrong: there have been some bright spots (and we’re hoping for more) but the tradition of motion controls has mostly been one of forgettable shovelware. Into this airless void, enter Kung Fu: High Impact, a sad little beat-’em-up which perpetuates that legacy in spectacularly disappointing fashion....This game should be, at most, a ten dollar download. It would feel even more appropriate at around the fifty cent mark, peddled by a trench-coated hobo in front of a sketchy movie theatre. At forty bucks, it’s difficult to imagine any human being, living or dead, getting an appropriate amount of value out of it. There might be some limited fun to be had batting some of the weird enemies around… if the motion controls were crisp and responsive. Since they’re not, it’s literally no fun at all, and ends up being at best a chore and at worst a painful, regrettable, shameful experience.
http://www.gamespot.com/kung-fu-high-im ... ew-6347708
The laughs in this mode will probably be more at the Kinect player's expense than from actual fun being had. It's tempting to think that this game might have been better if it took video or pictures of you performing each motion and then let you play as your digitized self with a standard controller. However, even with precise controls, Kung-Fu High Impact wouldn't be very exciting. Environments are bland and uninteresting, enemies are brainless and uninventive, and the boring Story mode is over within a couple of hours of playing at most. In fact, without the motion-gaming hook, Kung-Fu High Impact might be an even less appealing product than it is now because there's at least a little bit of goofy fun to be had by pretending to fight monsters in your living room. But as a retail Kinect product, there is too much in the way of either frustrating or boring content. You should do your kung-fu fighting somewhere else.
http://www.gameinformer.com/games/kung_ ... eview.aspx
Once the initial laughs are over, however, this is a short and relatively one-note experience with its fair share of control issues. If you're looking for a Kinect novelty to pull out when company is over, Kung-Fu High Impact may serve that purpose. If you're looking for a game to help you look at Kinect as more than just a gimmick, this isn't the one for you.
Besides the original clumsy controls, where navigating and walking around using only your body takes a bit of adjusting to do, kids just love the experience. Found it on sale for $30 and if you have kids between 4-10, they'll love it.
