Urgent Fury: Kinect Star Wars Review

 

If you’re a long time Star Wars fan this game isn’t for you. All of your dreams about wielding a lightsaber and the all powerful Force have not been met. Because of control problems and poor polish make the main story a chore to play and the other modes don’t help the games case much either. Besides one mode this game is almost unplayable and is definitely targeted at a young audience.

 

The main story has you jump in with everyone’s favorite robots R2-D2 and C-3PO as you go through the Jedi archives. You relive the lives of a Jedi Master and her padawans during the Clone Wars. You learn the ways of the force from a terribly voiced yoda and then it’s like your watching the greatest scenes from the original trilogy by tossing in things such as the speeder chase, the second Death Star attack, and a few lightsaber battles. It is a good enough story but it’s hard to immerse yourself in it with synching problems where voices dont match up, and occasionally broken animations.

 

Even worse is the control issues. Your lightsaber is mapped to your right hand and The Force to your left. The problem is that it regulary screws up inputs and your character sits there doing nothing in battle. With these problems it is very hard to feel like a Jedi. You rarely have control of the game either. Most of the time you are moving from area to area, aiming a blaster, or slightly controlling a vehicle. It does have a few set piece where you really feel like a Jedi but it doesnt make up for the rest of the game.

 

Even when the controls work as they should the force is no fun to use. You can sling the most basic enemies around with it but most just brush it off as if you tapped them on the shoulder. This makes the force feel all but useless. If you want to get a more force like feeling then wait for the near future Skyrim Kinect integration and get your Fus Ro Dah on.

 

 

Even if the story is pretty disappointing Podracing is a ton of fun. It does a great job at deliveing the exitement and speed of the Podracing scene from Phantom Menace. You can do singe races or a story mode called Destiny. The story gives you a sense of pregression but is also very silly. Although it’s hard to play for long with your arms stretched out, it is by fat the most fun I had with the game.

 

The other modes of the game are not nearly as rememberable. The Duels Of Fate lets you go through a series of one on one battles. It is very slow and sluggish and has input problems often. Then there’s Rancor’s Rampage that lets you take control of a Rancor and smash up settings from the movies. It is extremely difficult to control though and is at best fun to watch someone else play.

 

 

Then there’s Galactic Dance Off, which is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in a videogame. It has you dancing to songs for stars that unlock you new songs which are all pop song spin offs such as instead of “I’m Ridin Solo” it’s “I’m Han Solo.” It is very alienatin to fans and I could only shake my head in shame as Han Solo danced in the very carbonite case he was trapped in and Princess Leia  enthusiastically dancing in front of Jabba The Hutt. If you’re light hearted you’ll be able to laugh at how bad the songs are but if you’re a huge fan it’ll make you want to Death Star your 360.

 

If your a longtime fan that was hoping to live out your lightsaber dueling fantasies your wait is far from over. With all of it’s polish and control issues it has a very limited adult appeal but kids will probably enjoy it ( and no I am not one of them and I swear Shane if you make an age joke…). It is just a set of poorly executed Star Wars mini games that do not deliver on the Jedi epicness fans want. I have not lost hope for a great Star Wars game though. Maybe Microsoft will see it’s mistake with this game and make one that fans deserve (also maybe Sony with the move and PS Eye). So until then continue having your lightsaber filled dreams because hopefully this is just another drill.

Final Score: 5.0/10