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The long wait is over and the verdict is in: Sports Champions for Sony Move is a winner.
Sports Champions can either be purchased separately or bundled with the Playstation Eye and Move Controller. (I've left my thoughts on the Move under my review for the Playstation Move Starter Bundle)
I suspect that, as with Wii Sports, most people who get a Move will get it as part of the Starter Kit. But for those who are purchasing it separately, here's everything you need to know about the game.
Before you start up the game, the system will calibrate the Move controller. You'll see an image of your room on the screen, and using augmented reality it'll draw a box around a region which you'll need to stand in throughout gameplay. The system will ask you to move your controller to your shoulders, to your side, and to your belt buckle.
There are six sports to choose from. With each, you can select a tutorial (highly recommended) that talks you through how to play each game.
Disc Golf: Here, you compete against each other or the CPU throwing a frisbee on a golf course trying to get to the target. The scenery is breathtaking. You'll stand on mountaintops, contend with lush forests, and more. Like a real frisbee, you can throw with as much or as little force as you need. You pick up the frisbee by holding the "T" button, and when you release the button it releases the frisbee. The controls are remarkably accurate, although it will take getting used to throwing without having the resistance of a real frisbee.
Gladiator Duel: This is a game where you can choose to use one or two Move controllers. It's a heck of a lot more fun with two, as you can hold your sword in one hand and your shield in the other and control them independently (with one controller, you have to choose either the sword or the shield by pressing and holding the trigger button). Each time you block a move, it'll fill up a power meter that'll let you perform a combo attack. Again, the realism is phenomenal. As you fight your opponents, you'll see damage caused to their shelds and the surrounding arena (don't worry though, it's still rated E for everyone). You'll get a great full body workout from this one.
Archery: This is another game where I'd say you need two Move controllers, so you can use one hand to hold the bow and the other to draw the arrow back (similar to Wii Sports Resort). With one Move controller, you're basically pointing and shooting, which is hardly realistic. Again, graphics are great--you feel like you're in the middle of Sherwood Forest.
Beach Volleyball: Unlike the similar activity on EA Sports Active, this plays like actual volleyball. You have the option of using one or two Move controllers. The attention to detail is impressive. The system will move your player around the court, but for your part you have to us timing and technique to serve (underhand or overhand), bump, set, and spike. The tutorial is highly recommended, as you can learn how advanced techniques like tipping, group blocking, and digging. Again, attention to detail is great with the blue ocean and the sound of the waves in the background.
Bocce: If you don't know what Bocce is, think of the last time you watched Olympic curling. The rules are very similar. You throw a small ball (called a jack or a pallino) to set the target. Then, two players (or teams) compete to see who can throw their larger cannonball-sized balls closest to the jack (knocking opponent's balls away is possible). The game has been around since ancient times. The realism on the game too is astounding. You can play on different surfaces (on soil, on a pier, or on asphalt, with a beautiful city skyline in the background), and the balls react accordingly. To throw the ball, you hold down the Trigger and throw using an underarm motion just like you would the real thing. Letting go of the trigger releases the ball. By adjusting your wrist motion, you can even add spin to the ball.
Table Tennis: I love playing ping-pong in real life, and I enjoyed playing it on Wii Sports Resort with the MotionPlus. But while playing it on the Wii was a lot of fun, I found that it wasn't the most realistic nor accurate game. I could easily beat the system by making exaggerated movements that didn't reflect real life, and the on-screen paddle didn't always mirror my real-life movements. With the Sony Move, you move the controller in your hand, and you see the exact same movement of your paddle on screen. You can use real-life movements to add topspin, backspin, and sidespin.
The details of the game are amazing, and the game developers have a great sense of humor (One of the trophies you earn after playing Bocce is called "I Have Heard of Bocce". And there's a neat surprise waiting for you after you win your first Bronze Cup in the different events--I won't spoil it for you, but suffice it to say it's a nice look into the "augmented reality" that the Move is ushering in).
Games have levels of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. But unlike other games, playing on the beginner level is definitely challenging and satisfying. Unlike other video games, the controls themselves are not "dumbed down" at beginner levels. Rather, the controls are the same at every level--it's just that at the beginner level you get more visual "hints" on how to perform your best and the opponents skills are also at a beginner level. So the game won't get old quickly, because as soon as you master the techniques and dominate at the beginner levels, you get to move on to stronger and stronger opponents and the visual hints start disappearing as you no longer need them.
You might notice the word I keep repeating is "realism". One thing I appreciate is that Sony didn't just ape the Wii by copying its cartoony look and feel. Instead, the graphics are photorealistic and really show off the advanced graphics capabilities of the PS3. And while I was initially blown away by the "coolness" factor of the Move Controller, I quickly forgot about that as I immersed myself into actually playing the game--which is a good sign that Sony did its job. None of the games are exactly like the real thing, of course, but they all come closer than any other video game experience before.
It's a great first effort for Sony, and hopefully indicative of things to come.
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I really liked this game. There are several championships (bocce, table tennis, disc golf, etc.), and, while I wasn't thrilled with every one, most are very fun. Bocce is my favorite...it really feels like you're playing the game, and it is a LOT of fun. I even got my sister to play (and she NEVER plays) -she had a blast too. Archery is great, and so is the Gladiator arena. You really get into the Gladiator game -you're blocking (if you have two controls) and attacking, and trying to get under the other guy's guard, etc. This one especially, and archery too, are best played with two controls; there is a huge (positive) difference in both of these when you have two controls.
As for the other games, table tennis was one of my least favorites...I am awful at this game in real life, and yet somehow do really well in this version...so, to me, at least, it didn't have the realism that some of the others did (although most people I know who have tried it love this one... :) ). Disc golf seems like a very good simulation; not my favorite game in real life, but a nice one herein. The movement in volley ball seemed a little awkward to me...I'll try again later, but I wasn't as impressed with this as the others.
This game was a very good choice to bundle with the Move -it really shows a lot of what this system is capable of. It's also great on its own, though (by which I mean, when considered on its own merits alone; not "without" the Move, as you can't play it without that :) ). The games can be totally addictive...I spent hours on bocce, and worked up quite a sweat in the gladiatorial championship too. And I pulled some muscles doing some of the shield bashes and whatnot, so that was pretty funny, lol. All in all, this is a solid 5/5.
Buy Sports Champions Now
Prologue: I own both the Wii and the PS3
This game has made me do more exercise than anything I've ever see in a console. I own Wii Sports Resort and honestly, I spent less time over the lifetime of that product that I have in the 3 days I've had this one. The 5 sports in this package are great (except maybe Volleyballl, but for some people it's their favorite), when in WSR only a handful were enjoyable. There's tons to unlock in this as well.
Advantages over other Motion Control Solutions in the World:
+HD big plus for me!
+Accurate controls: When you 'push the raquet towards the TV, I felt like a giddy child. It's an awesome feeling.
+ Rechargeable controllers: No more AA batteries!
Get this to experience something new! (Gladiators is my favorite!)
Read Best Reviews of Sports Champions Here
First off, is sports champions worth getting as more than just because it is one of the first move games available? an emphatic yes. Second does it show that move is worth the hype? absolutely. This game shows how incredible move can be and how move doesn't just surpass the Wii, it smashes Wii into instant obsolescence.
You get 6 games all of which are worth playing. I will briefly describe my experience with each. First bocce is just flat out fun. Probably the one with the least exercise but the physics and creativity are great. The move captures your arm movement perfectly and can account for if you are spinning shots or not and how much arc you are putting on each. It also has bocce courts but then also bocce in different settings like playgrounds where trash cans and other obstacles come into play. Simple yet very enjoyable. Great for a family as it is the easiest one to do well in.
Disc golf: FUN. Nice graphics, inventive courses. The move really takes into account your arm movement, where you release the disc, if you're throwing flat or at an angle, etc. As bocce does with the ball the physics are great here. The disc behaves like a real disc in the air and on the ground.
Gladiator: I thought I would like this the most and it is fun, but as all the games are very enjoyable so it doesn't stand out. To Sony's credit, they didn't scrimp on any of the 6. The movements do not seem to be captured as well as some of the other games, but still swinging swords..can not complain. In the champions cup mode (this is the mode for all games where you compete against the CPU in various challenges) you get to have a more arcade like experience where you do a sequence of movements like the killing boss sequences in God of War or the Force Unleashed. Good workout. 2 controllers gives you a shield with one and your sword or mace for the other. BTW for you lefties out there like me, no worries, ALL the games ask if you are left or right handed and you can play everything leftie.
Archery, also pure fun. With two controllers and one becomes the bow and the other the string. In champions cup there are constantly changing inventive game modes. You start out with unlimited time, then you go to timed, then you go to both players shooting at the same target and only the first one to hit it gets a point and so on.
Table tennis again shows how vastly superior move is to Wii. Arm speed counts, how you are holding the paddle (flat or curved) really counts, spin, when you hit the shot, where you follow through is aimed, etc. This one was the hardest one for me to get good at.
Volleyball, perhaps my favorite and the most physically demanding. In fact as I write this I just got done with a few matches and my arms are physically aching. Sony did a great job here. All the movements of volleyball are re-created here, spiking, blocking, overhead serve (need two controllers or at least much easier with two), digging, setting. Incredible fun. 2 controllers makes all the movements more life like.
I will make a few last points. Since move just was released as I write this, probably some people are wondering should I get this now or wait for more games, is this just a 'demo' packet or a solid game on its own. Probably especially wondering this if you already have an EYE like I did and hence are buying this as a stand alone purchase. I can resoundingly say that this is an excellent pick and I would expect this will hold true a year from now as well. The games are flat out fun. As an example, I have had my PS3 for around 2 years. My wife used it more this weekend with me than the previous 2 years combined.
I already told my friends over the past 2 years the PS3 was the best entertainment system available. Worth every penny. Move just cements this and frankly leaves the Wii and from what I hear about the kinect, the 360 in the dust. The potential with Move is only limited by designers' creativity. My wife even said so when are you going to be using Move as a lightsaber? I replied it can only be a matter of time.
I give sports champions 5 stars because each of the 6 games was enjoyable. Like buying a music CD and finding you like every track. Each one was well thought out. Each game is well developed with creative single player challenges and fun play options with other people. My last advice is this, order at least 2 move controllers. Not only for the games that use 2 controllers but for playing with other people. I've little doubt I am probably going to end up with 3 or 4 controllers soon.
If you have a PS3 you are going to absolutely love this. If you are reading this and haven't bought a PS3 yet, lucky you. The 320gb move bundle is a steal and will provide countless hundreds of hours of move fun, fantastic RPG, adventure games, shooter games, family games (whatever your bag is), and still one of the best blu-rays on the market. I rarely say this, but Sony deserves a 5plus for this effort and for what I hope MOVE has in store for PS3 owners into the future.
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All the games are pretty good. Frisbee Golf and Table Tennis and Bocce are fun party games (crazy realistic motion detection! If your backhand sucks in real life, it will carry over here!).
But I have to say. Gladiator Duel is AMAZING, with 2 Move controllers. (You can use 2 to play against another player, or 4 total, if you got the cash...)
But the Gold Cup opponents in Gladiator Duel? I'm stuck on the 3rd one. It gets pretty much impossible! I sweat right through my casual clothes trying to beat the guy over and over again!
Get a full body workout without even realizing it!
Fortunately, I love a challenge...
