Sports Champions
- Platform: PlayStation 3 Move
- Genre: Sports/Mini-Game
- Developer/Publisher: San Diego Studio/Zindagi Games/Sony
- Release: 17/09/2010
For every new piece of hardware there’s the proof of concept. A game that’s not necessarily the killer-app, but is a showpiece for how it works and what it can do. It’s not an enviable job and often the pressure of emphasising the hardware negatively affects the overall quality of the game.
For many people Sports Champions will be their first time with the Move, and it does a good job of using its unique features in a way that shows off the hardware. In table tennis, one of the six games on offer, holding the Move controller in any position is perfectly replicated on screen. Even precise tilts, moves and lifts on any axis are recognised, and the floating on-screen paddle is an exact copy of the controller. On low difficulties the precision isn’t utilised, however, and the game performs in a similar fashion to Wii Sports. But when you crank it up it’s almost like playing the real thing and the challenging AI competitor can be difficult to beat.
Sports Champions, the flagship launch title for Sony’s PlayStation Move controller, manages to utilise the new technology well whilst still being a fun and high quality game.
Another game that shows off the one-to-one precision is Gladiator Duel, a third-person brawler in which you wield weapons and a shield against an opponent. The on-screen character’s sword replicates the movements of your controller, and adding a second controller allows you to control the shield. The result is one of the most visceral brawling games I’ve played, as the physical action of swinging your sword when you see a gap or hoisting up your shield to block an incoming attack makes you feel like you’re part of the action. It’s the precision that makes it so immersive – similar mechanics on the Wii would be controlled with wild unguided swinging that’s neither fun nor satisfying.
One problem that Sports Champions suffers from is that it’s a bit too simple, with several simple games that all feel like they could be fleshed out a bit more. The mechanics in some, like table tennis, are satisfying enough in their own right, but some of the inclusions leave you scratching your head, such as Bocce Ball and Beach Volleyball. They’re functional and can be enjoyable in small doses, but don’t really add to the game.
Disc golf and archery, however, are simplistic titles that still manage to be fun.
Archery is best played with two Move controllers and although it ultimately amounts to the equivalent of a fancy light-gun game, the immersion and precision again make the experience worthwhile.
Disc golf, an unusual addition, is one of the more-fleshed out games on offer with a variety of courses and a well implemented game-play mechanic. It’s a relatively unknown real sport that involves throwing a Frisbee across a golf course with the ultimate goal of landing in a large basket. Like traditional golf there’s a choice of different discs for different sections of the hole – high, long distance, putter equivalents, etc. It’s great fun in videogame form, although it’s doesn’t quite nail the feeling of throwing a real Frisbee (you’re not going to let go of the controller, are you?).
Ultimately, Sports Champions is the kind of title you only feel compelled to buy when a new piece of hardware is released. It has done its job admirably as there’s no better show-piece to test out the Move. You won’t be playing it in a few months time, but it’s a competent, well-made mini-game collection.
Verdict: 7/10
Female First Michael Moran
Tagged in Sports