Dance Central
It’s finally official; each major console now has a peripheral for motion-based games, and along with it, a growing library of new and inventive games that take advantage of gamers willing to get up off their couch and move around. Here’s a little sampling of some of the best games coming out this holiday season for those gamers willing to take a break from studying to get their move on.
The Fight: Lights Out
Release Date: 11/9/10 Platform: Playstation 3
Use the Playstation 3′s Move controllers as stand-in fists and “The Fight: Lights Out” will help you get moving while working through all that aggression towards your history professor. Partake in gritty street fights as you and your fists pound your opponents face in for real… just not.
Dance Central
Release Date: 11/4/10 Platform: Xbox 360
You now have no reason to wait until the weekend to get your swerve on; you can totally get down in your dorm room with “Dance Central” any night of the week. The better you recreate the hottest dance moves from some of the best artists to ever shake their booty on camera the more points you’ll score. It’s kind of like “Dancing With The Stars” only there’s no stars, or judging, or TV cameras … basically it’s just you putting on a little show for your Microsoft Kincect.
EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp
Release Date: 11/16/10 Platform: Wii
If you think you’re going to need to get back into shape after the Thanksgiving break, and you love football, pick up “EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp” for the Wii, and relive those glory two-a-days. “NFL Training Camp” comes packed with the a heart rate monitor and wireless motion tracking device to monitor your every move through the game’s 70 drills and eight challenges. It’s a workout, just without all those pesky pads.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Release Date: 11/21/10 Platform: Wii
“Donkey Kong Country Returns” is just like you remember it from back in the SNES days, only now you’ve got to get your arms swinging for DK to do his ground pound or for Diddy to fire his peanut gun. So it’s minimal motion, but the game’s still great, and absolutely deserves to be on this list no matter what you say.
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011
Release Date: 10/19/10 Platform: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Most college campuses frown on bringing weapons on to campus, but you’ll need the gun-like Top Shot Elite controller to take advantage of all the action that “Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011″ has to offer. Play as Cole Rainsford as you venture through the cold woods of Africa and take down some of the spookiest creatures you’ll never hope to run into in real life.
Kinect Adventures
Release Date: 11/4/10 Platform: Xbox 360
If you’re considering dropping $150 on some fancy new Kinect hardware from Microsoft, then the first game worth playing (mostly because it comes packed in with the device) is “Kinect Adventures.” Use your body as the controller to hit the rapids, keep your avatar from drowning, or play some 3D style “Breakout,” and those are just a few of the games included. Get some exercise and have an awesome adventure while you’re at it.
Deca Sports Freedom
Release Date: 11/18/10 Platform: Xbox 360
While it seems like sports mini-game compilations are all the rage with these new motion-based platforms, “Deca Sports Freedom” knows how to put together 10 solid titles for you to take advantage of your newly found freedom from controllers. Looking for a game that has both dodge ball and paintball where you’re an actual target? Look no further than “Deca Sports.”
Kung Fu Rider
Release Date: 9/7/10 Platform: Playstation 3
“Kung Fu Rider” may be the most realistic game ever created – as long as in your reality you’re a Japanese office worker running from the Yakuza whose only weapon is his office chair. Use the Move controllers to navigate your way through Japan’s twisted streets while trying to stay alive. Sure, it’s a little wacky, but wacky in a good way.
FlingSmash
Release Date: 11/7/10 Platform: Wii
If you’re tired of aimlessly swinging your Wii Remote with out any real purpose, then Nintendo’s “FlingSmash” is here to finally give some meaning to your existence. Packed in with the new Wii Remote Plus controller, you no longer need an extra peripheral to play Motion Plus enabled games, and you can immediately commence both flinging and smashing the game’s main character across the screen with joy.
Sports Champions
Release Date: 9/7/10 Platform: Playstation 3
Can’t (or just don’t want to) make it to the gym? Well, let “Sports Champions” help you out then. With six realistic recreations of “sports” from volleyball to archery for you to play in the comfort of your dorm room, is there really any reason to go outside?
