Kinect Disneyland Adventures

UPC: 885370314687

Platform: Xbox 360

Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.

Developer: Frontier Developments Ltd.

Category: Action

Style(s): Multi-Genre Action

Synopsis: Explore the entire Disneyland theme park from the comfort of your living room with Kinect Disneyland Adventures. Participate in all-new activities inspired by the park's attractions, from flying with Peter Pan to escaping the yetis in the Matterhorn. In between your adventures, meet and greet over 35 Disney characters, watch a parade, and see a fireworks display or two. To explore the park, you'll move your on-screen character by simply pointing to a destination. You'll also unlock an assortment of Disney-themed items and souvenirs while navigating the park, completing quests on behalf of characters, and more. Use the Kinect's motion-sensing camera to wave to Mickey Mouse, high-five Peter Pan, hug Snow White, and interact with the park in new ways. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 8-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Other

Kinect Disneyland Adventures is a digital ticket to the renowned Anaheim theme park, one offering near complete access to the Happiest Place on Earth from a free-roaming, third-person perspective. You'll guide a custom-created boy or girl across the eight regions surrounding Sleeping Beauty Castle, including Frontierland, Critter Country, New Orleans Square, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A. You can either walk to each destination to soak in some of the atmosphere or jump directly to a specific area from an in-game map. Instead of going on simulated rides at each themed area, such as Splash Mountain or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, players will instead participate in interactive games inspired by the attractions. Peter Pan's Flight has you stretching out your arms and "flying" through different scenes inspired by the movie, while the Jungle Cruise involves using your arms to paddle down a river. Yet as impressive as Disneyland Adventures is in terms of its presentation and faithfulness to the park itself, it's often held back by the one thing that's supposed to enhance it: the Kinect. There are several areas where the motion-sensing camera interferes with the experience. A traditional analog control scheme would have made movement throughout the park more intuitive and exciting, enabled activities with more freedom and depth, and removed the frustration associated with the sensor incorrectly tracking movements or switching your character's gender at odd moments during cooperative play. The developers seemingly devised the best control scheme they could given the limitations of the camera, yet the immersion factor is shattered each time you have to adjust your motions so they register correctly. To move your character across the park, you have to hold out your arm in one direction and point where you want to go. It's simple and seems to work fine at first, until you attempt to weave around an object or quickly change directions. Pointing to a destination will cause your character to start trotting in one continuous motion. To stop, you have to put your arm down. You then have to rotate your character's perspective by moving your arm left or right, and then point again. It's basically Resident Evil's sit-and-spin controls, which makes running around to experience the sights and sounds of the park anything but joyful. Certain activities, despite being specifically designed to take advantage of the Kinect, are limited by the device. In Peter Pan's Flight, for example, you'll soon realize that your flying is not as free as it first appears. Attempt to soar high and you'll hit an invisible ceiling, forcing you back down. Swoop too low and you'll hit another invisible boundary, so you are basically "flying" inside a small box. Other activities have similar limitations, and at times it feels like they are playing themselves. One thing to keep in mind is that children will still smile and laugh with the game, though a nearby adult is recommended to assist with some navigation issues. The atmosphere is excellent, with bustling tourists snapping pictures and conversing with one another, charming characters to interact with, quests to complete, autographs to acquire, and secrets to discover. It's just a shame that players are forced to do <i>everything</i> without a controller. Disneyland Adventures is a memorable trip, but it could have been something truly magical. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Other.