The EyeToy and its game EyeToy Play was probably one of my favourite games a couple of years ago, and however much it hurt my arms the next day from swinging them about so much, it still kept me wanting to play. Now I suppose everyone would think of the Wii or Kinect when they think of games that involve using yourself instead of a controller, but the EyeToy was one of the first things to have this when the Playstation 2 was still one of the main game console.
The EyeToy itself is a USB camera that plugs into the front of your PS2 console, making it the easiest set up I've seen so far for gadgets like this. It resembles a webcam, and I've actually used it on my computer when I had XP and Vista, as all you had to do was install a driver to use it as one. However, you must make sure that the room you are in is bright enough otherwise it won't register and it is easy to make it clearer and more defined as all you have to do is rotate the lense.
You get a little instruction video at the beginning showing you how everything is meant to be done, however for those who can't be bothered watching, it's pretty simple and all you have to do is stand in the outline that they show in the game and then use your arms or head to do what is required of you in the game whether it be breaking things, karate chopping or spinning.
If you don't want to play as one of the cartoon characters the game gives you, you'll have to set up a profile. I liked this little feature as it shows you in the score presenting section with different faces (happy, sad, silly - that it takes of you when you set it up). Then you can select the different types of modes easy, medium or hard and the type you want to play single or multiplayer.
Aside from the main point of the games, there is also the Playroom, which reminds me a bit of a PhotoBooth. It's not as thrilling as the games as all it does is provide various backgrounds for you to play around in, but it is fun for wasting a couple of minutes when you check it out.
There are 12 games available on the EyeToy Play, all require a fair bit of energy, yet they are quite easy to understand and play while being challenging whether you're playing solo or with friends. Below are the games that are included:
-Beat Freak
Disks will start flying at the speakers that are placed around your screen and you must hit them in time with the music, generally this music is quite discoy, with songs like Boogie Nights that you have to hit the disks in time to. If you miss too many of the disks however, it means game over. I would say this requires a lot of energy in your arms, as I found them to be slightly achey after playing this.
-Kung Foo
This reminds me of an arcade street fighter game where you had to beat off waves and waves of enemies, except in this game the enemies are the ninjas. Using your hands, you must karate chop and fling the ninjas that will run at you away and prevent them from getting a chance to karate chop you. It also breaks away from this at points for the fun little mini section of breaking boards through hitting the centre of them. This is one of my favourites and just requires you to have quick movements to battle the ninjas out the way.
-Wishi Washi
This is by far the best game to play on multiplayer, and is one that my friend and I played for around half an hour at one point. However, achey it is on the arms, it is definitely worth it. You play as a window cleaner and you have to see how many windows you can clear completely in the time limit, trying to get all the powerups.
-Keep Ups
Keep Ups is exactly like it says in the name, you have to use your whole body to keep the ball up and if you drop it too often, it means gave over. While you can use your whole body, I find that it's too easy so it's probably best just to keep it challenging and just use your head. This doesn't require too much energy as all you do is move from side to side really.
-Boxing Chump
In Boxing Chump, you enter the ring and must defeat your robotic opponents to emerge as Champion. You must punch the Robot while making sure that you block his attacks and you don't K.O before he does! I'd say that this is a pretty energetic game, but doesnt involve the whole screen like some and all you really do is punch your arm out.
-UFO Juggler
In this minigame, you are guiding other aliens off the planet by moving their spaceships using your hand to spin them and make them rise. However, if you go to fast they'll explode and too slow they'll crash. I found this game to be a bit annoying as I could never find the right balance, but my sister always could and would get ridiculously high scores. It doesn't require much energy as all you have to do is twist your hand.
-Slap Stream
This requires you to have pretty good reflexes, as when you get into the fast paced action of it, it can lead you to slapping the wrong characters. You have to save the Bunny Girls by hitting the Ratmen however if you hit too many of the Bunny Girls, it means Game Over. This was one of the lower energy requiring games in my opinion as you just had to slap something and it didn't require much movement.
-Plate Spinner
This game really reminds me of the previously mentioned UFO Juggler, as you have to spin the sticks to stop the plates from falling off while monkeys throw various things at you. The main aim of the game is to put them in the "Sweet Spot" as EyeToy puts it to gain points. It requires the same amount of energy as UFO Juggler, as all you really are doing is rotating your hand.
-Boogie Down
With similar music to Beat Freak, Boogie Down requires you to remember the sequence of dance that QT does and then copy it exactly. I wasn't a big fan of this game as it was quite difficult, yet my sister prefers it. It does require the same energy as Beat Freak though, as you have to have to move your arms quite a bit.
-Ghost Catcher
In Ghost Catcher, every time you see a ghost or vampire you must try and get rid of it really quickly by rubbing your hand over it till it disappears. This was one of my favourites to as you have to act quite fast to get rid of them. I'd say it requires a medium amount of energy as you have to move around the screen a lot wiping away the ghosts and bats.
-Mirror Time
Mirror Time is a game that appears to not have been developed for the energy side but to be for the mind. The screen flips in loads of different directions which means that sometimes where you intend to move your arm, it doesn't actually move to that space. It's a pretty good game if you feel like a challenge and sometimes it gets even more confusing than you expect it to.
-Rocket Rumble
This is the most colourful game included, as you have a series of rockets that are launched and you have to select the same colours and set them off at the same time. There are also different varieties of rockets, some big, some small, some sparkly and they all need to work together to make a giant explosion. I would say like Mirror Time, this is more of a mental challenge, as you have to think fast to get the same colours together.
The multiplayer is pretty good on this game, as many of the games that I mentioned above really were a great challenge as they're all developed to be really competitive. You can play with up to a group of 8 I think, and while you do have to sit through each players turn, it is quite entertaining watching some of the games like Wishi Washi as people look ridiculous throwing their arms about trying to clean the entire window faster than the others.
EyeToy:Play
