Now THIS is what we expected at the Kinect press conference! Happy Action Theater is a green screen in your living room – no tutorial required – you just do what you want! With 18 different activities, you’re sure to find your favorites and they’re appropriate for literally ALL ages. (Although your newborn probably won’t appreciate it.)
10.0Replay ValueReally high, no matter what age you are. Invite some friends!
10.0GameplaySuper easy to navigate, but warning - a "demo" will turn in to HOURS real quick.
10.0VisualsHoly a$$, this is cool. What the Kinect was made for!
10.0SoundFun music and silly sound effects make the experience.
0.0ControlsN/A - do what you want!!
10.0OverallA rare occasion when a perfect score is warranted. ZERO complaints.
And now for something completely different. How about a game with no controls, no instructions, just a scenario – and the rest is up to you. The ensuing giggle fest is assured – and the best part? There’s no time limit; just pick your activity and go!
When I received my review code for Happy Action Theater, I knew it would be cute and funny because it’s Double Fine…but I had no idea how delightful it would be. I don’t have kids (unless you count the cats) but I would invite anyone of any age to try this game.
Calling Happy Action Theater a game is really for lack of a better word. Once the game begins, it runs you through short samples of the different activities. You see yourself from the Kinect’s point of view – not just a silhouette. This adds a personal element that many motion control games are lacking. It’s a scientific fact that human beings are fascinated by by their own reflection and Happy Action Theater is a great example.
Just see how people reacted when Double Fine took their game across the street to Bar Basic!
As you can see, people just have to see themselves and the fun begins. And that’s the great thing about this game – it encompasses all languages, skill levels, backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if you’re a self-proclaimed “hardcore gamer” or play casual games on your phone. The minute you see yourselves and the room fills with hot lava or balloons or clones of yourself, the fun begins.
The show begins
Once the tutorial is complete, you can pick which one(s) you liked best and choose them from the main menu. In true Double Fine style, there is always a bit of humor thrown in; in one activity, the room is filled with pigeons. Amazingly, they start perching on things in your room, even you! One pigeon runs around with plastic rings stuck on his head and they all poop all over your house, ha ha. I kinda hoped that my cats would be curious, but they were overwhelmed with mild concern.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the game design is that the animated objects react to your every move; whether it be water, lava, fish, birds, balloons…you name it. When you’re inserted into a completely different environment (that is, you can no longer see your room), the line around you is often sketchy, but it’s more than sufficient to see 99.9% of your body doing silly things.
For you fans of the Double Fine Action Comics and Double Fine games in general, you can boogie down with Knight, Agent Ross, Raz, Wren and more! I cracked up SO hard.
Fun for all! Well, up to Six.
That’s right, up to six people can be sensed on the screen at once, so go for broke! Step inside a classic video game, make a crazy kaleidoscope, plant a rain forest in your living room…and as you saw before, clone yourself!
Overall
If you’re expecting a game with actual controls and leaderboards and whatnot, you’re not going to find it here. This is a great party “game” for the whole family or all your friends. I’ve already gone around telling everyone around it so they can come over and goof off with it! However, if you have a sense of humor, like being silly and just want something different with no pressure to do something right or wrong, Happy Action Theater may just be your bag, baby.
The only con to this game? You can get carried away REALLYFAST. Be aware of those around you and (rubs sore foot) furniture. Ahemm. Reaching for things that appear “in your room” can lead to spontaneous laughter, jumping, kicking, screaming and clapping.
Happy Action Theater is available now for XBox LIVE Arcade for only 800 MS. Not sure? Chicken. j/k There’s a FREE demo, so try it!!
Players get thrust into psychedelic worlds, thanks to the XBox360 Kinect. Not just for kids, first-hand accounts of the demo report instant smiles. Read More
