In MotionSports, your real movements are mapped onto your in-game character. By moving around and using your body as a controller, you'll tackle challenges in football, skiing, boxing, soccer, hang gliding and horseback riding. It's an odd assortment, for sure, and the actual mini-games aren't really representations of the full sport. For example, playing the football challenges isn't necessarily like playing a full game of football; instead, you're just running down the field dodging tacklers, or throwing a single pass.
This feeling of vapidity is just one of the many issues in MotionSports. Most of the sports included just don't control well, especially the football running challenges and the kicking games in the soccer category. In football, you have to duck to dodge diving tackles or high hurdles. There were numerous occasions in which I would duck but nothing would happen. I'd have to drop almost completely to the floor in order for the game to register my motion, and even then it wasn't consistent.
Boxing was also incredibly unresponsive. I would throw punch after punch that would go completely unnoticed, which would usually -- as you might suspect -- lead to my inevitable defeat in the match.
There are also notable problems in MotionSports' structure. There's absolutely no transparency to the unlock system in this game. Most of the challenges are locked at MotionSports' beginning, but I was never told how to go about unlocking the rest of the challenges. One can assume that earning medals and performing well unlocks content, but some sort of progress indicator would have been greatly appreciated. Even a symbol noting which challenges have already been completed would have helped the fluidity of the experience.
These annoyances extend into other elements of the game's design, including the commentary. Although I commend the announcer on his energy, the pre-canned lines would often play out at the wrong times, repeat too frequently, or actually address me (the player) as the wrong sex. Embarrassing!
Despite these many troubling problems, MotionSports has a few redeeming qualities. I found the hang gliding challenges, while slowly paced, to be fun and more accurate in their handling than the rest of the package. In hang gliding, you move through a series of aerial gates while trying to maintain speed and altitude. This mini-game requires a delicate touch but it was surprisingly refreshing compared to the rest of the offerings.
Horseback riding was also enjoyable. Turning your horse was accurate and it also called for precise input to properly proceed through the course. It should be noted, though, that constantly flicking the reigns and hopping around will make you look really silly.
Most of the challenges in MotionSports have multiplayer, which includes split-screen options for certain events and four-player hot seat options for others. The hot seat is poorly organized, however, with no clear indication of which player should be stepping up in front of Kinect at what time.
