Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun sports compilation promotes healthy movement.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Sports Champions 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
The follow-up to one of PlayStation Move's most popular launch games, SPORTS CHAMPIONS 2 offers five new activities -- golf, bowling, tennis, skiing, and boxing -- and brings back archery, a favorite from the original. Each of the games requires players to make authentic movements, similar to those that they would use were they playing the sport in the real world. Boxing involves throwing punches, blocking, and dodging, golf requires strong straight swings with fluid wrist movements, and skiing has players pulling themselves forward by their poles and raising and lowering their hands to steer. The single-player mode allows kids to work through 18 events in each sport that also trains them in each activity's subtler techniques. A free mode lets players simply play or train however they like; and a party mode has up to four players working through regiments of activities in friendly competition. Regardless of mode, players can create and customize their own avatars, choosing gender and skin color and selecting from various clothing items they unlock throughout the game.
Is It Any Good?
SPORTS CHAMPIONS 2 is a nice showcase for PlayStation Move. It demonstrates the technology's impressive precision and reliability, delivering true one-to-one control that virtually never fails. For example, it accurately and consistently detects speed, spin, aim, and loft when throwing bowling balls. And shooting arrows -- a process that involves drawing, notching, pulling back, and loosing -- is remarkably intuitive and feels very authentic.
It's only real issue is a case of the "blands." Like most sports-themed game collections, it doesn't have much in the way of personality. Characters are generic, even with the ability to change outfits and hairstyles, and the prevailing visual aesthetic is very ACME in vibe. If the sequel adds a bit of panache while maintaining spot-on controls, Sony may have the motion-controlled sports compilation game to beat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about healthy physical activity. What sports do you like most? Do you think active games such as this one gets your heart beating to the same degree as the real-world activities it depicts?
Families can also discuss real-world combat sports. What do you think of activities where the objective is to hurt someone else? At what age should kids be allowed to choose whether they want to participate in such competitions?
Game Details
- Platform : PlayStation 3
- Subjects : Hobbies : sports
- Skills : Health & Fitness : exercise , movement , Communication : friendship building , Collaboration : meeting challenges together , Thinking & Reasoning : strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Sony Computer Entertainment
- Release date : October 30, 2012
- Genre : Sports
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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