Sports Champions is a collection of six sports mini-game bundled with the new Sony motion controller PlayStation Move. There's a surprising amount of depth in this hardcore sports simulator, but, unfortunately, it's not enough to make it a must play.
The Pros
- Showcases Move's potential
- Lots of depth and statistical feedback
- Archery, Volleyball and Bocce are addictive
The Cons
- Ping-Pong is poorly designed
- There are only six different sports
- There isn't a lot of style or flair to the game
If you're a fan of competition, there's a lot to like about Sports Champions. It's the kind of game that motion control was made for: easy to pick up, but hard to master. Sports Champions is a collection of six mini-games -- Table Tennis, Volleyball, Gladiator Duel, Bocce, Disc Golf and Archery -- that delivers a realistic sports experience. At the same time, not all of these activities are going to appeal to everyone and although the PlayStation Move integration works well, there's a lot left on the table with Champions.
Sports Champions Resort
I want to get this out of the way right off the bat: the natural inclination is going to be to compare Champions to Wii Sports. Sure, they're both asking you to participate in simulated athletic activities, but where Wii Sports encapsulates the carefree fun of the Junior Varsity squad, Champions brings the hardcore muscle of moving up the Varsity level. Sports Champions contains none of the whimsey of Wii Sports and that's a good thing, because it's trying to be something different. It's trying not just to entertain, but to challenge.
The use of the Move requires precision movements, so you better be ready to bring your A-game. Like Wii Sports, anyone can pick up the Move controller and master the basics pretty quickly, but Champions provides the depth to take it to the next level. Where Wii Sports gives you bright music and dancing Miis, Champions gives you statistics. What else would you expect from the PlayStation 3? It's hardcore!
Two-A-Days
Each mini-game consists of three modes: Free Play, Challenge and Champion Cup. In Free Play, 1-2 players can battle it out against each other or AI in different events. Challenge mode tests the skills you've learned by playing different drills. Champion Cup is really a tournament mode where you battle your way through round after round until finally, a champion is determined. There are also different skill levels you can unlock for each. By the time you get to the Gold level, you better be pretty darn sure of your skills or you're going to get your butt handed to you.
The problem seems to be that some of the games are infinitely more fun than the others. Bocce, Volleyball and the Gladiator Duel are all incredibly entertaining, while Disc Golf was boring and Ping-Pong was underwhelming (We'll get to that in a bit). But, if there is an undisputed champion of Champions, it's Archery.
I found myself doing a lot of Archery, which isn't something I'm generally interested in in real life. It's incredibly fun and competitive in Champions. To start shooting, you have to reach your dominate hand (In this case, my right hand) back behind your head to grab an arrow from your quiver and then pull your right hand back to nock. Then, using the controller in your left hand, you move the bow to aim at your intended target. Once you get it down, it becomes a fluid motion and makes you feel like if you were really handed a bow and arrow, you could shoot an apple off of someone's head...or at least hit the broad side of a barn.
Now, We Run Suicides
As much as there is to like about Champions, there's also a lot of stuff not to like. For one, it's a very sterile experience and it's without fancy bells and whistles. Like, there isn't any pesky background music to distract you from your task (and it can get awfully quiet out there on the Disc Golf course). You have to calibrate the Move controller every time you switch sports. (You get pretty proficient at it as time goes on, but still.) There wasn't a lot of thought put into the metagame, so Champions doesn't have a very cohesive feel across all of the mini-games. Also, the character models also leave something to be desired, both in concept and execution.
Then, there's the small issue of Ping-Pong: it doesn't work all that well. While it's impressive that you get a view of the paddle as an extension of your hand, it's almost unforgivably poorly designed and tragically unfun. Ping-Pong is the only mini-game where Move seems to be less than impressive and, in fact, seems nearly non-functional. After awhile, you can get to a level where about 50% of the time you can volley, that is if you don't throw your brand new Move controller at the nearest living thing first. Consider your Cat warned.
Ok, Bring It In
Sports Champions is one of the strongest launch titles for the PlayStation Move and illustrates the potential of the Move quite well. It's a more adult sports game, for gamers who want a more authentic sports experience without any cartoon tomfoolery. And, when you see your precise movements registered on the screen in one-to-one, you can rest easier at night knowing that you would have been a horrible surgeon.
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 20
suryu
ya know what sucks in the game stop where i live its a small section for move with tiny screens its so funny but i don't buy from game stop i don't pay taxes on video games lmao
goofygatewood
I just saw the reveiw that Morgan webb gave the move and what they said, well let me tell you I love Morgan but they are idiots because they were playing like morons I won the Move and I picked up how to play each game with ease ping pong it a great game mode you have to get into it and actually move the controller around not just swing it around and you have to play it like your holding real pong paddle even the archery mode I only have one controller right now but picked it up with ease and very easy to get hits on the targets, but it is way better with 2 controllers. They may be gamers and all, but let's not forget they get paid to play so they go through many different games the move shows promise.
goofygatewood
also the game is way better if you have two controllers, it ok with one but way better with two.
goofygatewood
I wasnt gonna get the move but then won in a contest and I'm glad I did and yes I was one of those couch potato gamers so loosen up before you get into it, because I am freaking soar now, and no I am not a one of those lazy fat gamers or I not all fit I guess I'm in between ha ha. G4 griped about how you have to calibrate the controller before you play any game mode but it's a quick 3 sec process if it's like that for all games then that kind of sucks but so what, you want the best gaming experience possible so if that has to be a part of the process get over it. Sports Champions is good for a new release and the games will only get better with time, if not then that just sucks if they go nowhere good with the ps3 move or the x box kinect.
KilledFirst
X-PLAY, my only gripe about this game is the AI. The AI is too good too quickly. I've experienced the awkward unintentional paddle hit while playing ping pong, but to say it is broken, I think not. One of your major problems is you are comparing the MOVE to the Wii wand. You can't just wiggle the move controller and expect amazing things to happen on screen as you would with the Wii. I know with the Move you actually have to get involved, and that would serve as a problem for the couch potato gamer. Seeing your video reviews I can see a good portion of your staff having a problem with getting up and having to Move. If your lucky Sony will replicate most Wii games and allow you to just sit and shake the controller, and amazing things will happen on screen for you.
huffimus_prime
I just played this game yesterday and it was by far the most fun I'd had with a video game in awhile. Maybe it's because I don't own a Wii and don't care to. Ping Pong was by far my favorite. I don't understand the learning curve they are talking about here because it took me losing once in Champion Cup to get the hang of it, and I volleyed way more than 50% of the time. Maybe they have never played Ping Pong. I do agree that archery was fun, but I'd like to try it with two controllers first. I can't wait to play a good baseball game with this controller.
I don't think x-play is biased against move, I just think they are used to the Wii. PS Move is a lot more precise and therefore you have to be more precise yourself. Doesn't mean that the controls are bad.
gummibear76
alright, its official.
X-play is biased against PS Move.
I just got this game, and and it works amazingly well. the controls are spot on, and the ai is actualy quite good for some games (especialy gladiator duel) you cannot just swing the sword up and down and up and down and hope to win the match. these guys obviously have a biased opinion about this product.
thisgirlwitthatguy@yahoo.com
They need to come out with a disc golf video game. Dedicated only to disc golf and make it online playable.
digidevil4
This is basically a HD wii sports with more accurate controllers. If you look closely you will notice when they are playing the Gladiators thing and the Archery they are only using 1 controller each. Thats why they are saying its rubbish, because they have no proper control of their shields.
Gamelife1
Ok I bought Move, and you guys are definitely just nubs. Ping Pong is by far the best performing game in Sports Champions and works incredibly well. By the time you get to the gold level tournament you seriously can not keep up with it unless your are actually athletic. I spent almost an hour and a half fighting the last guy in it, and thats not because the controls work so well and the opponent are that good. I will say though I'm very dissappointed in the gladiator duel game though. The sense of depth in that game doesn't seem to programmed very well.
Zeeroid
I like Move. It works. Sports Champions is fun. Would I pay $10 for it? No. I got it essentially for free due to a certain $10 discount on the bundle. Nevertheless, all this Move hate is completely unwarranted. I own a Wii and actually play it often. Still, it's easy to see how much of an improvement the PS Move is over the Wii and even its MotionPlus add-on. Sony's got a lot of potential in this one, so once the games start flowing out -- if we're lucky they'll patch more older titles as well -- this thing will kill. I look forward to it.
Snicker60515
If a Lightsaber game ever comes out for this and it's actually good, I will have to give this a try, but as it is right now, there does seem to be huge potential for this. Anyone see AOTS with Kevin and Carrie, they were waggling their hands all around and the on screen character was doing everything they were doing with their hands, which I thought was pretty well executed and shows that this is something to keep an eye on. 3/5 is a right on score for this thing and the future looks promising!
chaotrigger
well people who are ripping on playstation move i have this to say if youve never played the move at all shut up cause you dont know anything about it
for me i have played move sports champions and time crises raging blast on the playstation move when i was at fan expo in Toronto, Ontario ping pong is not poorly designed cause little do you know you have to hold the move controller like you would a ping pong paddle but most reviewers (like blair and morgan) are too stupid to realize that and still think this is nintendo wii
and the comments with calling it a dildo seriously grow the *&^$ up
gtamaster503
One nav in one hand and Move in the other. He lightly pushes forward with the nav and then suddenly jabs with the Move piercing the wall and slight turning as it turns to melted steel. The other co-op player defends off rapid blaster fire being shot by Droidekas. STAR WARS GAME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Co-Op implemented. 1:1 Precision. I NEED IT.
Gamelife1
Damn, I was really looking forward to ping pong. Hopefully you guys are just nubs. Either way I'm buying it. I love fresh tech and I still see a lot of potential in the device.
S2367
Ok i can look past some similarities like the way the controllers are shapped, i really dont care, but this is just getting flat out annoying, Move Resort haha, and that other puzzle game...
cardinalsfan1122
I was going to get move early but after hearing the reviews from G4 i think i will wait, hopefully they can get some quality titles out for move and really go somewhere with it.
hooah28
not looking good for move so far
Tim_1138
Surely you can play with more than 2 players in the room
Aldowyn
Verdict so far: Wii Sports, but with the motion controls less well implemented, but with some distinct potential peeking out here and there.
Displaying 1–20 of 20
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