Sony’s foray into motion control has arrived with the release of the PlayStation Move controller for the PS3. Combining gyros and motion sensors in a handheld controller with the PlayStation Eye to judge distance, the Move should be the next evolution up from the Wiimote, offering a more advanced and accurate level of gameplay than3 has previously been possible, while also seemingly offering more possibilities for the core gamer than the Wii has ever even dreamt of.
From the outset, I’ve believed one thing about PlayStation Move: that success on the PlayStation 3 is a bonus, but what Sony is really testing out is the default control method for the eventual PlayStation 4, and I really haven’t seen anything to change my mind. There’s the obligatory sports title, and some family-friendly games, but much of what’s on the horizon seems to be aimed more at the core gamer, than the Wii’s typical waggle-loving new gamer. It’s a smart approach now for Sony, as they don’t quite have the history or franchises to make a run at Nintendo’s dominance of the casual gaming sector. Instead, Sony seems to be focusing on what it does best, and making the Move more than just a novel curiosity by integrating it into several first-party titles that aren’t just about waggle.
Most important is that the hardware works exactly as advertised. I’ve been able to play around with the full versions of Sports Champions and EyePet at home, and John Daly’s ProStroke Golf and Hustle Kings at E3, and with all four games, the results have been pretty much ideal. And by that I mean Sports Champions has been very easy to grasp, my daughter figured out EyePet in an instant, and I am just as lousy at golf with the Move as I am at real golf.
The controls, for the most part, do what you expect them to, with an impressive level of one-to-one correlation and smart use of the Move’s capabilities. Using the buttons takes a bit of getting used to though, because the standard square, triangle, etc. aren’t in the familiar diamond formation, while the T-button trigger and the Move button on top are still unfamiliar. The Move controller has a good feel in the hand, weighted just right to feel comfortable, while the rounded shape feels a little more natural than the Wiimote’s squarishness. And the soft lighted ball on top also makes a delightful chew toy for an active toddler.
At this point, it’s far too early to make a fair judgement of the PlayStation Move, but the tremendous potential is obvious. The key will be to see how developers adopt the new control options, and how successfully they can integrate it into core titles. Its unlikely that Sony will ever truly capture the casual family market, but less waggle and more gameplay is definitely within reach. In the coming months, we’ll see how well Move works with titles like MAG, Killzone 3, Heavy Rain, potentially inFamous 2, and more, and only then can we truly evaluate the PlayStation Move.
Until then, let’s grade it an incomplete, with a significant upside.
In the weeks ahead, look for GamerPops to review several Move titles, including Sports Champions, EyePet, and John Daly’s Pro Stroke Golf, as well as a look at Move-enabled titles like Heavy Rain and MAG.
