Sony's new motion controller, the PlayStation Move, may ostensibly be seen as jumping on Nintendo's bandwagon, though it is anything but. This late entry into the field is no mere imitator – it was in development well before the Nintendo Wii was launched. The unusual design – one imagines "futuristic sex toy" wasn't quite the look Sony was trying to pull off – doesn't give the greatest of first impressions, though it's more comfortable than a Wii remote to hold.The glowing orb on the end of the controller allows the PlayStation "Eye" camera to track its movement more accurately, meaning that its position in 3D space and its orientation can be read; in that regard, it comfortably trumps its Nintendo rival. And while the early software leaves a little to be desired, it is instantly clear that this is a piece of hardware to be reckoned with.
It's more precise and responsive than a Wii remote, even with the Wii Motionplus attachment factored into the equation, and gestures are more easily read. Though it is not until you start playing a game such as Sports Champions (Sony, cert 12) that the differences become more pronounced. Table tennis, in particular, offers an extraordinary level of fine control, requiring true-to-life movements for success, particularly on the higher levels. It's a revelatory moment when you catch yourself stretching forwards to reach a shot close to the net.
Bocce, a member of the boules family, sees deft flicks of the wrist translated perfectly into top-, side- or backspin. Archery and disc golf feel little different from their Wii equivalents, though reaching into an imaginary quiver to pull out arrows in the former is curiously satisfying. Volleyball and "gladiator duel" are less impressive, both being more reliant on gesture than nuance, while it's clear Sony still has some lessons to learn from Nintendo: the charmless and cliched characters and sterile presentation make it less instantly appealing, even if the depth will keep players coming back for more.
Start the Party (Sony, cert 3), meanwhile, is a throwback to the PlayStation 2's EyeToy camera, though the augmented reality technology further demonstrates the capabilities of the hardware. A series of minigames turns the Move controller into a paintbrush, a fan, a torch and a giant fly swatter and again the player's movements are perfectly replicated onscreen. While the controls are hard to fault, it's disappointing that two players can't compete simultaneously. Perhaps Sony thought the hardware was costly enough, without forcing people to splash out on an additional controller for arguably the most family-friendly title of Move's launch line-up. The game's presentation is also a little too self-consciously wacky, with a commentator's repetitive and irritating interjections likely to be turned off at the earliest opportunity.
Sony's Japan Studio has contributed Kung Fu Rider (Sony, cert 16), which sees a flustered salaryman attempting to escape a group of yakuza by sliding down busy Tokyo streets on an office chair. Its concept is undoubtedly more interesting than its execution, which conspires to make the Move controller feel sluggish and inaccurate.
There's some initial amusement to be had with such an unusual idea, mainly thanks to the slapstick appeal of the protagonist getting unexpectedly clobbered or thrown violently from his ride. But as the levels get busier, control shortcomings become ever more frustrating.
The Shoot turns the Move wand into a light-gun, challenging the player to blast enemies and targets across several themed shooting galleries, while previously released titles such as EyePet and Heavy Rain are set to arrive in new Move-compatible varieties, with downloadable updates for existing owners. Surprisingly, a digitally distributed title is probably the highlight of the early line-up. Modest block-stacking puzzler Tumble is the perfect showcase for the Move's remarkable abilities, allowing players to position and manipulate objects in 3D space with remarkable precision.
The Move hardware is much tougher to fault. Calibrating the device is quick and simple, with the only foreseeable problem being a lack of living room space – Sports Champions requires a distance of 8ft between the player and the TV. While few other titles will be as spatially demanding, it might be time to consider repositioning that coffee table.
It's early days yet, but Sony's versatile device is a thrilling glimpse into the future of motion gaming. Whether it will attract an audience that is large enough, or the publisher support for its potential to be fully realised, remains to be seen, but with around 30 Move-compatible games planned for release between now and Christmas, early signs are promising. While Microsoft has already earmarked millions of marketing dollars for its own Kinect motion-sensing technology, Sony is relying more on word of mouth for Move to take off and, on this evidence, it should have every success.
