Hole In the Wall is a show that airs on Cartoon Network. For anyone who’s missed the show, I’l give you a quick description. The idea is that you stand at the end of a platform while a wall moves toward you. The object is to configure your body into the shape of the hole so you don’t get pushed in the waiting water. Sounds fun right? Also sounds like a great idea for a Kinect title.
Hole In the Wall is an early addition into the ever growing selection of Arcade Kinect titles. The object of the game is the same as the show. The game has several options of play types. You can do “Survival Mode” which is where you are challenged wall by wall getting harder and harder and you get one chance. Then there is the standard “Show” mode where you compete round by round and try to win the show for each region. Those are the game options that are presented before you and while seeming ok at first you find your self becoming bored quick. I personally prefer the “Show” mode since as weird as this sounds there seems to be more depth to it. All of the modes can be played with multiplayer.
Even though I detest the term “Hardcore Gamer”, this game is not for the core audience. This title is as casual and family oriented as you can get, but that by no means makes it a bad title. The gameplay is honestly a blast. The movements are really kind of hard to get used. You may find that you have put your body in some mildly odd and entertaining positions to get from round to round. The hardest pose I had at first was as simple as standing on your left leg and sticking you right leg out at a perfect 90 degree angle. Yes, it’s hard for most of us out there. There are more simple motions like looking as if you may be swinging a bat or a golf club. The Kinect detection of the movements you make can be pretty forgiving on ones that you really may not need help on. It seems that the harder the moves are the more precise the Kinect wants you to be. Maybe a coincidence, but still makes it tough for players, especially if you are playing multiplayer.
I found the best way to play the game and actually be able to make some progress is to play single player and switch off with someone who may want to play with you. In multiplayer your move progress bar seems to move slower and if both players are not precise you both receive a strike. This can make rounds go by quick when you’re only allowed three strikes per round. When you take into consideration that like most Kinect titles the navigation of the menu and game set up is more of a hassle than a perk.
All in all for 800 MSP the game can’t really be looked away from, especially if you have kids or the whole family gathers for Kinect fun. An idea like Hole in the Wall, is pretty much a dream game for Kinect and it really works out well too, even if you take into consideration the tracking may not always be on your side it still doesn’t take enough away from this title to make it not worth the money. Worth the money and the time, Hole in the Wall is fun for the family, but make be a pass for the core gamer.
