PS2 review: EyeToy Play 2

EyeToy Play 2 for PS2The PlayStation 2-exclusive EyeToy Play 2 is the follow-up to the immensely popular EyeToy Play. The EyeToy USB Camera’s innovative motion-tracking and light-sensing technologies took interactive entertainment to a whole new level, as gamers instantly became the main character in their own game. It broadened the PlayStation 2 audience and challenged children, teenagers, young adults, parents and even grandparents to join in the fun and be the star of the game.

System: PS2
Genre: Party
Release dates: November 5th 2004 (EURO), August 16th 2005 (USA)
Players: 1-4, Sony EyeToy camera for PS2 required
Save: 820KB minimum
Developer: SCE Studios London
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Origin: England

EyeToy Play 2 screenshot

Things have come a long way since the original Play; EyeToy: Play 2 expands significantly on the mini-game formula, cramming over 70 wildly different quick-fire challenges into 12 spectacular new games and a variety of bonus mini-games. These mini-games creatively take advantage of Sony’s innovative camera technology. As with most EyeToy products your television screen shows your image and surrounds you with PS2-generated graphics that you either try to avoid or snatch or drag.

In addition to the bevy of game modes are some other functions. The first is a silhouette mode where the EyeToy records the silhouette of your body and imports it into the backgrounds of the game modes, manipulating its shape and size. There is also a face profile mode where as you turn the image of your three dimensional head is recorded and can be imported onto computer models in Play 2 or games such as World Tour Soccer.

The Play Room has now become the home for a variety of amazing EyeToy experiments that will change your perception of what’s possible with the PS2 USB camera. Improved multiplayer mode lets up to four people compete over 50 mini-games. Interact with a 3D model of your own or your friend’s head with EyeToy: Cameo. Wide range of experimental PlayRoom effects – interact using movement, sound and even fruit. Catch out intruders with SpyToy security… You can also turn your EyeToy into a surveillance camera, to catch trespassers by tracking physical motion as well as audible noises with their EyeToy camera, taking pictures every five seconds of what it sees to be watched later, or it can also act as a security alarm going off when it senses a presence.

The 12 different games to play in EyeToy Play 2’s main mode are:

* Air Guitar — Say goodbye to standing in front of the mirror with a tennis racket in your hands strumming along to rock anthems. Now you can stand in front of the TV, throw some windmills and strum along to some classic rock riffs.

* Homerun — Are you ready for some major league action? Have you perfected your line drive? Your batting skills will be put to the test by the pitcher’s knuckle ball and backdoor sliders. You’ll have ten balls to grab as many bases as possible, and score a minimum of twenty points.

* Knockout — Can you last three rounds in the ring against the best boxers in the world? Avoid each pugilists punch and land as many blows as you can to KO the competition. Listen out for the combo tune which signifies each opponent’s weak spot, but if you start to see stars it won’t be long until you’re counted out. Try pushing the stars off screen to beat the count.

* Bubblepop — Pop all the bubbles as quick as you can, but don’t pop the red bubbles! Simple, yet strangely satisfying. Watch out for the bomb bubbles and detonate them at your peril – sometimes they can help you, but they can also cause a chain reaction that could wipe out a whole load of red bubbles.

* DIY — Fancy yourself as a bit of a handy man? Or do you just like the idea of destroying stuff with power tools? Either way you’re certainly going to like DIY. You’re going to have to do a professional job to score big in this game. Try and find the best technique for each of the different disciplines.

* Drummin’ — Beat out some rhythms on the drums. Keep up with the icons to get the best score possible. If you perform well enough you’ll have to prove your skills against the king of drumming in the boss drum contest. It’s all about timing and getting into the swing.

* Goal Attack — The goalkeeper is always the last line of defence, so don your keeper’s gloves, make yourself as imposing as you can try to stop the strikers from scoring. In each game you’ll have a target number of balls you must save to proceed to the next round, so be ready to dive all over the goalmouth to keep the ball out.

* Secret Agent — Rotting in a dank, dark cell is no way to spend your life, but you’re going to have to be careful if you want to escape from the enemy castle. Sneak around and collect all of the equipment you need for your break-out attempt, then avoid the searchlights and CCTV cameras if you don’t want to get caught.

* Table Tennis — Can you be the undisputed champion of the ping-pong table? Take on talented table tennis experts in the coveted challenge cup. Set your sights on gold because it’s the only way you are going to win against the four opponents that are lined up for you. Yell at the top of your lungs at the same time as you hit the ball to give it an extra boost of speed!

* Kung 2 — In the land of the Orient, highly training martial arts experts are always on hand to kick you where it hurts or karate chop you down to size. If you’re looking for a fight then these guys will take you on.

* Mr. Chef — Can you handle the heat of the kitchen? You’re going to have to keep your customers well fed if you’re going to succeed in this game! Grab and drag all the ingredients from the top of the screen and build them into the perfect burger. Upon completion of an order, the bin icon at the top of the screen will rotate and become a bell icon. Wave your hand over the bell to send those dinners to the diners. … If you make gastronomic mistake then wave your hand over the bell/bin icon at the top of the screen to junk the food and start again. If you prove yourself in the kitchen, the current master chef may challenge you to a “cook off”.

* Monkeybars — Get inside your Monkey Machine and hit the corner buttons to swing your way to victory. Collect as many bananas as you can and watch out for the cherries for some super bonus points. If you are quick enough, the Blue Monkey Machine will challenge you to a race, but don’t let him beat you or he’ll laugh in your face.

Watch some EyeToy Play 2 Mr. Chef gameplay.

The main features in EyeToy Play 2 are:

* The addictive fun continues with the sequel to the multi-million unit selling EyeToy: Play.

* Players and their friends can steal the show as up to four people at a time can star in the game and appear on TV.

* Players will experience true physical interactivity as they run, jump, dance, wiggle and more while interacting with colorful 3D characters.

* Twelve new games offers players a wide variety of new experiences, including: Knockout, Mr. Chef, Secret Agent, Air Guitar, Goal Attack, Table Tennis, HomeRun, and more.

* Players can also enjoy 75 bonus games, including one to four player modes.

* Catch intruders in the act by utilizing the SpyToy feature that acts as a room guard security camera.

* Additional new EyeToy technologies include sound recognition, background subtraction and the EyeToy: Cameo “mask” technology, that allows players to create a 3D model and image of their head, which can then be used in a variety of games.

* Enhanced Play Room includes a playable demo of EyeToy: AntiGrav as well as new technological demos.

Watch some EyeToy Play 2 Knockout gameplay with classic instant replays.

You’ll want to turn down the volume on this video, the players are having so much fun, their laughter is incredibly loud!

As a conclusion let’s rate this game on its fun-basis.

FUN FACTOR – 7.7
Silver EyeToy USB camera for PS2EyeToy: Play 2 once again uses EyeToy camera technology to project the player on to the television screen, allowing them to interact with on screen objects. The game brings friends and family together with 12 new mini-games for an evening full of fun! The mini-games are longer, more fleshed out and varied. Most notable in this regard is the new tournament mode, that allows several players to compete in a series of mini-games (Bomb Dodge, Weightlifting, Chopper Landing, Building Crush, Running’ and Sunflower), earning points for each game won. The game feels like a good workout in single player and like a party in multiplayer. If you liked the first game, this second one improves upon the concept and clearly every EyeToy owner should pick this up to have some good times.

Graphics – 7.0
All the game designs are very clean and simple, as a result the graphics match that fun-but-basic look. Nice and colorful though.

Audio – 7.0
Simple sound effects and catchy music throughout the game. It fits well with the game’s cheerful theme.

Ingenuity – 8.5
EyeToy Play 2 also takes advantage of some EyeToy capabilities that the original did not, including being able to detect the speed and force of motion, and increased accuracy. This allows for more depth in games like Baseball, where points can be awarded for more forceful hitting of the ball. As with the first game, the technology of the hit-detection isn’t always perfect, but that’s never that noticeable either.

The most important things to keep in mind with EyeToy games is that they require a well-lighted area to fully detect the player’s body, and not just that, you need to look at the background that’s being played against so your cloths colors don’t accidentally blend in with the background. Then you need to stand back 3 to 4 steps from the TV (with the camera on top of it) and set the camera’s focus and sensitivity. All of those are important notes, because otherwise the game will have trouble picking up your body movements. Once the EyeToy camera picks up your movements, it’s really fun as the game does a decent job translating your movements into on-screen action. The variety of mini-games will give plenty of fun to those of you willing to go all out and achieve every highscore to become the EyeToy Champion. Without the need for a PS2 controller, the ease of use for these motion controlled games shines most with groups of people getting their game on. Especially because people love looking at themselves, even more as the main character of a game on the big TV screen.

Replay Value – 8.0
While the single player experience is over in a brief amount of time, once again the series proves its longevity in multiplayer. This is the sort of game I still find myself popping in the PS2 once a while over one years after release when there are two or more people around, especially for our favorites like Knockout, Kung 2 and Mr. Chef. Each of these 12 mini-games has three levels of difficulty, more replay value is added by the highscore boards on each mini-game where number one’s photo will be displayed to get some competition going.