EyeToy: Play 2 Hands-On

LOS ANGELES--Today at Sony's pre-E3 event, we got a chance to try out EyeToy: Play 2, the sequel to the original title that shipped with Sony's innovative camera peripheral. Released in Europe late last year, the game is officially headed for a US release this summer. As in its predecessor, EyeToy: Play 2 features a variety of minigames that you control using your entire body instead of using a game pad. The EyeToy camera projects your image onto the screen, and by flailing around wildly--or, in some cases, patiently measuring your motions--you'll interact with the in-game elements in various ways. The result is incredibly easy to get into, and, like its predecessor, immediately fun despite its simplicity.

We were eager to try out the boxing minigame first, which pit us against opponents who'd weave from side to side across the screen. They'd throw punches occasionally and were susceptible to our own attacks. We started off by smacking these virtual pugilists in the face with our fists, but quickly discovered that fair play doesn't apply in this boxing ring, so we started throwing elbows, head butts, and more. In the very, very, very rare event that our virtual opponent knocked us out (by depleting our health bar), we needed to quickly flail a bunch of stars off the screen to get back into the fight. This first minigame started us off on the right foot, all things considered.

The Secret Agent minigame was an interesting change of pace. In it, spotlights patrol the screen, trying to detect your movement as you try to grab various key objects that pop up. You need to stand perfectly still to avoid detection, or in some cases, slink your way around the spotlights to grab what you need. The game's motion detection worked convincingly, making for a unique experience that didn't take long to turn very challenging.

We then opted for a much more action-packed change of pace in Kung2, a game in which we needed to swat away invading forces in various Asian-themed levels. While this was easy enough at first, what with those weaklings pouring in from the sides of the screen, the situation started to get desperate as cannons began firing at us, requiring us to duck out of the way while still administering the beat-down.

Other minigames in EyeToy: Play 2 include sports-themed ones like Table Tennis and Home Run, and the ever-popular Air Guitar.

EyeToy: Play 2 features surprisingly responsive action that it seems like pretty much anyone could enjoy. The game will include a few additional bonuses on top of the core content, such as dozens of bonus games, and the vaguely creepy SpyToy, which effectively turns your game into a security camera. Look for more information on EyeToy: Play 2 from us shortly.