EyeToy: Groove Impressions

On a recent visit to the EyeToy area of the PlayStation Experience event in London, we discovered that, among the numerous copies of EyeToy: Play on display, a single preview build of EyeToy: Groove was also being shown. The version on display was incomplete, but those brave enough to give it a try were clearly enjoying it.

As a licensed music track from Blue played in the background, players in the middle of the screen were required to touch six "buttons" in locations around the outside of the screen in time with the music. Objects moving from the center of the screen toward the buttons let players know where their hands needed to go next, and occasionally players were required to perform sweeping movements between multiple targets rather than just hitting each of them in turn.

A two-player version of the same game was also shown, in which the second player was required to stand slightly behind and to the side of the first. The gameplay was essentially unchanged, although the players' respective targets appeared in red and blue so things didn't get too confusing.

EyeToy: Groove is currently scheduled for release in Europe later this year, and, as only the second EyeToy-compatible game to be released, it looks certain to appeal to just about everyone who already owns the peripheral. Fans of other rhythm action games might also be attracted to the game, since it doesn't require the use of a dance mat and boasts a handful of different difficulty settings, including a dynamic one that presumably adjusts the speed according to performance. For more information on EyeToy: Groove, check out our previous coverage of the game.