Plot: What’s it about?
The global television sensation Hole in the Wall seems like a perfect candidate for a Kinect game, but does the result live up to the potential. As based on the popular game show of the same name, Hole in the Wall tasks contestants to think quick and move even quicker, as a wall is headed right in their direction. But as the show’s name should hint, the wall has a hole, shaped like a human in various unusual poses. If you can manage to contort yourself into the proper shape, then the wall passes by and you’re good, but if you don’t, you take a dunk into the drink. This concept is ideal for a Kinect enable game and really, no other current format could allow for this to work as intended. The motion sensor reads all of body’s movements, so no matter how odd the pose might be, if you nail it, the sensor ensures your performance is replicated on screen. I noticed no real problems with the sensor either, all of my poses were reproduced and the game-play is responsive and crisp. Your avatar appears on screen to represent you, which is always cool and adds a little more fun to the experience.
I had a lot of fun with Hole in the Wall, as it gives you a chance to be more active while you play and really shines when used in a social environment. The game is still fun with just yourself or another friend, but Hole in the Wall at a party is a recipe for a night of hilarious moments. While Kinect gets a bad rap as “flailing your arms” kind of content, the flailing is part of the fun here, seeing yourself and others looking rather silly trying to match up the poses. So if you have a good sense of humor, there is a lot of good times to be had here. The pick up and play nature of the title is great, as you can hop in, play a few rounds, and hop back out in no time. So whether you want a marathon session or just want to mix in a few rounds, Hole in the Wall makes sure you have fun no matter how much time you invest in each session. You can’t find many Kinect games at low prices period, let alone good ones, but Hole in the Wall offers a terrific value. You get a game that is good fun, has a ton of replay value, and encourages active and social play, so it earns a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The visuals here are simple, but effective. The inclusion of avatars was a great choice, as it feels more like a game show you’re actually in, which is always good. Plus it is fun just to see the avatar in the various poses and of course, getting knocked into the water if you make a mistake. The presentation is basic and clean, so no visual troubles crop up whatsoever. I am sure some extra flash here and there would have added some flair, but the game still looks quite good.
Audio: How does it sound?
The soundtrack follows in the footsteps of the visuals, rock solid but unremarkable. Then again, if you play this in a group environment, the laughter will overpower the audio anyway. The music is good and the sound effects are fine, this just never stands out in terms of audio performance. Even so, a dynamic sound presence isn’t required for this kind of game, so I don’t want to be too critical in this department.
Supplements: What are the extras?
N/A
