Eyetoy: Play 2 PS2 Review

When Sony released the Eyetoy in 2003, it reached a phenomenal level of sales and a new way to control games was born. The camera shipped with Play, and while it demonstrated the cameras uses it was a very basic program. Unfortunately since the release of the camera we have not seen much software for it but that has changed recently with Sega Superstars and now Eyetoy: Play 2, the second title from London Studio for the camera. Again like Play it is made up of a bunch of mini games but they offer a great variety and if you own the Eyetoy perhaps worth a look.

The mini games are widely varied in Eyetoy: Play 2 but all have you moving your body as expected but still doesn't offer too much variety in terms of body movement. As well as the mini games, Play 2 also has the option to setup a very basic spy camera to record what is happening in the room it is setup, and also a number of experiments which basically show the power of what the Eyetoy can do and what you may expect in future titles for the camera such as the new Eyetoy cameo technology which is used to reconstruct your face in 3D for games.

Air Guitar

This game tasks you with strumming in tune with some notes that fall to the bottom of the screen. The tunes range from single strokes through to lots of strumming in a continuous motion. You occasionally have to move you're other hand for the virtual chords of the song. The single player game tasks you with playing some songs before coming up against some boss characters and having to emulate what they play to defeat them. It's a fairly original game but won't hold your attention for very long.

Bubble Pop

The aim of this game is to destroy all the bubbles by popping them with your hand while avoiding the red coloured ones. Destroy too many red ones and the game will end. Again this progressively gets harder and features a boss fight but won't hold your attention for very long.

Table tennis

This is actually one of the most impressive games of the package and in a basic terms, rivals many full blown tennis games. You hit the ball with your hand but strategy can be used. How you move your hand will determine how hard the ball is hit, where it is hit etc.  The competition gets harder as you defeat more characters, but again it probably won't hold your attention for an extended period of time in a single player format.

Secret Agent

This game gets your whole body moving. Initially you have to avoid detection by a searchlight while picking up things such as hacksaws to escape from a prison cell but further into the game you have to unlock a series of locks in the correct order and timelimit while still avoiding the searchlights. The game features a structured format which is definitely a positive but again it won't hold your attention to long.

Drummin'

This very much mimics the guitar mini game except with drums. Icons appear on screen and like a Dance Dance Revolution style you have to hit them the same time they hit the relevant drums. Boss fights are again featured, but once three are defeated the game is completed and therefore does keep you interested for a great deal of time.

Goal Attack

Goal attack is one of the more impressive games of the package. You begin as the goalkeeper in training before moving to the match scenario where corner kicks are volleyed towards you. What's impressive about this game is the graphics and how the game displays the action during the corner kicks. Again there is not much to bring you back to this game in a single player format but it's still impressive none the less.

Home Run

Like Goal Attack this game begins in training with the game showing you how to hit the ball before moving into the big game to beat the Eyetoy red caps. The most surprising aspect of this game is that once the ball is hit you actually have to make a running motion for a box on the screen to move to each base thus replicating a proper baseball game to a degree.

DIY

This game is one of the best. You use a variety of power tools to perform tasks such as smashing down a brick wall or chopping wood with a mulcher. Tasks range from bashing towards the screen to hit a wall through to doing things such as hitting sticks into the mulcher with your hands or spinning tiles to make  This game is one of the better ones but again won't hold your attention very long. Some really unique ideas are on display in the game though.

Knockout

A boxing game which could do with a bit of work especially after seeing the Virtua Fighter mini game in Sega Superstars. Standing to the side you basically punch a character on screen until they or you lose all your health before progressing on. Great technology but won't hold your interest for a great deal of time.

Kung 2

This is a sequel to one of the original Play games and basically has you chopping towards Ninja's among other characters moving towards the screen. You move through different levels having to avoid enemy fire such as cannon balls while taking them out. Fun in short spurts of gameplay.

Monkey Bars

This is a puzzle game where you control a gorilla on a building. The control scheme is incredibly frustrating and because of that is one of the more difficult games included in the package. You basically have to guide the monkey through a series of poles collecting items.

Mr Chef

Definitely the best game in the whole package because it has such depth, even though it does not last a long time in terms of interest. You have to put together fast food orders with different ingredients, but the depth comes from the fact that you have to make the ingredients yourself with various mini games such as chopping pickles or mixing drinks. There is also a boss fight against a better chef in three disciplines.

If you've noticed a trend in the comments then you may have noticed that we commented that every game does not hold your interest for very long and that is the main problem with this package. Eyetoy: Play 2 offers some great mini games but it comes hard to recommend unless you are a previous owner of the Eyetoy package.