Summary
- Release Year: 2004
- Genres: Racing, Sport
- Platforms: PlayStation 2
- Developers: Harmonix Music Systems
- Publishers: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
EyeToy: AntiGrav (2004) Review
Introduction
EyeToy: AntiGrav is a unique and innovative airboarding game developed by Harmonix and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2004, the game utilizes the PlayStation 2 EyeToy camera to track the player’s movements, allowing them to control their airboarder on-screen. This groundbreaking technology allows for an immersive and physically active gaming experience, setting EyeToy: AntiGrav apart from other airboarding games of its time.
Gameplay
The gameplay in EyeToy: AntiGrav is simple yet challenging. Players use their bodies to control their airboarder, leaning and twisting to navigate through a variety of tracks. The game features a total of 16 tracks, each with its own unique obstacles and challenges. Players must race against the clock and perform tricks to earn points and progress through the game.
The EyeToy camera accurately tracks the player’s movements, providing a responsive and intuitive control scheme. Players can perform a variety of tricks by combining different body movements. These tricks include spins, flips, and grinds, which can be chained together to earn even more points.
Graphics and Sound
EyeToy: AntiGrav features colorful and vibrant graphics that bring the futuristic world of the game to life. The tracks are varied and detailed, with each one offering its own unique visual aesthetic. The character models are well-animated and expressive, adding to the overall immersion of the game.
The soundtrack in EyeToy: AntiGrav is upbeat and energetic, perfectly complementing the fast-paced gameplay. The music is a mix of electronic and rock genres, and it helps to create an exciting and adrenaline-pumping atmosphere.
Innovation and Impact
EyeToy: AntiGrav was a groundbreaking game for its time. It was one of the first games to successfully use the PlayStation 2 EyeToy camera for motion controls. This technology allowed for a more immersive and physically active gaming experience, which was a significant departure from the traditional controller-based gameplay of the time.
The success of EyeToy: AntiGrav helped to pave the way for other motion-controlled games, such as the Wii Sports series and the PlayStation Move games. It also helped to popularize the use of motion controls in video games, which has become increasingly common in recent years.
Legacy
EyeToy: AntiGrav was a critical and commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, its use of motion controls, and its overall fun factor. The game has been featured in numerous “best of” lists and has been cited as one of the most important games of its generation.
EyeToy: AntiGrav remains a popular game today, and it is still enjoyed by many fans around the world. The game’s unique gameplay and its use of motion controls make it a timeless classic that continues to entertain and engage players of all ages.
Conclusion
EyeToy: AntiGrav is a groundbreaking and innovative airboarding game that uses the PlayStation 2 EyeToy camera to track the player’s movements. The game features simple yet challenging gameplay, colorful and vibrant graphics, and an energetic soundtrack. EyeToy: AntiGrav was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to popularize the use of motion controls in video games. The game remains a popular classic today, and it continues to entertain and engage players of all ages.
Review Score
7.5/10