EyeToy Play with Camera (PS2)

The Eyetoy is highly original, hugely imaginative and with a great, easy to use interface. What's a little spooky is the way you control the whole thing by passing your hands through the air. No keyboard, mouse, or joypad required. In fact no physical contact at all. This is the stuff of science fiction!

Other reviewers will detail the games but what many have missed is the range of interactive bits. For example you can have a virtual aquarium on your TV, nicely animated. Nothing new there until you approach your TV and notice your reflection. What you then realise is that you can "prod" the fish and they will dart out the way. This also applies to bursting bubbles, brushing spiders from a web that seems to cover your body (slightly disconcerting), and loads of other activities. Perfect to confuse your guests at a party!

So apologies to my children as their Christmas present is going to be rather “used” by December 25th!

And if you don't want to play one of the minigames, there's a playroom feature that allows you to manipulate the video feed in a variety of ways (whether your image is surrounded by killer bees, standing in a snow storm, de-materializing or twitching spookily - amongst others options).

The games really come into their own when playing multi-player and this has to be the only game in the world that's as fun to watch when your friends and family play as it is to play yourself. Witness friends flaily madly in mid-air! Watch everyone try to kung-fu or head an apparently invisible ball!!

This is bound to be a hit with young and old alike, due to it's irradicating the need of interface between the player and PlayStation. No need for a controller any more. You just need your hands! It will be a hit at Christmas for the family and will also undoubtedly be popular with the after pub crowd too. Hardcore gamers may not like it's simplicity, but you'd have to be really miserable not to crack a smile at this!

We are all used to smashing graphics, immense story lines, uber cool controls, half a gazillion weapons and we are all severely rattled if there is less than sufficient rag doll physics and the AI does not have an IQ of at least 120. hello eye toy... with graphics possibly going back several steps into the 1990's, no story line; just simple 'linear' games, just your 2 hands as weapons (upgradeable to clenched fists if required) and not a rag doll physic in sight. But it rocks. it rocks good. You the player are projected onto TV and are inside the game. Its a fair assumption that this is the first major step towards the future of gaming... no joy pads, controllers just interaction. there is no need for a controller at all with Eye toy: Play - all menu options are screen interactive and the sensor options are activated by a well placed flap!

yes its a single player, i.e. 1 at a time, but never before has a single player game catered for the viewers as the eye toy does. forget what is happening on the screen... just look at the player waving their arms around like a right one! Oh yes I am guilty of taking it all way too seriously and in the kung fu game genuinely believe that I do make Bruce Lee look like a couch potato. Here's a tip. Under no exception will ANYONE be allowed to bring a camera to the party...

So the basics are, plug the camera in to USB port on your PS2, place on top of TV, enter CD and there is a guide to take you through set up. once you've got through to menu's, pick your game, level etc. You will then need to move camera up, down, sideways to focus on players height, would also suggest in the middle of room with enough flap space not to knock off ornaments, glasses of drink or indeed an onlookers limbs (yes, speaking from experience). The games as mentioned are all pretty straight forward - Kung fu; fighting off evil henchmen, football keepy ups, washing windows (more addictive than you might think; includes the ol' knee slapping banjo tune of 'when I'm cleaning windows') (as if there was an alternative), boxing, fireworks display; group the colours and make an impressive display (again more fun & addictive then you might think), ghostbusting, plate spinning, dance off's; with tracks including Boogie nights, a strange mirror image game and a selection more. The games are not overly challenging and are all timer controlled, the difficulty levels are variable to spice things up a little, And a fluffed up scoreboard of champions to include your posed photo is a great touch to add those targets & satisfaction. We have played it many times and although it could be described as repetitive - it has never become boring.

one further bonus: one week, my partner did not have the time one week to make her weekly gym session. solution? 45 minutes of eye toy: play! a cheap alternative to a great workout. play a variety of games and a variety of muscles are used! More entertaining than an exercise bike...

The only reason it doesn't make a 5 star-er is that although its a fantastic concept - it's potential is only at the start of its evolution. that and the music does get a bit annoying after a while.

Final comments: yes do buy it, simply because it is unique in the fiercely competitive computer game marketmore and more titles keep coming out. a lot seem to blend in to one another. Eye toy is differrent. Different to 'good-cop-bad-cop-shoot-em-up', different to 'drive-around-way-too-fast-and-pay-no-respect-to-anyone', different to 'shh-be-quiet!-sneak-up-and-kill-them-silently' kind of games. this is pure entertainment - in a most pleasing, refreshing way. you also will feel better than sitting on your sofa for an hour tapping joy pad buttons monotonously! go get it and enjoy. this is not just a game for kids!