Kinect Sports: Season Two arrives on Xbox 360 with six new sports, each built around motion controls that ask players to swing, throw, and jump through simple gestures. The sequel keeps the core idea of Kinect Sports — play sports with your body instead of a controller — but pushes further into sports that feel distinct from one another. The result is a mixed bag: some games are clever and fun, others feel like filler, and none of them push the hardware beyond what the original game showed off.
Trailer, via IGN.
Six Sports, Six Takes
The lineup covers familiar ground and reaches for something new:
- Soccer takes on a standard format, asking players to kick balls past defenders and goalkeepers.
- Tennis offers a two-player mode that rewards quick reactions and precise timing.
- Basketball adds a shooting contest and a full-court game that feels cramped.
- Volleyball brings a net and a ball to a small court, testing reach and timing.
- Bowls places players on a green, rolling a ball toward targets while avoiding hazards.
- Snowboarding closes the package with a downhill course and tricks that require timed motions.
Each sport has its own rules and pace, and the variety helps keep the package from feeling repetitive. That said, the weakest games rely on the same motion inputs dressed in new paint, which means the difference between them often comes down to presentation rather than design.
Motion Controls, Mixed Results
The motion detection remains the star of the show. Players swing their arms to hit a ball, bend their knees to run, and raise their hands to block. When it works, it feels natural and easy to pick up. When it doesn’t, the game struggles to read a player’s intent, especially in crowded rooms where multiple people move at once.
The best moments come in games like tennis and basketball, where the motion tracking holds up and the action stays fast. The worst moments come in soccer and bowls, where small errors in reading a motion can send a player’s shot wide or off target. The difference between the two is noticeable, and it points to a system that still needs tuning even after a sequel.
Presentation Over Substance
Kinect Sports: Season Two looks sharper than its predecessor, with better graphics and smoother motion capture. The menus are clearer, and the game explains its controls more thoroughly than the first game did. That’s progress, but it doesn’t fix the underlying issue: some of these games simply don’t offer enough depth to justify repeated play.
Tennis and basketball stand out as the strongest entries, offering modes that reward skill and quick thinking. Soccer and volleyball feel more like casual distractions, with shallow goals and little reason to keep playing once the novelty wears off. Bowls and snowboarding sit somewhere in between, decent but forgettable.
The multiplayer support is strong across most sports, though some modes only work with one player. That limits the appeal for parties, since not every game can be played together. Still, the package is built for gatherings, and the modes that work best are the ones that shine brightest when friends are involved.
A Solid Package With Weak Spots
Kinect Sports: Season Two isn’t a reinvention, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s a competent sequel that delivers on the promise of motion-controlled sports while showing where the technology still falls short. The best games here are genuinely fun, and the worst are merely tolerable. Few of them will be remembered outside of a single afternoon.
The score reflects that split. Kinect Sports: Season Two is a solid package with weak spots, and it’s best enjoyed as a shared experience rather than a solo pursuit. It doesn’t reach the heights of its predecessor, but it also doesn’t fall short of it.
Key Facts
– Platform: Xbox 360
– Sports included: soccer, tennis, basketball, volleyball, bowls, snowboarding
– Developer: Rare
– Critical score: 7.3/10
Kinect Sports: Season Two is a mixed bag, and it knows it. The motion controls remain the star, and the best games here are worth playing. The rest is filler, and it’s easy to see which is which within minutes of picking up a controller. It’s a solid addition to the library, but it’s not a must-have.
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