It’s here: PlayStation Move. From concept to reality, Sony’s take on motion control has finally hit home, and it’s available to buy today. In order to assist your purchasing, we’ve put together a quick guide on everything that you need to know about the brand new hardware and which games we think you should be picking up with the system when you head down to your friendly retailer during your lunch break. Go on, you know you want to.
Your first stop should be our fantastic (and extensive) guide to the PlayStation Move, in which Josh spills all in an easy to digest question and answer format. The guide should cover everything you would ever want to ask, including cost, accessories and details on which games will be getting patches along the way to support the new tech. Seriously, give that a read, and then come back here for the rest of the goodies.
We got our hands on with the press version of Move back at the beginning of August, so if you’d like to read our initial thoughts on the system and our first impressions with the main games, click here for our hands-on article, which covers the hardware itself, how it feels and how easy it is to use, and touches on the games too. We also talked about how Move would be suitable for non-gamers as much as the hardcore, with particular reference to Start The Party.
Finally, before we get onto the games, you probably want to know what the Move can do apart from the games, and you’ll be surprised to learn it can also control the PlayStation 3’s menus, videos, photos and music – have a look here at the full article. But enough of that, you’re buying Move because of the cool games, right, so here are our reviews of the five key games at the launch of the new system – we’ll be updating this list with the rest once we’ve reviewed them.
Sports Champions, is the perfect game to pick up alongside your Move when you grab one in a couple of weeks. It’s priced well (at around £25), offers lots of gameplay and a couple of real gems. Whilst I’m not a huge fan of the archery, I know some people are and it’s reasonable to assume that everyone will have their favourites. After all, I couldn’t stand Wii Sports Boxing but I know someone that played it ad infinitum. 8/10
EyePet Move Edition is an interesting title and one that works really well with the Move. It’s like it’s a natural fit and although there’s still some annoying design choices, for the most part the game now flows much better than it ever did before. If you’re fond of Eyepet and can look past the niggles, interacting with your chosen furball has gotten a whole lot easier and more intuitive – and whilst it’s not going to hold your attention for too long, it’s well worth the upgrade for fans. 6/10
Start The Party is Sony’s evolution of pretty much everything that came before on the Eyetoy, wrapped up into a gloriously colourful bubble of fun that can’t fail to raise a smile. It’s not going to change the world and the fact that it’s one player at once is a real shame, but it’s highly likely to get the grandparents giggling like kids, and, to be honest, when you’re buying a game like Start The Party, that’s all you can ask for. Just don’t expect it to last very long. 6/10
Flight Control on the PlayStation 3 is absolutely the best version of the game currently available. It’s also a great way to introduce anyone that’s already played the game on their phone to the new controller, as they won’t have to learn another game, just the input method. Flight Control might not be the most technically impressive game on the PS3 (or even in the Move library) but it’s one of the best, and comes highly recommended to anyone that’s already fallen in love with the timeless gameplay, subtle graphics and – yes – that music. 9/10
Tumble’s prescence at the Move launch shouldn’t be underestimated – it’s a very clever game with some really impressive ideas and a main mechanic that sets the game apart from the rest of the line-up. For the most part, it’s a great example of what’s possible with Move and the slick interface, full 3D visuals (if your TV supports it) and intelligent, thought provoking puzzles mean that anyone looking for a more pensive game to test their Move skills these coming weeks should make sure it’s in your queue. 7/10
Dan Lee
Sports Champions and Tumble for me I think, plus the Resi 5 patch.
skibadee
you need the gold version I think Dan.
Dan Lee
Yeah cheers that’s the version I got – been saving it especially for Move
Peter Rushton
I’m hoping the demo disc can hold me busy for a couple of weeks or so before I buy sports champion, tumble, flight control and echochrome 2 and then november’s game, gt5
samiro05
No Fallout: New Vegas, FIFA 11, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood or Call of Duty: Black Ops?
colossalblue
I think I want Sports Champions. Definitely Flight Control too. I’ve got Resi 5 Gold, Tiger 11 and Heavy Rain waiting for their patches.
I should really get to downloading those demos too, so I know what’s next on the list =D
Charmed_Fanatic
Thanks! Was looking for a guide in one place!
ghost5
Would like to add incase someone goes running down to game with their hard earned money in hand, that move is available today in Europe but anyone in the uk has to wait till Friday.
mrfodder
And Ireland. That Friday thing for us is very annoying. Late night Thursday shopping is the ideal time to pick stuff up.
Stitch
It’s £49.99 on the high-street anyway, you’d be far better off ordering it online! (They do have it in stock though already but i doubt anywhere will sell it to you until friday)
cc_star
What’s 49.99, the whole bundle?
Amazon have ran out of stock and the marketplace sellers were selling the Move Stick alone (non-bundle) for £49.99 earlier, I couldn’t order from ShopTo earlier so high street may be the only way to go, where the Move stick will prob be £39.99 unless you trade-in
Stitch
The starter pack is £49.99 in both GAME and HMV. (My local game store no longer does price matching and student discounts are not available on accessories, also note that HMV won’t accept returns if there is any faults after 1 month)
ShopTo is being really awkward – won’t let me login or signup and won’t let me change the country which is stuck on ‘algeria’!! It would be £42.85 though if you can get it working.
There seems to be plenty of stock on Amazon UK though! £44 http://amzn.to/aWHJPe
lokiy2j
lol thank god I thought I had gone mad!
I can’t wait till friday! all 5 of the above will be purchased it’s like im getting a whole new system!!!
Phil_E
I will get sports champions very soon, I’ll manage with the eyepet and heavy rain patches, the list of demos and tumble and/or flight control for now though.
seedaripper1973
Hmm decisions, decisions? should i get 2 move controllers (for games in sport champions i.e the archery and combat game) or plump for a move and a navi (has anything been released yet that really NEEDS the navi) any help would be greatly appreciated :)
ghost5
I’ve got one move controller coming tomorrow and I might buy another on Friday. I am only going to buy the sub when I come across a game that I am going to play for a long time ie killzone, otherwise I’ll make do with my pad
poorwretch
ruse uses the navi
strangely the ruse demo doesn’t support the ds3 move combo (ot maybe I did something wrong)
don’t know about the full game
Stitch
Nothing ‘needs’ the navi – you can always just use your sixaxis/dualshock. Why not wait until you find a game that you want to play lots and decide then whether it’s awkward for you to use a controller with one hand.
stonyk
preordered my move at amazon who say they estimate delivery on Friday. Is this definately out today as I’m a little dissapointed they don’t deliver for release day.
Also, I bought Eye pet the other day (for £6). Will it be move compatable with a patch or do you need to buy the new game?
mrfodder
Patch available today.
tantalus_blank
It’s available today in mainland Europe, but not for UK and Ireland
Stitch
This should have been made clearer in the article, loads of people seem a little confused!
Kevling
Nice write-up, thanks. Probably making do with the demos andthe updates to HVB and Eyepet for now.
PS: “Prescence?”
DannyFantango
You made me get my pre-order receipt out and scan it furiously until I noticed a comment saying it is indeed out on Friday in the UK.
My Resident Evil 5 Gold edition arrived last week (I enjoyed 4 on the wii very much, but I have tried the first level of 5 with the Dualshock and found it a bit soul-less.
I have the starter kit, an extra move and a nav pre-ordered and am trying to decide if I should buy sports champions or just play the demos for the time being (I bough Halo Reach yesterday).
DJ-Katy
Hmm…. Halo Reach or Sports Champions… tricky decision :D
DannyFantango
I know, I’m spoilt for choice!