Child of Eden – Ubisoft Rings In the Age of the Casual Shooter

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

Hundreds of years into the future, when the world we know as the Internet becomes Eden, an artificial intelligence is born into the system. This AI is based on the thoughts and memories of Lumi, the first child born in space. As she is reborn into the virtual space, a virus corrupts the system and it’s up to you to save her, and Eden, from destruction.

Child of Eden is the first of its kind for the motion control platforms for the Xbox 360’s Kinect and PlayStation 3’s Move. A casual shooter on rails with a very intuitive interface, brilliant colors and graphics, and an interactive music scheme wrapped up into a simple, yet challenging package. The premise is simple: destroy the infected creatures in the system and save Lumi. So how does Child of Eden stack up? Let’s find out.

For the purpose of this article, Child of Eden was reviewed using Kinect for the Xbox 360 and on PlayStation 3 using a standard controller.

First of all, it should be pointed out that Child of Eden, while optimized for use with Kinect and Move, is capable of being played with a controller as well. So for those who are still on the fence about purchasing a Kinect or Move device, this is a game that you can pick up and enjoy without having to make an additional investment. However, that being said, having the motion controls further adds to the experience of Child of Eden, bringing a high level of immersion and interaction in a game that hasn’t yet been experienced with any other motion game to date.

The controls are simple: wave your right hand across the hordes of enemies to lock on to them, and with a flick of the wrist you unleash your attacks. Or, with your left hand, fire your secondary weapon which behaves much like an automatic rifle. Different enemies are more susceptible to different weapons, so you’ll need to figure that out as you move through the game. However, what is most surprising is how accurate and responsive Kinect is to your movements! A large concern, of course, with a shooter game was the possibility of lag making the game feel clunky and unusable. Yet, the folks at Q Entertainment have shown exactly how deadly accurate Kinect can be with this game.

Controls are only part of what makes Child of Eden an exceptionally engaging game to play. The graphics and interactive music make up the bulk of what draws you in. Worlds of vast colors and highly detailed inhabitants brought together with top notch music that is augmented by how you play and the attacks you perform get your heart pounding in tune with the gameplay. Before you know it, the level is over and you’re wanting for more.

However, this is where you run into some of the problems with Child of Eden. First off, the game has different levels, but each level you complete brings you back into the main menu instead of giving you the option of continuing on in the game. This breaks up the game abruptly and detracts from its immersive nature. While there aren’t many levels to play, there are a number of difficulties that can be unlocked as well, which allows for some replay value. However at $49.99 retail, you would expect there to be a few more levels available to you than what is provided out of the box.

Child of Eden is an exceptional game that`s easy to lose yourself into, and promises to be fun for both the casual and core gamer alike. Top notch graphics and grade A music draw you in while the arcade feel to the game can provide a lot of enjoyment whether you’re alone or partying with friends. Those without motion control devices are able to enjoy the game as well which is a plus; however they’re missing out on the true potential enjoyment that Child of Eden has to offer.

This game receives a 4.5/5.