Gamescom 2011 Hands On: Star Wars Kinect (Xbox 360)

What it is: Microsoft is definitely keen on making its Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360 a very attractive device, and what better way than to release an experience for it based on one of the most successful franchises of all time, in the form of Kinect Star Wars.

We already saw the game showcased earlier this year at E3 2011, and already interest in the game is reaching critical mass, even if many have their doubts on the lag and the latency that might appear when trying to play it.

How it is: Kinect Star Wars definitely takes some getting used to, meaning most players will die brutally before getting growing accustomed to the controls and the various scripted sequences which are a part of this pretty much on-rails title.

You wield your lightsaber with the right hand, while the left one is reserved for Force powers, like push or throw. You move around by leaning forward, which is certainly the most problematic part of the whole demo, as I’ve often found my character just standing still, even if I was leaning forward to get to enemies.

While regular Imperial droids are quite easy to defeat, at first, the game begins throwing at you tougher ones, many which required jumping over them and attacking their vulnerable spots. This means that you’ll do quite a lot of jumping up and down in front of your Kinect, so be careful.

Overall, Kinect Star Wars was a pretty pleasant experience, and, while there was a bit of lag and the game sometimes had a mind of itself, it’s still quite decent.

When and on what: Star Wars Kinect is out later this year exclusively on the Xbox 360 and a Kinect sensor is mandatory.

We have a special page with all our Gamescom 2011 coverage.