I have to thank Ubisoft for releasing Child of Eden as I was beginning to wonder whether purchasing a Microsoft Kinect last year was a good idea or not.

It’s been almost 6 months since I have bought Microsoft’s motion tracking gadget and aside from playing Kinect Adventures and occasionally inviting family and friends over so they can see me wave at my X-Box, I was beginning to wonder if I should keep it or not.

So with Kinect sitting above my TV collecting dust for the last few months, Ubisoft and Q-Entertainment have come to rescue and released what many have dubbed the prequel to Rez.

Developed by legendary games designer, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Child of Eden is a rhythm action game set in a virtual world in the far future. The objective of the game is to Project Lumi from a virus attack.

Separated into five different sections, each one has it’s own unique identity with areas of the game looking like lakes, underwater caves and a section that appears to be the insides of a computer.

The game is essential an on the rails shooter with a good bit of music rhythm thrown in. Execute your attacks on the right beat and you are rewarded with bonus points and various unlockables.

Playing the game using Kinect can take a little while to get used to, but once it clicks the experience is quite immersive and almost becomes second nature.

Visually, the game is very pleasing – with graceful animation and vibrant colours, it reminded me of an up-to-date version of that not-quite-a-classic 90s film, The Lawnmower Man.

Musically everything hit’s the right note. While the trance inspired soundtrack may not be to everyone’s taste, it fits the proceedings like a glove.

The game can be finished in under an hour but thankfully the developers have included a few mechanics that will keep the player coming back for more, including new difficulty settings and a hidden challenge mode.

Overall, Child of Eden is a worth checking out, especially if you are a Kinect owner looking for something that might be a little different. Visually and audibly arresting, Child of Eden is unlike any other game you’ll play this year.

Verdict: 8 out of 10

The Good
Very pretty
Nice music
Unique

The Bad
Kinect controls can take a while to get used too
Not to everyone’s taste