Start the Party! Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3 (MOVE)	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Supermassive Games	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Sony Computer Entertainment	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sept. 7, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

One game in particular seems like misstep. In it, evil robots march at the screen (always a good start) while on their chests, a TV is displaying the view of the PlayStation Eye camera. A crosshair shows up somewhere on that screen and you have to get your controller inside of it to disable the robot. The problem is that nobody ever tells you that's what you're supposed to do, and furthermore, sometimes the image will be flipped or inverted. I could see it being quite confusing for a child.

Start the Party! screenshot

Most of these games are fun enough in the hands of a kid. Will the artsy gamer get anything out of this? Not at all. But will a nine year old have fun with friends swatting bugs using the motion controls? You bet.

If nothing else, Start the Party fills a much needed gap in the launch line up of the PlayStation Move. It started off as something of a tech demo for the system during the months before its release, but now it's blossomed into something fairly competent. Other than Sports Champions, there's not much else on the system that could entertain a room full of kids. Young people are going to make up a large chunk of the people interested in Move, so it's appropriate Sony should release at least something for their interest. We just wish they had put some more work into creating unique mini-games. If Start the Party had more mini-games, this could have been a truly great party game. However, as it stands, the repetition will probably get on your nerves and kids may get bored quickly.

That said, as a way to keep a room full of children busy, you could do far worse than this game. The major bonus is most of the movements are intuitive; you can generally figure them out without needing much explanation. This removes the complication of having to explain the controls to all four players involved. Not only is it much more fun to experiment and figure out the controls on your own, nobody ever had any fun listening to a lecture about how to control a game.

In the end, you just need to think about whether or not you're the right market for this game. If you have kids, or are a kid, go crazy, you'll have some fun here. If you're an older gamer, planning to play by yourself, or don't have a consistent group of friends to play with, then you'll probably want to pass on Start the Party.

By Andrew Groen
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.6

Graphics
There's certainly nothing spectacular in this game, but the graphics are colorful and cartoony.

4.0

Control
Most movements are quite intuitive and fun to use.

3.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Good use of the PS Eye's microphone allows players to record their name for the match.

3.2

Play Value
There's not much depth here. This game is likely to be abandoned after a few breakthroughs. It'll give a group a lot of fun before it stops though.

3.3

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Start the Party includes interactive fun for the entire family.

Experience innovative video and audio technology that put players virtually into the game.

Competitive, co-operative, and customizable team modes provide variety for players of all ages.