Michael Phelps: Push the Limit – Coming to the Kinect

Despite what many said, the Wii managed to prove that motion controls are both popular and viable, to the point that Microsoft and Sony stepped forward with their own motion control systems.  And while some motion control titles have been entertaining and interesting, games like Michael Phelps: Push the Limit for the Kinect are just completely ludicrous.

There have been some interesting concepts for motion control games in the past, such as Red Steel, No More Heroes, and Twisted Pixel’s upcoming connect debut, The Gunstringer, and I don’t deny they can be fun.  But a Michael Phelps swimming sim?  Are you kidding me?

I hope you will excuse my brash arrogance as I ridicule the very notion of a Kinect swimming game, but after seeing these screenshots, there really is nothing else that can be said.  It is one thing to experiment with a new type of control system for a game, and that’s something I can respect.  But this?  Seriously?

Playing a simulated game of tennis or golf is one thing and, while it’s not personally what I enjoy, there are people that do like that.  And that’s fine.  But can somebody please tell me what the appeal is of pretending to swim and looking absolutely absurd while doing so?

At the end of the day, there are probably gonna be people interested in trying this game out; if you’re one of those people, more power to you I guess.  But I just don’t get it at all. It’s games like these th

at only reinforce the notion that motion controls are a ridiculous gimmick that need to fade into obscurity.