POSTED 30/9/12


KINECT SESAME STREET TV

Microsoft
Xbox 360/Kinect

“Crappy day, sweepin’ the clouds our way. On my way to where air smells like feet. Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street? NO! Go away!”

Umm, thanks Oscar. Next!

“Elmo sees a sunny day, sweepin' the clouds away. Elmo is on my way to where the air is sweet. Can you tell Elmo how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?”

Uh, what’s with all this third person stuff, mister? Erm, monster?

Urk. This isn’t gonna work. But luckily this new Kinect experience does. Kinect Sesame Street TV takes eight 40-minute-or-so episodes of the venerable kids show and makes them even more interactive than usual.

Presented by fuzzy new Muppet Cooper, and sidekicks Mirror and Camera, players are drawn further into Sesame Street’s universe. Sometimes literally! From catching and chucking balls with fave characters (Cookie!), to spotting hidden objects then pointing and squealing “Picture!”, to digging funky learning songs to clapping letters with Guy Smiley, there’s heaps to get busy with. Players can even be absorbed into Elmo’s World, appearing onscreen and interacting with surrounding stuff.

Despite being alleged adults, we couldn’t help smiling, lots (Cookie!). We love how Sesame Street isn’t condescending, unlike some kids shows (suck on that, Miss Helena!), and there are even gags for parents – that’s jokes, not chokes. The Kinect connection (Kinection?) allows leeway too, so kids shouldn’t get too frustrated by stuff that bugs older gamers.

Some sections could benefit from more interaction as children may get bored, and others can be super-challenging – to our shame we failed to spot all 20 hidden objects eight times. Otherwise, save for limited Cookie Monster (he our hero!), the keenly-priced Kinect Sesame Street TV is an om-nom-nommy interactive experience that’ll fascinate little kids – and many big ones.

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