Review: EyePet (PS3)

EyePet is one of the weirder games I've played this year. I say game - but it's actually more of a toy. This PlayStation Eye based game is akin to those annoying electronic virtual pets that were all the rage a few years ago - though I have to admit it's a lot more fun.

Aimed squarely at the kiddie market, the EyePet system uses your camera to track your movements and introduce the cute and cuddly EyePet into your world. The way that it allows you to interact with the creature both highlights the brilliance of such technology and also the limitations of this approach.

However if you're thinking of picking EyePet up for your children over the weekend and already have the camera it actually seems like quite a bargain. If you're getting the full deal with the aim of only using the camera for this it's less of a steal.

The game begins at the EyePet labs where a rather over enthusiastic professor talks you through setting up the camera. It's all simple stuff, but with the release being during the darkest time of the year the camera will struggle at times if you don't have strong artificial lighting in your home.

You'll play much of the game without the controller, instead relying on your hands and a small card received with the game. The card features a particular pattern which the game recognises and can then use to superimpose objects into your hand.

The introduction to this concept is neat, you use the card as a hand scanner and hold it in front of the EyePet's egg to check he's okay in there. The next introduction is using your hands to tap the egg. Without any tactile feedback, such swiping around in the air does feel a little odd, odder than using a WiiMote for example but you soon get used to it.

Once the brief introductory tutorial section is over you're free to just play with the newly hatched little creature. Your kids are going to love him, he's beautifully animated - the fur especially - and offers all the delights of a kitten without you having to clean up the mess.

You can play around with your EyePet as much as you like, wiggling your fingers to make him jump to your hand, or stroking his fur until he goes to sleep. I expect a lot of kids will be happy with just this open gameplay.

However if you press Start on the PS3 controller you can bring up a list of daily challenges. These activities are what provide the longevity to the product and also highlight its weaknesses. Many of the activities, such as trying to feed your EyePet cookies or bouncing him on a trampoline require the camera to clearly see the supplied card.

But depending on issues of lighting this doesn't always work so well. When moving around and trying to play the game it's often tricky to keep the patterned side of the car towards the camera and this is something a lot of younger children aren't going to really understand.

When it works well though it can be hugely engaging, with the creature enjoying playing with you in quite a variety of ways, including drawing, playing bowling and trying to catch cookies that you throw in the air. Adult gamers may be impressed with the technology on offer but are likely to tire of the game - but for kids it seems quite a worthwhile purchase as they'll be enchanted by the furry little scamp.

Sony is on the right lines with EyePet and if successive versions can tackle technological impediments then it's clearly a series that will run and run. One expects the new PlayStation Motion Controller will really work well with this system and perhaps be the solution to issues involving the gameplay card.

As it stands EyePet is a fun, funny, cute and diverting little game for your children that will also raise a few smiles among adult gamers too.