PlayStation Move for PlayStation 3 reviewed by James Hamer-Morton

So the era of motion gaming cannot be avoided now. The Wii has always been based around it, the PS3 have snuck their motion controllers into living rooms almost secretly smuggled inside the Sixaxises and the Xbox 360 is about to revel in it's controller (and button) free body tracking motion control system, but today (in the UK at least) marks the release of Sony's newest potential gimmick tech add on for the PS3.

Arguably, the Eye Toy ended up as a limited, but effective gimmick for the PS2, and while extra controllers such as microphones, and plastic guitars have proved to be a little more resiliant, the PS3's higher resolution camera, the PlayStation Eye, has another notch on its belt with the release of the PlayStation Move.

We've had the tech for a few days now, and are definitely impressed. Let's clear this up quickly; the Move uses the gyroscopic motion detection that we are used to from the Wii, this is then enhanced by the use of the PlayStation Eye, to judge absolute position from the glowing orb stuck on the end of the controller. And it really works.

Inevitable comparisons to the Wii lie certainly in the PS3's favour. The accuracy and intricacy of motion available is stunning, even for those that may have been using a Wii for years already, it properly reinvigorated my love for motion gaming and seems to show a lot more potential for doing things differently, which is kind of the point of a new control system. Sure, you've got the options for the inevitable sports titles that have emerged; Raquet Sports and Sports Champions, with the latter being the truly impressive example of how to create believable motion controls. The table tennis simulation seems like an entirely perfectly accurate depiction of the sport. The slightest twist you put on your paddle affects spin, but there are further titles that show this off even better.

Tumble, available from the PlayStation Network for £7.99 is a fine demonstration of how precise you can be with the controller in all axes. Essentially a block stacking (and destroying on some levels) game, the slightest misplace can spell doom for a high tower, and not once did I feel let down by anything less than my own abilities rather than the Move. Well worth picking up with the controller, it remains the kind of game that couldn't exist without motion controls. But even Tumble wasn't the most impressive thing for me. That came in a rather unlikely package.

Released at the end of 2009, EyePet has been updated to use the Move controller, with a free (2gb) patch and a new version of the software available to buy for newcomers, and its use of augmented reality completely justifies the use of the Move to a level that has to be seen to be believed. Sure, Start The Party is another title that uses the system in a similar and equally impressive way, but to update this existing title and actually make me replay the demo available has to be a good recommendation. Essentially, the greatness of the game lies in the ability of the game to show a live video of the player, with an item in place of the Move.

For example, perhaps you'll need to wash your pet, and the game will give you a shower hose and place it perfectly oriented into the video you can see of yourself. Every angle and orientation is displayed perfectly to the minutest detail, and pulling the trigger (T-button on the Move controller) sprays the hose. Sure, it's a simple sounding effect, but with such beautiful execution that the potential of the system cannot be ignored.

If you've already got the camera, then an investment of just £30 for the motion controller is a no brainer. I remember paying this much for a light gun on the previous generations, and the Move works beautifully for the same effects; I'm sure I'll be picking up the new Time Crisis. Need the camera? An extra £15 will secure you that in the starter pack. The controller(s) (for games that use the £20 Navigation Controller, you can substitute a standard PS3 Sixaxis, if you're looking to minimise cost) charge using your standard USB cable, so for a small initial investment, you can be up and running using your existing PS3 system, with some of the most accurate motion controls I have ever experienced.

Sure, you might be using it for slight enhancements of what are basically glorified tech demos at the moment, but for the sheer potential of future gaming, I have no qualms with making the plunge, recommending it to all PS3 owners, and giving a larger installed base of users for game developers to consider when they are looking at what to create next.