Games We Actually Want To Get Motion Controls

We’re kind of mean to the very concept of motion controls around the Game Informer offices. Don’t get me wrong -- we give every game a fair a shot when it comes time to review, but years of disappointing games that implement motion controls half-heartedly have left us a little bitter toward the very concept. With all that resentment built up, it can be hard to get excited about Sony’s upcoming Move motion controller and Microsoft’s new Natal technology.

As with all gaming products from the SNES right down to the Virtual Boy, Move and Natal deserve a shot at impressing. To help them out, we put together a list of games and franchises that we think could actually potentially be improved by motion controller functionality. Read our choices below and let us know what games you’d like to see getting Move or Natal support in the comments.

Condemned

"Hardcore" gamers are constantly searching for proof that motion controls can properly be used in "hardcore" games. Well, folks, it doesn’t get much more hardcore than Condemned. Though Condemned creator Monolith is rumored to be working on the third F.E.A.R. game, we’ve got to imagine they have another story in mind for messed up ex-cop Ethan Thomas.

The first two Condemned games were all about making the player feel fully immersed in Thomas’s brutal hand-to-hand combat. What better way to pull us in even deeper than letting us use the motion controls to actually swing weapons down onto the skulls of bad guys. The only concern would be keeping movement swift and easy and making sure the game isn’t so unrelentingly bleak that even desensitized gamers can’t handle it.

Dragon Age: Origins

When I threw Dragon Age onto this list, I got a couple of weird looks around the office, but I stand by it. The console ports of this epic RPG left a little bit to be desired thanks to stripping the game of the PC version’s pulled-out camera mode. Though it’s still an awesome game from the fixed over-the-shoulder perspective, this cut down on some of the tactical possibilities.

Now imagine that you can pause the game, switch to the over-the-top perspective, and use Natal or Move to examine the area you’re in and plan your attacks and spells more strategically? As long as it was used to enhance the game rather than forced onto players in an awkward way, motion controls could effectively eliminate the gameplay differences between the PC and console versions of Dragon Age.

Fight Night
When Sony showed off the tentatively-titled Motion Fighter, a Move-enabled brawling game, at GDC, my initial reaction was, “Oh, hey, it’s a new Fight Night game.” It turned out that this interesting demo was not a new entry in EA’s venerable boxing franchise, but there’s no reason one shouldn’t be in the works.

From its first iteration back in 2004, the Fight Night franchise has been known for the “Total Punch Control” system, a method of fighting that uses the analog sticks to emulate control over your fighter’s limbs. Though the series has continued to release successful upgrades, there hasn’t been a big change to the control style. Full one-to-one control of your on-screen avatar’s fists using two Move controllers, for example, could make for one of the most realistic and intense boxing games ever.

Jedi Knight
Originally I had toyed with the idea of putting Force Unleashed on this list -- think about pulling a Darth Vader with your hand to crush an opponent’s throat -- but one of my fellow editors kindly suggested I replace it with a relaunch of the Jedi Knight series, causing an “Oh, duh” moment of epic proportions.

We’ve wanted to see this great Star Wars spin-off return to glory for years, and well-designed motion controls providing full use of a lightsaber could finally make it possible. Not only that, but other Force powers such as the aforementioned choking and Force pushing could also be accomplished through motion controls, putting you into the shoes of a bad-ass Jedi better than ever before.

LEGO games

I’m not exactly being controversial when I say that for as cool as Lego Star Wars was originally, the LEGO games from Traveller’s Tales have become a little stale. The British developer has had trouble expanding to new franchises and figuring out ways to bring the creativity of building blocks into the video game world.

Despite kind of sucking, Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues did finally introduce a level editor to the LEGO series. Motion controls could expand on this functionality while also introducing the ability to snap pieces together and build new creations on your own. I’m not sure how these elements could fit into the light-hearted platforming that the series is known for, but it could be the shot of fresh blood that they’ve been searching for.

LittleBigPlanet

Along the same lines as the LEGO games, I don’t know that motion controls could add much to the core LittleBigPlanet platforming, but it could make the designing levels in the game even easier. Using motion controls to quickly and accurately place items should allow for fast level creation. Coming from a community that has already proven their insane talent over and over again, I can only imagine what would happen if Sony unleashed fan creativity on Move-enabled level creation.

Phoenix Wright

I’ve personally been curious about the possibilities of a fleshed-out console version of the Phoenix Wright games for a long time, but Natal offers one very specific reason why Capcom should consider graduating the series off of handhelds: the ability to actual slam your fist on a table and scream, “OBJECTION!” to affect the game while playing. Yes, motion controls already often make us look stupid, but I’d be willing to risk my roommate’s disapproving glares for a title that makes me feel even more like an anime lawyer.

Your turn! Leave a comment letting us know what game you think would work with motion controls and why.