Mass Effect 3 Kinect Hands-On

One of the exclusive features on the Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect 3 is the ability to use the Kinect sensor to do voice commands with all of the playable characters in the game. At first, a lot of players might think that this Kinect feature for Mass Effect 3 is all a gimmick but after giving the game a test drive during last week’s CES 2012 presentation of EA and Microsoft in Las Vegas, I am now able to say that Mass Effect 3 shines with the Kinect.

In the short playable demo that I got to play, I got what I needed to experience Mass Effect 3 with Kinect while playing it with the sensor. The demo takes us briefly to a firefight scene on Earth where the Reapers and a new kind of enemy are present. As Commander Shepard, you are there to eliminate them. Nothing heavy on the story was revealed but depending on what choices have been made in the prior games, familiar characters will be there helping you out such as Mordin Solis, if he managed to survive the final mission in Mass Effect 2.

As soon as the player jumps into the game, they will be pleased to know that the controls from previous games are pretty much intact. Nothing has changed much to the game’s controls. However in Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard is now able to do some new on-screen actions that he wasn’t able to do in prior games This includes the ability to jump into the game when there’s a prompt on the screen, the ability to use the new tool called Omni Blade to take down close ranged enemies and the dodge and roll stance.

Talking about the Kinect functionality, I find it hard to believe that it works really well with the game. Now with the Kinect Sensor, players are now able to give commands to the characters in the party with just a few simple voice commands. There’s no need to bring up the Power Wheel anymore or press the D-Pad button to assign the two characters on where to go. To make everything easier for the player, a simple command like, “Go Liara” can easily make Liara go to wherever the crosshair is pointing. Players don’t really need to yell at the Kinect in order to be heard as a normal voice tone will work.

How does the added Kinect voice command feature work with Mass Effect 3 during some heavy combat? I know that it may be a nuissance at times to direct your characters all the time by bringing up the power wheel. Well, with the Kinect sensor, players will no longer have to do the long traditional way of pulling up the Power Wheel and give commands, as they can now be done through your own voice. Depending on what attacks that you want the characters in the party to do, players can simply say, “Liara Stasis” or “James Carnage” and within 1-2 seconds, these characters will do the attack depending on where the crosshairs are pointed. The voice command doesn’t only apply to the two characters in the players party but to the players’ themselves. A simple voice command of “Open”, “Activate”, or “Pick Up” will be some of the voice commands that Commander Shepard is able to do.

In the end, the use of the voice commands in Mass Effect 3 works really well with the Kinect. Getting used to it may take some time but once the players grasp the feature, they will then realize how beneficial it is with the game. In addition, what makes the voice command really stand out is that anyone in the room can give commands as well to any of the characters to help out whoever is playing – now that’s some pure tactical action!

Mass Effect 3 is scheduled for release this March 6th on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Check back with us for our review of the game soon.