Game Informer - Whenever a stupid peripheral or Kinect game comes in, I'm always a fan of joining up with my arch-nemesis Joe Juba and filming our experience with it. Top Hand Rodeo came in recently, and we decided to pop it in to see how we'd fare as motion control cowboys.
DHGF: Top Hand claims to be the first authentic video game rodeo experience. I can’t say for certain that it is or not, but I will give it marks for doing its best to try. There are five main gameplay modes in Top Hand: Bull Riding, Tie Down Roping, Team Roping, Barrel Racing and Mounted Shooting. Each mode is controlled by the Kinect. Bull Riding has you swaying to and fro to a bell, trying to keep from falling off by keeping your cowboy centered and spurring the bull when it wants to spin you off. Tie Down Roping has you on horseback chasing down a calf, lassoing it, stopping its progress, getting off the horse and running to the calf, tipping the calf and tying its legs, then running back to your horse while you wait in suspense for the calf to break free. Team Roping requires two cowboys to chase the calf, rope one half, rope the other half, then stop the cow. Barrel racing just has your cowboy on horseback running a specific course on the arena floor, circling barrels and avoiding penalty time. Finally, Mounted Shooting has you run a course, shooting balloons and lucky horseshoes with a pistol.
The good news is, Top Hand Rodeo Tour is without a doubt the best rodeo game for Kinect. The bad news is, that’s not really high praise, seeing as it’s the only rodeo game available for Kinect.
OXM: "Always wanted to be a cowboy? There are far better ways to live the dream."
