We have had our Xbox 360 for a few months now.  My kids have enjoyed learning the ropes of the console and they are loving the Kinect.  Being able to 'be' the control is definitely nice for the younger kids who might have a harder time learning what all of the buttons do.  

Sonic Free Riders is an action packed, fast moving game where you ride on a hover board.  You can collect items and points throughout the level and also collect certain items that will cause other players to crash or you to speed up.  There are lots of opportunities to fly off huge jumps, catching air and doing tricks for extra points. 

You stand in front of your Kinect as if you're strapped onto your snowboard bending at the waist to make the board turn. You can give yourself a boost of speed by kicking your like you are skateboarding.  My kids spent 4 or 5 turns getting the basic movements down.  It's a lot different than Kinect Sports where you are always facing forwards.  I think their snowboarding experience helped them out.  When you about to go off a jump hunkering down and then jumping into the air makes you do big air tricks.  Collecting weapons during the levels can help you get ahead.  You need to learn how to use each specific weaper since they each have their own control.  Collecting rings will speed you up, crashing and losing rings will slow you down.   

You can choose different types of levels or playing modes.  You can earn new boards and gear parts throughout the game making it a lasting game, not a play once and I'm done game. There is a split screen multi-player mode to allow for more than one player at a time. 

One downfall is the menus are not designed that well and require a really steady head to make a sliding motion to move to the next option.  I like what most other Kinect games have, and that is just a button that you hover over to chose your option.  This part was slightly frustrating for my kids.  Especially when my younger child got the hang of it faster than my oldest. 

It's lots of exciting fun for my kids ages 6 and 8 and my husband also likes it.  I wouldn't say it's as fun as Kinect Sports or Kinect Adventures but it was worth the $20 we paid for it. 

Recommended: Yes