During Microsoft’s recently held pre-gamescom Play Day El33tonline got to spend some quality time with a few furry friends that unexpectedly melted our hearts and left us eagerly anticipating the arrival of Kinectimals on Kinect for Xbox 360.

Kinectimals is a virtual pet game that lets you train and play with up to 20 different virtual cats, including lions, cheetahs and tigers, using arm and body gestures. Now that may sound like it’s been done before, but let me assure you that thanks to Kinect you have never interacted with animals on this level before. Even the most hardcore, and sceptical, gamer among us will assuredly be taken in by the cute factor of the game. But luckily there’s more to it than that, if you scratch a little deeper under the surface you’ll see impressive graphics and a sense of interactivity that’s bound to keep you coming back for more.

Kinectimals will ship with five different cats, thereafter you’ll be able to buy Kinectimals plush toys to increase the herd. It works rather uniquely in that you simply hold the new Kinectimals plush toy up to the Kinect camera and it will recognise the new cat who will then come to life in the game. We saw it in action on the day and it works very effectively, giving players the chance to expand the number of cats available to play with and increasing replayability in the process. You’ll also be able to use the new plush toy in your friend’s game.

You’ll start by picking one of the cats, I chose the tiger that you’ve probably seen in the screenshots of the game. Next you’ll have to start wooing your cat, giving him a scratch under the chin or behind the ears will do the trick. Simply make the scratching motions with your hands and they will be copied on-screen. You’ll see a pair of transparent-type hands that will emulate your actions on-screen, with your cat responding accordingly.

But the interaction doesn’t stop with a few tickles and scratches. Once you’ve wooed your cat sufficiently, he’s going to want to play and even learn a few tricks from you. Start off with something simple, why not try jumping in the air? It will take him a few attempts to get the trick right and he’s bound to tumble a few times, so jump two or three times until you see him copying you correctly. Then you can try adding a clap to your jump, he’s sure to enjoy that too. Move your arm to the left and he’ll copy you on-screen, same thing with the right. Now try it with your leg. Lean to the left, and then to the right, and watch as he copies you again. Try spinning, or holding your hands above your head. You can even lie down on the ground and after a while he’ll copy you by playing dead. Stay there a little while and he’ll peep through one of his eyes to see if you’re still lying down.

Now that you’ve both learned a few new tricks and your cat has learned to trust you a little, you can have a go at the agility course. It will start off with a fly-by view of the course that lies ahead so take note of the different obstacles that you’ll have to get your cat to overcome by mimicking your actions. Once the timer has ticked down, get your legs up and pumping to get your cat running on-screen.

Next up is the balance beam so steady yourself and lean accordingly to make sure he doesn’t fall off. And we’re off again with the running, your heart is sure to be racing now, along with your cat as he reaches the hurdles, jump at the correct spot to ensure he makes it over, and again, and again! A little bit more running before you’re going to have to duck so he can make it successfully through the tunnel and then onwards towards the finish line.

Of course finishing the course is quite challenging and you’re bound to want to try it again to make sure your cat records a better time and completes all the obstacles successfully too. The more your animal learns the more improved his score will be. The game will have a bunch of different agility courses available, and no doubt there will be options to purchase new ones in the future too. You’ll also be able to play with your cat using toys like balls and skipping ropes, adding another dimension to the game.

It would be a mistake to write Kinectimals off as simply a children’s title – it’s much more than that, it’s a marvel at how far the videogaming industry has come in terms of technology and ideas and is testament to just how far it can push the boundaries to create even better and more advanced videogames in the future. That and it’s a whole lot of fun too - once you try it you’re guaranteed to enjoy yourself.