The colors say Twister, but the movements seem more like Hole in the Wall.

We’re perplexed. Twister Mania is ostensibly based on the classic floor-mat game with the colored dots, yet these Kinect challenges include smashing your body through walls and moving your limbs to match shapes on the screen. Much like a film that pulls inspiration from a real story and then wildly deviates, Twister Mania resembles its namesake only in the sense that you use your body to play.

What’s here actually functions decently enough, but at times, it seems like you can stand motionless and still progress through some of these simple activities. Crunching up your body to clear puzzle pieces from a stack, moving side to side to avoid objects, and fitting through gaps — much like in the recent Live Arcade game Hole in the Wall — are all very low-impact activities, but the UI works well, the post-play photos are hilarious, and two-player co-op missions have their moments.

Twister Mania would be a suitable XBLA download at a discount price, but at $50? For this piece of retail fluff? We’ll stick with the plastic mat, thanks.

PUBLISHER: Majesco  •  DEVELOPER: Naked Sky  •  ESRB: Everyone  •  MULTIPLAYER: 2 on same screen  •  ACHIEVEMENTS: Curious  •  COST: $50

On Xbox 360 (for Kinect Only)

+ Amusing highlight photos and co-op shenanigans.

– Dead-simple gameplay requires very little effort.

– Amazingly, it’s the same price as top-tier Kinect hits.

? So, where’s the actual Twister?

4.0