Combat zone games require you to kick and hit special orbs while avoiding
their attempts to hit you or other orbs that you’re trying to protect. Toning
games force you to make slow sweeping movements by doing things like keeping a
ring hovering over a slow moving spot. Finally, mind and body routines give you
the chance to partake in more meditative exercises such as tai chi or yoga.
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| You need plenty of room for these workouts. |
While this game can’t take the place of a workout in a gym with a live
trainer, it does a pretty good job of simulating the experience in your home.
The virtual trainers constantly provide pretty good tips to help you maintain
balance, maximize flexibility, and the like. During one stretching exercise
which entailed balancing on one foot, the trainer said that tightening the
stomach muscles would lead to better balance and sure enough I did that and I
stopped teetering, looking more like a statue than a blade of grass in a gentle
breeze. Of course you’ll need to have the self-discipline to go through with
everything that you see on the screen, but if you do you’ll be surprised at the
good workout you’ll get in the process.
The game does have a big drawback in that you’ll need a lot of room to play
it. You need to see your entire body on the screen which requires a lot of
space. The game comes with a special adaptor lens that can be used to reduce the
distance that you need to stand back from the camera, but even with this
attached I found myself needing to move furniture around before I could fit most
of my body on the screen.
The game also suffers from the problems that plague all EyeToy games in that
the camera sometimes does not register your movements or actions. Since this is
supposed to be about the exercise it is not that big of a deal, but it can be
frustrating to not receive credit for hitting an orb even though you were madly
waving at it.
If you’re serious about exercise, then Kinetic is a good tool in your workout
regimen. Like all workouts, though, it is ultimately up to you to follow through
with the program and if you’re looking for a quick fitness fix you won’t find it
here. But then again, you won’t find that anywhere.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
80%. A great workout tool for those serious about fitness.
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