The developers have long learned to combine simple fitness elements with gameplay, which helps to make banal morning exercises more fun. Last year Nintendo released an excellent Ring Fit Adventurewhich came with a special headband and received many accolades. Well, for those who do not want to fiddle with additional accessories, but at the same time do not mind stretching from time to time, standing in front of the screen, the Japanese studio Imagineer suggests paying attention to the series Fitness Boxing… Recently, a second part appeared on store shelves for Nintendo Switch… We tested it and now we will tell you about our impressions.
As the name suggests, Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise takes boxing exercises as a basis. The player is asked to “arm” the joycones, after putting on the straps, and beat the air to the rhythm of the music. At this moment, there are two vertical tracks on the screen, vaguely resembling interface elements from Guitar Hero or Rocksmith… Icons move along them, indicating which blow you need to make, for example, a jab, hook or uppercut. In this case, one should take into account the rack, which also needs to be changed from time to time from right-sided to left-sided and vice versa.
By analogy with similar projects of the times Wii kicks in Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise are recorded due to the movement of joycons in space, which means that the game cannot 100% track the accuracy and correctness of your actions. Even if you just start shaking your joycons against each other at the right moment, the attacks will count. However, there is no point in engaging in such cheating, because this is primarily a fitness assistant that must be used honestly, otherwise there is no point in buying. Well, if it seems to you that the movements are not recognized correctly, then in the settings there is a calibration option that allows you to adjust your actions to the response time of your screen. At the end of the workout, points and the approximate number of calories burned are calculated, and a certain fitness age is set. Something similar could be seen in Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – there the age was determined based on the results of completing logical tasks. But in general, this figure is conditional and changes after each workout.
In order to make the classes with Fitness Boxing productive and fun, the developers have provided a virtual trainer who explains and shows everything. If you carefully observe and listen, then he will teach you how to properly get into a boxing stance. In addition, the instructor explains how to breathe during the strikes and generally gives helpful advice during the session. It is worth noting that the game has not been translated into Russian, so if you do not understand English, it will be difficult to catch some points, although in general terms, you can figure out what is required of you from the coach’s movements in general terms.
It is important to understand that if you perform all the required movements correctly and honestly, your body will strain and get tired. Therefore, in order to avoid injury, it is recommended to warm up and warm up before starting classes. The developers have provided for this moment – if you start training after a long idle time, then first you will be asked to perform a series of introductory exercises that will prepare the body for basic activities. In general, the warm-up here differs little from the standard school warm-up in physical education.
In order to somehow diversify the same type of training scenery, the developers have provided for the possibility of changing the instructor. Among the characters presented there are both girls and guys, each with a different physique. There are both muscular and powerful trainers, as well as simply slim ones. In addition, the instructors differ in general style and voice acting. For example, Janice – the default coach, looks like a cheerleader – speaks with an American accent, and dark-skinned Laura resembles a Latina volleyball player, but sounds like a true British. The characters do not shine with a high level of detail, but at the same time they are done quite neatly and pleasantly.
