Can The Biggest Loser series make a successful transition from TV to Kinect?
Format: Xbox 360 Dev: Blitz Games Studios Pub: THQ Out: 10/11/10
Players: 1, 2-4 online
The Biggest Loser has been a hugely successful television in both the US and Europe, motivating both contestants and viewers at home to get out and make a change to themselves and their lifestyles. With the increasing amount of fitness games available on the market, developer Blitz Games have jumped on the bandwagon and used the well-known brand to break into the ever-growing market.
As my previous Kinect reviews have shown, these new types of fitness games aren’t actually that bad, despite my admittedly sceptical stance. Others, such as EA Active 2, have been pleasant surprises, offering both a solid focus on fitness and workouts while also offering a certain level of fun along the way.
Ultimate Workout seems to play in the same way as these other titles, giving a good blend of fun for gamers and tough workouts for fitness buffs. The game boasts more than 125 different exercises that are made to work pretty much every part of your body. The game offers varying types of fitness regimes including popular disciplines such as yoga and cardio boxing and features the expertise of personal trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, who have been regulars on the US version of the show.
While playing the game, you are asked to participate in mini-games that mirror the types of games in the show. Some of the events appear to be taken straight from another television show, Total Wipeout, and these are quite fun to play. In play, you are encouraged by former contestants from the television show, who try to motivate you through the disciplines – which, I must say, seemed more patronising than encouraging but is a nice touch.
In terms of motion control, the game works OK, but as with most Kinect titles doesn’t always pick up your movements, which is disappointing. One feature that is a nice addition to this title that the others do not have is the use it makes of Kinect’s web camera. As you play, the camera records you and then plays back your movements in the corner of the screen, meaning you can see your own movements on-screen, allowing you to match up your movements to the instructor, helping you to perfect the moves.
However, it does appear that, as a fitness tool, the game is let down somewhat by a clear emphasis on quantity rather than quality of a workout. Yes, there are a lot of modes to play, yet none really offer a truly difficult and challenging workout, something serious fitness purchasers will be looking for. It is fun to play in a lot of ways, but this needs to be coupled with workouts that truly work the body, and titles such as this are supposed to offer that.
Overall, The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout is the weakest fitness title I have reviewed. The fun element is there, yet it is still not as fun as EA Active 2 and the fitness side of the game is out shone by the capabilities of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. As a title in its own right, it isn’t bad, but in a clearly competitive market, it falls a little short.
Ian Davies
Tags: biggest loser, fitness, kinect, Sports, thq
