EA Sports Active Personal Trainer
EA Sports Active provides intensive, individualized workouts
Jun 15, 2009
The release of the Nintendo Wii brought a new approach to video games into focus. Using motion tracking to encourage movement, video games became more than planting yourself in front of the monitor. The arrival of the Wii Fit added yet another dimension to this approach, using the Wii Balance Board in to track full-body movement.
EA Sports Active Personal Trainer adds additional accessories to allow even more motion tracking, and integrates this into a surprisingly intense, high-quality workout experience. For those who have exhausted the levels on the original Wii Fit, EA Sports Active can take players to the next level.
Combinations of Exercises for Total Body Improvement
EA Sports Active offers a wide variety of exercises, including strength training and cardio exercises, to ensure a full-body workout. A leg strap attaches to the upper thigh, with a pouch to hold the Nunchunk controller. This allows the game to track lower body movement. An elastic resistance strap adds a surprising intensity to strength training exercises. Integration with the Wii Balance Board for aerobic activities like cardio boxing, inline skating, and cardio dancing completes the package.
Through the options menus, players can take advantage of pre-made workouts, the 30-Day Challenge, or can assemble custom workouts by combining a number of smaller workout segments. Players can also choose whether or not to use the Balance Board, and pick preferred background music.
The pre-made workouts offer a choice of Easy, Moderate, or Intense, as well as different kinds of workouts (upper body vs. lower body, for example). 30-minute and 60-minute options are also available. A first-time player can jump right into these workouts right out of the box, unlike other fitness games that require time to unlock various activities. With EA Sports Active, an intensive 30-minute workout is available immediately.
As the player progresses through the exercises, on-screen video demos demonstrate exactly how to perform the exercises. The video demos are much easier to follow than demos performed by computer generated coaches, as is common in other workout games, including the Wii Fit. A menu option allows the player to pause any exercise in order to consult the demo without significantly interrupting the current workout.
30-Day Challenge
The 30-Day Challenge provides a month's worth of pre-made workouts, each about 20 minutes--a perfect length to squeeze in first thing in the morning before rushing off to work. Each workout offers a slightly different combination of exercises, preventing boredom and burnout. There's also a choice between two different personal trainers, as well as several music styles.
As players progress through the sequence, they can achieve awards for numbers of calories burned, number of laps run on the track, and other combinations. These awards also apply during other workouts, and there's a wide selection to reward various types of activity, including exercise performed away from the Wii. Best of all, the system doesn't berate the player for missing a day, but simply asks if the challenge sequence should continue. In order to receive the award for the challenge, it must be completed in 30 days, but if life interferes, the sequence will continue without enforcing the 30-day requirement.
Overall, EA Sports Active is a high-quality game that provides easily accessible workouts. It's ideal for those who need short but intensive exercise, and is a great way to advance from the Wii Fit.
