Zumba Fitness for Xbox Kinect
Majesco, via Rogers & Cowan PR, asked me to try out their new Zumba Fitness for Xbox Kinect.
The Xbox Kinect, which is due to hit stores on November 4th, is, unequivocally, the most talked about piece of new hardware in the video game world. The motion sensor for the Xbox 360 has been hotly anticipated for some time now, especially since their rivals, the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3, already have motion sensor technology. Recently, I had the opportunity to try the Kinect out.
The game I played that utilizes it is one that really puts the Kinect to the test - Zumba Fitness, which is scheduled to hit stores this holiday season. Arm motions, leg motions, movement back and forth and from side to side, Zumba Fitness, with its 30 levels of gameplay, was going to be a workout not just for me, but for the Kinect’s capabilities.
Zumba, for the uninitiated, is Miami based fitness trainer “Beto” Perez’s creation. The workout, which uses a combination of Latin rhythms and dance steps inspired by Cumbia, Salsa, Samba and Meringue styles of dancing, has become a staple of gyms worldwide. My gym has a daily Zumba class, which, I’m fairly sure, is frequented by a lot of hot moms judging by the time they have it, but that’s really neither here nor there, the point is it’s a dance and a workout all in one and it works every part of the body.
Two big qualities of the game are that there are enough routines to satisfy every level of athlete, or non-athlete, and that there’s no negativity, it’s all positive reinforcement. The score tells you what percentage “Great,” and what percentage “Awesome,” you were at the end of each five minute routine.
After watching a Zumba Fitness pro do two routines I decided that this was something I couldn’t just watch, I had to try it for myself. Now, before I go on I should point out I’m a bit of an athlete. I’ve studied the martial arts for over 20 years and could practically have my mail forwarded to the gym. That being said I’d never done anything like this before, and despite my martial arts skills being on point I’m oftentimes surprisingly inept on the dance floor.
The rep from Majesco, which is the company makes the game, gave me what I think was a fairly easy setting. Let me put it this way, when the trainer did her routines she had a silhouette of Zumba’s creator to mimic, I had a girl with a ponytail.
Each routine involved mirroring the moves the silhouette on the screen was doing (apparently I was the only person to ask whether I needed to imitate the exact move, or mirror it). I kicked ass. To show what an in-shape person can do on a reasonably easy setting; not only did I have a very good final score, but I could hold up my end of a conversation (at least for the most part) while doing the routine. Beginners should have plenty to work with here, and on the flip side, judging by what the trainer was doing, I have a feeling later rounds can be pretty intense for the pros.
Getting back to the Kinect, I basically forgot I was using a new piece of hardware for most of the routine. I was so into mirroring the moves, and seeing how well I was doing, the fact that there was this new piece of technology that was putting it all together didn’t even come to mind. Afterwards I realized how good that is for the Kinect. If I’m using it and I don’t realize I’m using it, it means that everything is working the way it should. At only one point did I question a comment from the voice of encouragement in the video game. I was told I was moving my arms nicely when they were barely moving at all. I thought that was odd, and perhaps a result of the game being on an easy setting, but other than that it was totally smooth sailing.
My only issue with the game, and with all the motion sensor games for all the video game systems, is space. As I was doing the routine I knew I didn’t have the space in my living room, and the vast majority of my friends (who live in New York City apartments) don’t have the space in their living rooms, to play this. That being said, if you have the room, and want to work out at home, Zumba Fitness could be great for you.
Whether enough games will be created for the Kinect to warrant its $149.99 price tag is yet to be seen. I vividly remember products like the Power Pad, Power Glove and R.O.B. for the NES that looked really cool, but suffered from a lack of games for them. Something tells me Xbox won’t drop the ball with Kinect, though, and the Zumba Fitness game is a good start for folks who want to shed a few pounds at home while having a good time.