I have learned three things. First of all, I have the coordination of a mentally stunted lizard. Secondly, my hips don't really move all that well. And third, I am not as fit as I thought I was. All of this was taught to me by the latest fitness game for the Kinect system, based on a craze that is sweeping the fitness world: Zumba Fitness.
Zumba, as a fitness concept, is an interesting one. It takes rhythms and moves from various forms of dance, like hip-hop, belly dancing and several Latin dance styles like samba and salsa (with a greater degree of emphasis on these latter ones) and combines them into a work-out that is more like a dance session. The idea behind it is simple - have fun while working out. Anyone who has spent hours on a treadmill or exercise bike will understand the appeal in that notion.
So, like the fitness craze, the "game" does the same thing. I use the inverted commas because, like any other console based fitness programme, this isn't really a game. For some, it is a great workout and a fun way to spend up to 45 minutes prancing around in front of the TV. For others, like me, it is a form of physical torture that makes bamboo shoots in the nail beds seem like a trip to Disneyland. That's probably got to do with the aforementioned fitness level, though.
I think it's important to note, at this point, that Zumba Fitness has received a number of negative reviews online. Having read some of them, I realise that the reviewers a) missed the point and b) were more than likely not in this game's target demographic. The whole Zumba things has a distinctly feminine feel to it - because guys don't know how to wiggle their hips, which (it seems) is a core mechanic of a Zumba work-out. This is not a game, and it is very securely aimed at a female market, although men brave enough to take on the routines will doubtlessly draw benefit from it.
And you're going to draw benefit, trust me. If the buckets of sweat pouring off of me within the first ten minutes were anything to go by (added to the fact that I couldn't move too well the next day, thanks to the intensity of the 45 minute workout I foolishly put myself through on the first go) this system works your whole body, and at a very high intensity level.
I will admit, though, that I didn't do very well. The user needs to mirror the actions of the "instructor" on the screen. If you're doing well, the instructor is coloured green. If not, they go yellow or, at worst, red. My on screen instructor spent so much time in the bad zone that I started thinking they might be a member of the Communist Party.
This is chiefly because of two factors. Firstly, zumba-ing is not easy. It's an all-body work out all the way. None of that 'let's work your quads' stuff. Zumba is all or nothing. And secondly (one of the failings of the software) the instructions are a little unforgiving. The system has a full 'tutorial', but the explanations of the various moves could have been just a little clearer. Rather, they deep-end the user to a degree. A little time and perseverance will work wonders, though, and if you're dedicated to practicing, you'll be prancing around like the Zumba version of Baryshnikov in no time.
The move detection via the Kinect system tends to be rather good in Zumba, so if you're doing things right, you'll be in the green for the most part. What does sometimes seem a little off are the comments that your instructor will pass - you might be told something along the lines of "great leg work" when you're not moving at all. It is a bit disconcerting, but perhaps the developers felt that they needed positive reinforcement to keep people going.
And go you will. A long Zumba work-out is a strenuous affair. The thing is that it is fun. You might be (literally) working your butt off, but the fun that the game delivers means you're not going to realise it until afterwards.
While it is little more than a guided dance routine, it doesn't need to be anything else. The fun to be had with Zumba Fitness is in the dance steps, not in achieving high scores. If you approach this one with the right attitude, it will prove to be very rewarding.
Verdict:
Zumba Fitness will provide you with an excellent workout, if you approach it in the right way.
Developer: Pipeworks
Publisher: 505 Games
Distributor: Apex Interactives
Platform:
Xbox 360
PS3
Wii
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristie_Haller
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