When the original EA Sports Active came out for Wii a year ago, users everywhere had an alternative to hiring a personal trainer, as they could perform workouts in the privacy of their own home, running through various exercises while getting advice from virtual trainers. It is a fairly exceptional program, and one that provides a surprising amount of depth, but Xbox 360 and PS3 owners were left out in the process. Not this time out. The sequel, EA Sports Active 2, is available for platforms across the board, including the Xbox 360. The catch? You’ll need the Kinect to take full advantage. Like the original Active, part two runs you through a number of exercises, including running, lay-down maneuvers (including yoga-style tightening moves and stretches), and other routines that require your movement to take part. Along with the Kinect tracking your body movements, you’ll also utilize sensors that attach to your leg and arms. Along with reading specific positioning, the devices also track your heartbeat, letting you know if you’re pushing too hard – or perhaps not hard enough. (Get off the damn couch!)
There’s no shortage of stuff to do in Active, and you can either perform individual exercises or take part in a long workout program. Unlike the previous 30-day challenge, EA Sports Active 2 extends the periods to just over two months, spanning a nine-week period. We haven’t gone through them all yet (obviously, since the game only came out a week ago), but so far, it’s just as in-depth as the original Active, with a program that tracks your progress, takes nutritional and exercise polls (to help keep track of your weight) and provides tips from virtual trainers. So far, we’ve really seen it do well for us, though we’ve got a long way to go. (We blame the holidays for getting us all chunky.) In terms of gameplay, EA Sports Active 2 performs admirably. Things do get awkward when it comes to doing stuff on the ground, for two reasons. The first involves the Kinect properly reading you while you’re on the ground, depending on device positioning. It’s not all a loss, as most of the activities don’t last that long. The second, however, involves looking at the screen.
If you’re leaning to the side or face-down doing something, you have to rely on the audio cues from your trainer to know when you’re done. It’s mildly inconvenient, as it usually helps to see what you’re doing. Other than that, the Kinect and sensors work accurately enough. EA Sports Active 2 also features online connectivity through a special EA Sports Active website, so you can track your progress there and share it with others. We’re not sure if there’s a huge exercising community that would want to take advantage of this, but, hey, it beats going to the gym and having strange conversations with workout weirdos. You know, the muscle heads with pecs bigger than your head. The game’s presentation isn’t exactly overwhelming, but for a workout game, it’s sufficient. The virtual trainers are easy to follow, though you can’t quite mimic them exactly depending on their shape. The settings are a little more varied this time around (one includes a tropical island of sorts), but they’re hardly what you’d call a workout paradise. Still, it’s better than sitting in a room littered with sweat-covered equipment.
The music is a decent mix of techno and upbeat tunes, but nothing you’d want to listen to during every workout. Do yourself a favor and install a few tunes into your media player. You won’t regret it. The workout trainers provide motivational advice through each routine, letting you know what you’ve got nailed down and what you need to work on. We know there’s already a number of workout games making the rounds for Xbox 360, including The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. But EA Sports Active is a sure bet if you can afford the $100 price tag, thanks to the included sensors and the ability to break a sweat in the right way. Plus, you get a resistance band, though you might be better off dropping a few bucks on a higher-quality one. This one will help you in all the right ways, and considering the Thanksgiving feast last week, that’s not entirely a bad thing.
