EyeToy: Kinetic | |
Developer: | London Studio |
Publisher: | Sony Computer Entertainment |
Series: | EyeToy |
Genre: | Exergaming |
Modes: | Single player |
Platforms: | PlayStation 2 |
EyeToy: Kinetic is a 2005 exercising video game developed by London Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It was developed alongside Nike Motionworks, a division of Nike, Inc.
The game is a collection of exercising minigames. It includes a wide angle "Full Vision Lens" attachment that fits over the EyeToy lens. Without it, the player's image on the screen is too large to play this game properly. It is held in a foam insert in the standard memory card holder in the disc case.
A sequel named EyeToy: Kinetic Combat was released in 2006.
EyeToy: Kinetic is separated into four different sections, containing exercise games under the certain groups:
The 'Cardio Zone' contains games designed to improve cardiovascular fitness. These are:
The 'Combat Zone' is designed to improve speed, physical strength and flexibility. These are:
The 'Toning Zone' contains games designed for body conditioning and exercise. These are:
The 'Mind and Body Zone' is designed to improve breathing, posture and relaxation. These are:
The zone also contains three sequences besides the games above:
The game offers a personal trainer mode: a 12-week programme of various games from the four zones. Before the players begin, they are able to choose a trainer, Matt or Anna, who will guide them through the twelve-week workout. They will choose certain games from the four zones which the players change if they don't like them. The players have the option to perform a warm up and stretching sequence along with the routine.
At the end of every routine and every week, they are graded depending on own performance. These grades go from A+ (Master) to E (Beginner). If they miss five days of the workout, they will be asked if the players wish to do the entire twelve-week workout from the beginning.
The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
The Times gave it a score of all five stars, stating: "Each activity comes with a tutorial from a virtual instructor, and as you kick out at the falling balloons on the TV screen it's impossible not to smile. And how often do you see that down [at] the gym?" CiN Weekly gave it a score of 85 out of 100 and called it "a decent workout routine generator with fun games that will keep you interested and sweaty".[1] Detroit Free Press gave it a score of three stars out of four: "Unlike other fitness games, EyeToy: Kinetic really sucks you in because you get immediate personal feedback. That's a real technological advancement -- something that might even make you want to jump up off that couch".