EyeToy Kinetic

(for Playstation 2)

Staff Sgt. David L. Crockett HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, Washington

If your video game collection has you spending more time on the couch than in the gym, the PlayStation II revolutionary exercise game, EyeToy Kinetic, may be just the trick to prepare for that next PFT while getting your game on.

Kick'n it Capoeira Style Capoeira is a 400-year-old martial art originating in Africa and brought to Brazil by Angolan slaves. The martial art blends dance, acrobatics, music, and song to mask combat and self-defense techniques that were forbidden to slaves. This style has developed into a popular fitness program practiced worldwide and often blends local music and dance with traditional Capoeira.

Nike Motion Works has teamed up with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to produce an exercise program that uses EyeToy video technology enabling players to interact with an on-screen environment and receive a well-balanced workout right from the comfort of their living room.

Kinetic offers simple targeted workout routines, allowing you to design a twelve-week program that's sure to get your heart pumping and calories burning. The game has four modes - Cardio, Combat, Toning and Mind and Body. Each mode is based on yoga, tai chi, kickboxing, aerobics and Capoeira to provide an impressive well-balanced workout.

You can choose between a female or male instructor to take you through the paces with their own unique personalities. Although neither of them have quite the same finely honed motivational skills of a Marine drill instructor, the EyeToy allows them to read your body movements and analyze your effort level and exercise technique to help you get a more efficient workout.

There are 22 different exercises that involve dodging, punching and kicking colored targets on the screen. The paths of the floating targets do a great job of leading you through specific movements that can be very challenging. You can select the effort level so even the fittest Marine can something out of it.

I liked the combat mode. That choice resembles Marine Corps Martial Arts training, allowing you to virtually punch and kick floating orbs and brick walls which react to your strikes. The energy you put into your movements will directly affect workout intensity in combat mode you may get exhausted, thrashing at floating targets like a schoolyard bully.

Kick'n it Capoeira Style (for Playstation 2)

In order to get the full effect of the game, there are two things you'll need a lot of: room and light. In order to get off the couch and into the action, you'll need to find somewhere to put the couch and every other piece of furniture in the room to actually accomplish some of the dramatic ninjalike moves the routines will ask you to do. But what you won't want to put away are the lamps. In order for the EyeToy to accurately track your movements, something vital to the success of the experience, you'll practically need flood lights. I needed four 100-watt bulbs pointed directly at me before the game began to track my movements to any reasonable satisfaction. Without ample light sources it becomes very frustrating to successfully execute a move without it registering on the game.

In the end, you'll focus much of your energy in trying to get the game to accurately track your movements. However, with enough light to overcome this major flaw, the game can deliver a unique and fun way to get a great workout at any fitness level.