Like many I was put off by the shocking reviews of this game. However when I started to see the great user reviews I though hey, if the people who have actually PAID to play/own the game love it there must be something.
Well at [...] from Amazon, the cheapest price anywhere by far, I decided to take a punt. The game arrived on Tuesday and I played it in the evening.
This is a game first and a fight simulator 2nd, however the simulator part is the issue. (Initially)
I really think the Game reviewers probably picked the game up, gave it 15mins of fighting (without any training as you have to win fights to earn money to use the gym) and thought stuff this, this aint 1:1 Motion Control, my punches don't land and I'M GETTING EXHAUSTED! Hate it, rubbish game so I'll give it 3 out of ten.
How wrong could they be.
Firstly this game is hard work, this is not some Wii clone where you just flail your arms around, as a fighter you are a rookie who's skills are not honed so reactions are slower and mistimed, but as you progress, train and up your stats specific to your style your fighter improves and eventually you truly start to experience probably one of the best motion tracking games on the market.
You hit hard, the fighter hits hard, you push out a feeble jab, it simply taps the opponent in the face. Aim for the Head - Bang! Ribs - ouch! It is truly awesome.
But the trade off is the pain, after my first 2.5hrs stint I was exhausted and striped to my boxers (too much info), sweating like some brute out of a Rocky flick. The in game statistics said I'd burned over 600 calories during the game. Equivalent to a hard gym session.
If I'm honest with myself I am out of shape but I didn't realise how unfit I was, however the next day (ALL day) my arms were in incredible pain due to the workout, so bad that I could not play it again that day or my other Move game Sports Champions. Seriously, I strongly recommend you do some stretching or warm up stuff before you play, no joke!
I genuinely believe that this is one of the best workout 'games' on the market today but rather than mundane exercises you are engaged and immersed, it doesn't bore you and the time flys.
So what do you get, well a great motion sensor experience that rewards patience and hard work and an awesome workout that will definitely help shed the post Xmas pounds that is fun to boot.
If you own a PS3 you must own this game. (ps 4 stars for fun coz i am still hurting!!)
UPDATE OCT 2011 - Since May 2011 i have lost a total of 2st 4lbs and am now at my target weight of 15st AND LOST 5inches off my waist! NOTHING FITS ME ANYMORE :) - I have not stepped into a Gym/Run/Jogged or Cycled since the start of my fitness regime - all was done at home in from of the TV, i have tho adopted a healthier, lower calorie diet which you have to do to lose weight no matter what route you chooes excercise wise.
For 9wks i used EA Sports Active 2 (see my review) and this has been an amazing tool that has got me leaner/lighter/fitter and faster - in the 9wks i lost 1st 10lbs.
I now used EASA 2 a day or to a week to maintain - But now i have turned to "The Fight Lights Out" as my go to upper body and CV workout. As i said above, I could barely play this game 6 months ago as i was so unfit, now my seesions last, my arms NO LONGER ACHE and i sweat absolute buckets within half an hours play loosing over 500 calories a typical 45- 1hr session.
You can now download a Fitness Mini Game which is awesome - it focuses on getting you into shape with 7 great workouts that you can choose individually or do a Circuit Training session at a time and intensity level of your choice, this i find brilliant.
It tracks your Calorie Burn and the best thing is you get skill points for every workout excercise, the amount depends on how you perform - THESE SKILL POINTS CAN THEN BE SPENT TO UP THE STATS OF YOUR FIGHTER WITHOUT PAYING TO USE THE GYM IN THE GAME - half an hour Circuit Training on Hard could earn you 500 points or more and massively improve your fighter AND YOUR OWN skill, power and technique.
It is so good simply as an tremdous excercise tool i would buy the game for the Fitness Minigames Pack alone.
For me this is simply a game that keeps giving and giving!! My fitness levels are amazing compared to a few months ago and my body is in the best shape its been for over 15yrs!
I repeat, IF YOU OWN A PS3 YOU MUST OWN THIS GAME!!!!!