12 Kinect Games to Fight the Winter Bulge
Posted
November 28 2011 by Keadin
Check out more blog postings by Keadin
Snowy season is just around the corner and for a lot of Canadians that means fewer trips to the gym along with a bevy of hearty holiday feasts. Winter just has a way of leaving us all a little out of shape and hoping to play catch-up when spring finally rolls around. This year could be different though, with an assortment of Kinect titles to help keep you active this holiday there’s a good chance you’ll be able to burn a few extra calories and have your physique survive through the New Year.
We’ve already heard the success story of Thryon who not only managed to maintain his weight, but improved his overall fitness level through a year of Kinect gaming and had fun in the process. Here are some of the best active Kinect titles to try this Winter to help you stay in shape.
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012
The original bun-burner is back to kick your butt and make you sweat. With 60 new moves and activities along with 10 hours of special classes, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 is designed to get you moving for real. With an on-screen fitness trainer giving you instructions and Kinect motion tracking ensuring you’re performing the exercises right, this is the most intense way to get your body toned.
Dance Central 2
Getting in shape while learning how to tear up the dance floor? That’s a winning combination if I ever heard one. Not only will Dance Central 2 unlock your funky-fresh side, but it also works up quite a sweat. Whether it’s Bulletproof by La Roux, Run (Natural Disaster) by Gnarls Barkley, or Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-A-Lot, there’s plenty of worthwhile tracks to shake it to.
Kinect Sports: Season Two
Kinect Sports created a brand new experience for those of us who like our sports a little less intense and a little more casual. Kinect Sports: Season Two expands on that with a bunch of new games including Football, Baseball and Darts. With online multiplayer over Xbox Live, this is your chance to funnel your competitive spirit into a significant workout.
Self-Defense Training Camp
It’s a dangerous world out there and Self-Defense Training Camp is designed to prepare you for it. The game teaches the basics of self-protection while working on stamina, composure and reflexes, working with Kinect to turn your body into a toned lethal weapon. With routines inspired by kickboxing and martial arts you’ll be ripped like Bruce Lee and just as deadly. (Okay, maybe not just as deadly)
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster
Designed for parents to play with their kids, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is an interactive storybook that encourages kids to get up and get active. It may not give you the same intense workout as the other titles, but there’s nothing quite like exercising with your kids and getting fit as a family. Of course it’s chock full of adorable Sesame Street monsters and is hosted by the eternally cute Elmo and Cookie Monster.
Rise of Nightmares
Good cardio is designed to get your heart pumping, and what can do that better than the biting terror of Rise of Nightmares? Although it’s a slower paced game the frantic combat and gut-wrenching horror will definitely get your pulse up. If you’ve got a stomach for terror, this might be the only workout scarier than a session with an overzealous personal trainer.
Just Dance 3
It’s been proven that people are more likely to stick to a fitness routine if they’ve got friends doing it with them. That’s why Just Dance 3 works well, offering a mix of fun dance routines to play with friends. With really fun party tracks like LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem and Scissor Sister’s I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ there’s a good time to be had while getting your body in the groove.
Just Dance Kids 2
Similar to Just Dance 3, this is a great game to play in a group but designed for the little ones. With an assortment of kid-friendly pop songs and special tracks from Juustin Bieber and Willow Smith along with a Non-Stop Play mode that lets you dance continuously for up to 2 hours this is one that’ll get the family shaking their good thang.
The Black Eyed Peas Experience
If you’re a fan of the Black Eyed Peas, this is the ultimate dance game. Featuring all the best tracks, remixed and remastered this game lets you get down with the BEP like no other. Whether it’s poppin’ and lockin’ with Will.I.Am or winding down with Fergie, this is the best way to experience their entire collection.
Raving Rabbids Alive & Kicking
Wwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!! – The Rabbids are nuts and provide the sort of insanity needed to get your butt in gear. It’s remarkable just how well the Rabbids’ antics can distract you while you play a myriad of body-moving minigames. Before you know it you’ve worked up a sweat and didn’t even know it.
Powerup Heroes
We all want to be superheroes, but unfortunately the most exciting real-life power most gamers have is the ability to avoid blinking for prolonged periods of time. Powerup Heroes remedies this by putting your body in control of a suite of powers while you face off against other heroes online for good old fashioned comic book brawl. Believe me, throwing fireballs at people really takes it out of you.
Deepak Chopra’s Leela
Fitness is about more than just sweating. Deepak Chopra’s Leela is a less intense workout, but does its best to synchronize the body and mind with breathing exercises that help relax the body while promoting overall health. It’s a leisurely experience, but one that shouldn’t be ignored. This makes a fantastic post-workout cooldown.
