Overview Your Shape: Fitness Evolved is the first fitness game/program for Microsoft’s Kinect, and it was released as part of the system’s first lineup. The game is divided into structured personal Training, pick-up fitness classes, and active gym games and focuses solely on fitness routines guided by virtual trainers. Workouts are designed for both men and women and include habits developed by the staff of Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazines.
New players must create a profile in the game and go through a simulated, futuristic scanning regimen, which includes finding various muscle groups and measuring statistics such as height and arms spread. After that, players must complete a fitness test to determine their respective talents and a questionnaire about their lifestyle and fitness aspirations. The player is then classified as Beginner, Trained, or Advanced, and the corresponding classes are unlocked. Classes are divided into difficulty levels (1.1, 1.2, etc., up to 4. x). The player is not required to begin with the suggested class and may start with a lower difficulty level instead; nevertheless, a lower-ranked player must complete their course before unlocking the next difficulty level.
Gameplay
The game is played in a sterile white virtual environment or a simple virtual gym. The player is projected into the picture (similar to looking in the mirror), allowing them to effortlessly follow the virtual trainer’s movements without diverting their gaze from the screen. The Kinect tracks the player’s skeleton and rates them on activity accuracy depending on several critical variables. A squat punch routine, for example, will grade the player on both squat depth and punching – if the player does not execute both, they do not receive full credit for the exercise. The voice of the game’s trainer will instruct the player on how to improve using the skeletal data, plus the visual element of seeing their projection not matching the CG trainer.
Within the game, a green border denotes the player’s active region. If their projected picture moves beyond the camera’s visible range, it will begin to fade and mist away. Elements in the game will always move the player within the green boundary but never outside of it. The border also serves as a visual indicator during training sessions, turning gray if the player loses rhythm with the virtual teacher.
Your Shape requires no controls or attachments when using the Kinect. Gestures operate menus, and routines are designed to punch the air, move in place, and perform other non-gym-related activities. However, because the player is not forced to hold or wear any sensors, they may utilize any equipment they have, such as wrist weights or dumbbells. Some modes will advise you on when and how much extra weight to use.
Modes
Personal Training is a workout tailored to the player’s skill level and fitness objectives. The participant progresses through a four-week sequence of classes at their own pace. Fitness Classes are on-demand classes that may be taken at any time. At launch, the only options are Cardio Boxing and Zen, with the opportunity to add more as DLC.
Gym Games are other “fun” activities that can be played in a four-player party mode. At launch, there are four options:
The player is presented with patterns of floating blocks to punch or knee. This mode was seen in early demos, and the player’s speed and accuracy were assessed.
Light Pace asks the player to walk on moving soft targets within the camera’s view space.
The player of Loop-A-Hoop must spin their hips while holding an imaginary hula-hoop.
Stack Them Up tests players’ balance by requiring them to collect and balance blocks while holding their arms like a platform. After a given amount of time, a pit on the left or right opens up, and the player tilts the blocks into it.
There is no online play support, but players can link to and follow their stats on the game’s website.
