Your Shape Fitness Evolved - Xbox 360

I wasn't expecting much from this, despite my high opinion of the kinect system overall. But when it first fired up, "scanned" me, and showed me a very detailed representation of me, I was shocked. Detail was impressive. And the visual capture of movement was outstanding. For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, don't think it's anything like the little "ghost" avatars you use in games. This is detailed down to seeing zippers, collars, anything embossed on your clothes, etc...And when you're exercising, you begin to derezz (hello Tron fans!) if you step outside of the sensor's area. So it is very easy to keep in place.This is NOT some high end thing for people looking for advanced exercises, so I'm not sure I understand why some of the people are taking stars away from it... That's like complaining that the car I purchased can't fly at an altitude of 10,000 feet. This isn't designed for that. If you're that advanced, you're likely already using other tools or a real gym for your needs. This is more towards people like me, with jobs that keep us sedentary far too much. If you're out of shape and want to start getting back into shape, then this is a fantastic option. Gives some motivation, far more enjoyable than just stepping on your stairmaster or elliptical trainer at home and watching the clock. Will you get the same workout as you would at the gym? Obviously not. But it is a great tool to start getting yourself in that direction.controls are the same as most of the kinect things, my complaint on that score is to choose something you hold your hand to that button, which then opens ANOTHER button you have to move to and hold to select. Would've preferred just the first button as the one to hold. Seems a needless step to me. But other than that little annoyance, it's very simple. You also use your feet to select things, such as the number of people participating in an activity.The representation of you that it shows is very near real time, so the processing it is doing is impressive. Which makes it feasible to mimic the trainer on screen, and to stay in sync with them.Advanced exercisers may find it a bit lacking physically, but enjoyable visually or for a change of pace. You can still get your heart going, and add weights to help get more out of it.For someone like me who wants to get more fit after quitting smoking and sitting at a desk for too long, it's a great tool.

I have had Your Shape: Fitness Evolved for about a week, and my boyfriend and I have been having a ton of fun working out with this game!I would recommend Your Shape: Fitness evolved to anyone who wants to work out in their own home, but needs something more interactive than an exercise DVD or an exercise book and a mirror. This game provides the experience of having an encouraging (but demanding) personal trainer create workouts for you, track your movements, and help you improve your form, without spending a ton of money on an actual personal fitness trainer. In addition, if you feel shy working out around other people at a gym, this game will be perfect for you, since it allows you to work out in your own living room with only a virtual trainer watching you.Your Shape works with the Kinect sensor to track your movements, which is perfect for a fitness game, because the sensor can determine if you are doing the exercises correctly. If you fall out of step with your trainer, the game gently encourages you to get back in rhythm. The game also offers tips to improve your form, calling out, for instance, "Knees a little higher!" If you do, in fact, bring your knees a little higher, the game praises and encourages you - "Perfect!" or "Much better!"If you are an Xbox 360 player, you are probably already familiar with Achievement Points. Every game for the 360 has achievement points - a full retail game like Your Shape has 1,000 of them up for grabs. This game rewards you with points for burning calories! You get 20 points for burning 100, 200, 300, etc. calories, and you can earn points all the way up through ten THOUSAND calories. Achievement hunters will find this a good motivation to keep playing and burning calories.The fitness classes are very fun. I enjoy both cardio boxing and the tai chi game. Cardio boxing is energizing and bouncy, while Zen is relaxing and calming.The gym games are also very enjoyable. I usually play a couple games of "Virtual Smash", a game where you punch and kick blocks, to warm up before starting my workout. The balance game, "Stack 'Em Up" is another favorite.The workouts in this game have something for everyone. You can focus on cardio workouts, toning, or sculpting, according to your needs and interests. And the workouts are intense - I currently play this game only every other day, because I am sore after using it!I feel that this is probably the best fitness game on the market right now. It is a great application of the Kinect technology, and it provides a great, personalized workout in the privacy of your own home. I am very happy with this purchase.