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Snapshot review: Nike Eye Toy Kinetic
May. 1st, 2006 10:07 pmFor those not in the know, the Eye Toy is a camera for the PS2. A small raft of games are out for it, mostly simple "hit the moving things" types though Antigrav uses your movements to control a sci-fi snowboarder. All of these games are sweaty and physical, which is a lot of fun and a welcome departure from the usual console vegging.
It was only a matter of time before an interactive exercise video appeared and Nike Eye Toy Kinetic is it. The exercises make you leap, stretch, cavort and caper around while your personal trainer (Matt or Anna, for 'tis they) is upbeat and encouraging at you. If you boob a lot, they appear as a ghost in the frame to show you what to do. The warmup sequences have the trainer acting like trainers on exercise videos, with you in a picture-in-picture frame to compare your movements (gallingly jiggly and uncoordinated) to their Uncanny Valley actions. You plug in some simple details and the game comes up with a programme that lasts around half an hour - allow an hour including faffing the light levels and the warmup and cooldown. I'm told that I'm advanced (ha!) so three game modules for me, three times a week, and yes, there's a calendar and reminders in the damn thing to tell you to get off your arse. And there are graphs to keep the stats nerds happy.
Even with the fisheye lens they supply, it needs a lot of space. Clean lighting is as important as with other basic Eye Toy games (though not as important as with Antigrav which is a bugger for losing your head at critical moments). The dance music is Euro-glowstick and fun, and I think it'll make a handy string in my bow for rainy days.
It was only a matter of time before an interactive exercise video appeared and Nike Eye Toy Kinetic is it. The exercises make you leap, stretch, cavort and caper around while your personal trainer (Matt or Anna, for 'tis they) is upbeat and encouraging at you. If you boob a lot, they appear as a ghost in the frame to show you what to do. The warmup sequences have the trainer acting like trainers on exercise videos, with you in a picture-in-picture frame to compare your movements (gallingly jiggly and uncoordinated) to their Uncanny Valley actions. You plug in some simple details and the game comes up with a programme that lasts around half an hour - allow an hour including faffing the light levels and the warmup and cooldown. I'm told that I'm advanced (ha!) so three game modules for me, three times a week, and yes, there's a calendar and reminders in the damn thing to tell you to get off your arse. And there are graphs to keep the stats nerds happy.
Even with the fisheye lens they supply, it needs a lot of space. Clean lighting is as important as with other basic Eye Toy games (though not as important as with Antigrav which is a bugger for losing your head at critical moments). The dance music is Euro-glowstick and fun, and I think it'll make a handy string in my bow for rainy days.
