Console Calisthenics- EA Sports Active 2 Review

Although EA Sports Active presented one of the most focused workouts of the aforementioned group, it wasn’t with flaw. Clutching the requisite Wiimote in the same hand as a resistance band felt cumbersome. Worse, repetitions would sporadically go unrecognized, as the title seemed to be looking at the orientation of the controller instead of the participant’s full range of movement. Being a bit brawnier that most players, the flimsy resistance bands offered a negligible amount of challenge- I had to buy my own supplementary equipment. Yet barring these nuisances, Active delivered on its promise to give a variable, focused workout that dutifully tracked the player’s progress and doled out consistent encouragement.

With the release of EA Sports Active 2 for the 360 and PS3, EA hopes to correct some of these failings. Differences between the two editions are significant; while the Xbox iteration requires a Kinect peripheral to track body movement, the Sony version functions as a standalone product. In addition to the game disk, players are issued three strap-on sensors: one for each arm and another which rests high and tight on your right thigh. Although Active 2‘s instruction manual indicates the proper method the peripherals should be worn, eager exercisers might overlook the sensors’ subtle markings and optional tutorial. For the title to perform properly, participants must place the device with the heart icon on their left side and ensure both arm sensors are oriented so the logos are facing upright. The leg monitor is worn so it’s facing the wireless dongle which plugs into one of the PS3’s front USB ports. As with the first iteration, the included resistance band is too thin to offer a decent challenge, and was too short for several of the exercises.
 
Once correctly positioned, the sensors are generally responsive and even display the player’s heart rate. While routines that analyze a user’s arm movements work faultlessly , I did experience some sporadic problems when executing flutter kicks- with the title not recognizing movement. Here, the workout came to a screeching halt as an on-screen prompt notified me to keep my already motionless leg still. Generally, Active 2‘s on-screen avatar accurately mimics the player, yet when running, the title only simulates your cadence instead of mirroring each individual step. With 68 different exercises (versus 52 on the 360) the disk extends a vigorous amount of variety, even allowing players to choose between two trainers – each with their own distinct personality and motivational approach.

The actual activities themselves include the commonplace push-ups, lunges, curls, squats and planks, as well as a number of more interesting exercises. Mountain biking simulates a stirring ride, with players squatting during downhill section, running to gain uphill momentum, and jumping to clear obstacles. Additionally, a number of activities centered around basketball, soccer, and boxing drills skillfully balance entertainment with exertion.
 
Unexpectedly, Active 2‘s greatest strengths are the title’s customization and to a lesser extent- social functionality. With a robust set of options, players can create a realistic looking persona, and equip their virtual athlete with a wide range of workout gear. Beyond suggesting a three and nine week routine for introductory users, the title allows players to alter their workout schedule and even build and save their own personalized workout routines. Active is even smart enough to warn players if their budding regimen is too short or too long, as well as give visual feedback as to which areas of the body will be trained. Whereas the previous version didn’t give daily credit for an unfinished routine, the sequel recognizes each individual exercise-  which is helpful if players are interrupted. The title’s true potential may be the ability to create custom workout group and check your stats online. Unfortunately, a few snags exists- players are forced to search for teammates via an EA ID instead of their PSN tag. As such, I was unable to get into even a provisional group. Additionally, there’s a link to DLC on Active 2’s main menu, but the option continually returns an error code.  

Visually, the title displays a large variety of clean, tranquil desert-themed locales as backdrops. Eschewing photorealism for a stylized delivery, the title’s athletes are well-drawn and move fluidly. Aesthetically, Active 2‘s only downfall is its bland synthesized theme music which is borrowed from the first game. Fortunately, players can import their own soundtracks to complement the tempo of their workouts.