Developer: Pocket
Publisher: Marvelous
Genre: Exercise/Fitness
Nintendo Switch
Video games nowadays can be a great resource for getting into shape. As funny as that sounds, platforms like VR and the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls make it easy to stay active in the comfort of ones living room. The latest fitness title, Knockout Home Fitness is published by Marvelous and follows the footsteps of games like Wii Fit and Ring Fit Adventure. The best part is that expensive accessories aren’t needed, only two Joy-Cons.
Knockout Home Fitness utilizes a series of martial arts fighting styles with rhythm based training to deliver a simple but enjoyable experience. Boxing, Muay Thai, karate, and kung-fu are all integrated into the workouts of Knockout Home Fitness.
My Time with Knockout Home Fitness was pleasant and allowed for me to bring a sweat more than once. The first day mostly served as an introduction to the various stances that players will use. I consider myself to be in decent shape, but even the squat position was harder than expected. From there some days were easier than others, but I never found myself bored of my workout routine.
The main gameplay loop involves using the Joy Cons and punching, kicking, dodging, and blocking to the beat of an upbeat song. Nothing is too difficult, and you won’t get rhythm game precision, but it’s still pretty enjoyable. It’s a nice morning or afternoon booster to your day that won’t push you too hard (Depending on your fitness level of course).
There are a variety of coaches and gyms that mostly only bring cosmetic and aesthetic changes, but its nice to have the options. I found myself alternating between coaches and gyms just to keep the game feeling fresh and new every day. Some players will likely pick a favorite and stick to them. I didn’t really find any significant changes in the styles of the coach. The only main thing I noticed was a difference in appearance and voice. Even the lines seemed to be mostly the same for everyone.
There are quite a few workouts in Knockout Home Fitness, and if a player hasn’t had enough after their daily routine, they are free to choose whatever workouts they like and keep playing. As the game progresses, more intricate moves and workout routines are introduced, allowing for just about everyone to break a sweat regardless of their fitness levels. There are also options that allow for players to choose their goals, such as losing weight or building muscles. If a player has more time every day, they can change the daily workouts from 10 minutes to 20 or 30.
While there is a fair bit of variety in modes, I found myself wanting more from Knockout Home Fitness after about a month of playing. For some players the main loop will be enough, but I wanted Knockout Home Fitness to feel a bit more like a game. Eventually there isn’t anything else to unlock and progress is only tracked by the real life changes in your bodies. Again, this will be rewarding enough for some, but not everyone.
Knockout Home Fitness
It lacks modes, but Knockout Home Fitness is still a solid way to energize your day with quick workouts on the Switch.
-
Gameplay
-
Presentation
-
Enjoyment