EyeToy: Kinetic

EyeToy: Kinetic is an exercise program, or exergaming title developed in collaboration with Nike Motionworks. It has been designed to help the player improve their fitness and health using a variety of exercise games.

EyeToy: Kinetic
EyeToy: Kinetic
PAL game cover
Developer(s)London Studio
Nike Motionworks
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
SeriesEyeToy
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • EU: September 23, 2005
  • NA: November 22, 2005
Genre(s)Exergaming
Mode(s)Single player

The game includes a wide angle "Full Vision Lens" attachment that fits over the Eye Toy lens. Without it, the player's image on the screen is too large to play this game properly. It is held in a foam insert in the standard memory card holder in the disc case. The lens attachment is not sold separately, so if it is broken or lost then the only recourse is to repurchase the entire game.

The game's sequel is titled EyeToy: Kinetic Combat.

Games

EyeToy: Kinetic is separated into four different sections, containing exercise games under the certain groups:

Cardio Zone

The 'Cardio Zone' contains games designed to improve cardiovascular fitness. These are:

  • Cascade: Touching the blue orbs, but avoiding the red ones.
  • Pulsate: Touching the blue discs before they change position.
  • Ricochet: Touching the blue targets while avoiding the orbs bouncing around the screen.
  • Arcburst: Moving the hands over the blue trails before they change.

Combat Zone

The 'Combat Zone' is designed to improve speed, physical strength and flexibility. These are:

  • Wildfire: Destroying the orbs that appear on screen.
  • Backlash: Destroying the incoming pads before they touch the circle in the centre of the screen.
  • Trespass: Destroying the yellow orbs before they reach the vent and go off screen.
  • Breakspeed: Destroying the walls on either side of the player.
  • Reflex: Destroying the walls by hitting the yellow orbs into them.
  • Protector: Destroying the incoming projectiles to protect the orb.
  • Sidewinder: Protecting the target from orbs and projectiles.

Toning Zone

The 'Toning Zone' contains games designed for body conditioning and exercise. These are:

  • Abdominal Exercises: Increase strength and toning of abdominal muscles and the lower back.
  • Upper Body Exercises: Increase strength of the upper body muscles.
  • Lower Body Exercises: Increase strength of the lower body muscles.

Mind and Body Zone

The 'Mind and Body Zone' is designed to improve breathing, posture and relaxation. These are:

  • Equilibrium: Break the beams of light to increase the score.
  • Reactivate: Copy the sequence before the next one appears.
  • Energyflow: Move the disc over the target as moves along the trail.
  • Outbreak: Capture the green orbs in a net before it vanishes.

The zone also contains three sequences besides the games above:

  • Yoga
  • Tai Chi
  • Meditation
  • Musics

Personal Trainer Mode

The game offers a personal trainer mode: a 12-week programme of various games from the four zones. Before the players begin, they are able to choose a trainer, Matt or Anna, who will guide them through the twelve-week workout. They will choose certain games from the four zones which the players change if they don't like them. The players have the option to perform a warm up and stretching sequence along with the routine.

At the end of every routine and every week, they are graded depending on own performance. These grades go from A+ (Master) to E (Beginner). If they miss five days of the workout, they will be asked if the players wish to do the entire twelve-week workout from the beginning.

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1]

The Times gave it a score of all five stars, stating: "Each activity comes with a tutorial from a virtual instructor, and as you kick out at the falling balloons on the TV screen it's impossible not to smile. And how often do you see that down [at] the gym?"[13] CiN Weekly gave it a score of 85 out of 100 and called it "a decent workout routine generator with fun games that will keep you interested and sweaty".[14] Detroit Free Press gave it a score of three stars out of four: "Unlike other fitness games, EyeToy: Kinetic really sucks you in because you get immediate personal feedback. That's a real technological advancement -- something that might even make you want to jump up off that couch".[12]

References
  1. "EyeToy: Kinetic for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  2. Coxall, Martin (December 6, 2005). "EyeToy: Kinetic". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  3. Zoss, Jeremy (November 2005). "EyeToy: Kinetic". Game Informer. No. 151. p. 161.
  4. Gee, Brian (December 13, 2005). "EyeToy: Kinetic Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  5. Gouskos, Carrie (November 29, 2005). "EyeToy: Kinetic Review". GameSpot. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  6. Klepek, Patrick (November 28, 2005). "GameSpy: EyeToy: Kinetic". GameSpy. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  7. Bedigian, Louis (November 20, 2005). "EyeToy: Kinetic - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  8. Roper, Chris (November 22, 2005). "EyeToy: Kinetic". IGN. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  9. "EyeToy: Kinetic". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. November 2005. p. 93.
  10. "Review: EyeToy: Kinetic". PSM. December 2005. p. 110.
  11. Marriott, Scott Alan (January 25, 2006). "EyeToy: Kinetic Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on February 3, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  12. Schaefer, Jim (January 8, 2006). "Accelerate your heartbeat with these video games". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on March 23, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  13. Kendall, Nigel (October 29, 2005). "Eyetoy [sic]: Kinetic". The Times. Archived from the original on September 29, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2016.(subscription required)
  14. Hruschak, PJ (January 18, 2006). "Player 1: Watch Out, Rocco!". CiN Weekly. Archived from the original on February 7, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
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