Fitness Boxing

Last updated
Fitness Boxing
Fitness Boxing.jpg
Home menu icon
Developer(s) Imagineer
Publisher(s)
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
Release
  • JP: December 20, 2018
  • PAL: December 21, 2018
  • NA: January 4, 2019
Genre(s) Fitness, rhythm, sports
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Fitness Boxing is a fitness video game developed by Imagineer [1] for the Nintendo Switch. [2] [3] The game was released on December 20, 2018 in Japan by Imagineer, December 21, 2018 in PAL territories and January 4, 2019 in North America by Nintendo. [2] [4]

Contents

Fitness Boxing is the successor to the Shape Boxing trilogy released on the Wii, with the first two installments rebranded as licensed Gold's Gym fitness games in at least North America. [5]

Two sequels, known as Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise and Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star, were released for the Nintendo Switch on December 4, 2020 and March 3, 2023, respectively. [6] [7] A third sequel, titled Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku: Isshoni Exercise, was released on March 7, 2024 in Japan, [8] followed by an English release on July 12 in Asia [9] (simply as Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku) and an international release in late 2024. [10]

As announced on August 30, 2023, Fitness Boxing was delisted from digital retailers on November 30 in all regions, likely due to expired music licenses. [11]

Gameplay

The gameplay involves using the Joy-Con motion controllers to perform punches and dodging maneuvers. The workouts recommend a full body stretching exercise both at the start and end of the workouts. The difficulty and complexity of the workouts increase gradually over time. Free exercises are always available, regardless of if daily workout has been completed or not. The score for each exercise (excluding the stretches) is determined by how precise the player is in performing their punches and maneuvers.

Fitness Boxing comes with charts that determines estimated fitness age and calorie burn based on the height and weight of the player. The game will periodically request the player to update their height and weight. The routine, length and intensity of daily workouts can be adjusted by the player at any time.

The default coach is Lin, and there is a total of 5 other coaches (3 female and 2 male), each with customizable appearances. [12] New costumes can be unlocked by performing achievements. The coaches demonstrate every maneuver involved in each exercise, making them a visual guide for maintaining rhythm. They also provide the players tips both during and outside of the exercises.

Playlist

Fitness Boxing contains a playlist of instrumental versions of popular pop songs that is played with each workout exercise. [13]

The songs featured in the original Fitness Boxing are;

The songs featured in Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise are;

Development

Fitness Boxing was first announced by Imagineer on June 14, 2018. [14] It was developed by former Rocket Company members working for Imagineer.

In late-September 2018, Imagineer revealed the release date of Fitness Boxing for Japan [4] and in early-October 2018, Nintendo revealed the release date of Fitness Boxing for North America and Europe as well as screenshots of game play. [2]

In late-October 2018, Imagineer revealed the track listing for Fitness Boxing and uploaded the first game play video of Fitness Boxing to their YouTube Channel. [13]

Release and promotion

On November 29, 2018, a Fitness Boxing demo was released on the European Nintendo eShop for the Switch [15] and a demo was released on the North American eShop on December 13, 2018. [16]

Fitness Boxing was released both digitally and physically on December 20, 2018, in Japan, December 21, 2018, in Europe and Australia and January 4, 2019, in North America. [2] [4]

On January 15, 2019, Nintendo held a promotional event for Fitness Boxing at Nintendo New York, which included a group of women led by Instagram fitness influencer Niki Klasnic playing the game. [17] [18]

On August 26, 2021, an anime television series adaptation produced by Imagineer and Story Effect was announced. [19] This anime series is directed and written by Junpei Morita, with motion capture by SOLID CUBE and music composed by Yūsuke Shirato. [20] It premiered on October 1, 2021, on Tokyo MX. [21]

Reception

Fitness Boxing received "mixed or average" reviews from critics according to Metacritic with a score of 66 out of 100, based on reviews from 14 critics. [26]

Nintendo Life gave Fitness Boxing a 8/10; calling it "no substitute for hard hours at the gym", but still recommended the game as a workout regimen for being energetic, entertaining, and cheaper than a gym membership. [27] Nintendo World Report gave Fitness Boxing a 7.5/10; praising it for having multiple exercises for various skill levels, but criticized the limited number of musical tracks. [28] Nintendo Wire gave Fitness Boxing a 7.0/10, praising it for having a "decent selection of punches to throw" and for allowing the user to track their progress day-to-day, but criticized the game for its "lack of variety" and for having "repetitive music and trainer dialog". [29]

DualShockers gave Fitness Boxing a 6.5 out of 10, saying that the game "just suffers from feeling inaccurate, even more so when punches and dodges aren’t correctly registered by the Joy-Cons [ sic]", but praised the game for being "perfect for those who want to lead a healthy and active lifestyle". [30] Destructoid gave Fitness Boxing a 7/10, saying that "There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun." [31]

The Reno Gazette-Journal gave Fitness Boxing a 6 out of 10, saying that "Fitness Boxing works great as a fitness app but not so much as a game." [32]

Sales

From January 7, 2019, to January 13, Fitness Boxing placed 20th on Japanese sales charts, selling 3,024 physical copies during that period. [33]

In February 2019, Fitness Boxing started experiencing shortages in Japan. [34]

In September 2020, Imagineer announced that the game had sold over 1 million copies worldwide. [35]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sega AM2</span> Japanese video game developer

Sega AM Research & Development No. 2, previously known as SEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd., is a video game development team within the Japanese multinational video game developer Sega. Yu Suzuki, who had previously developed arcade games for Sega including Hang-On and Out Run, was the first manager of the department.

<i>Urban Champion</i> 1984 video game

Urban Champion (アーバンチャンピオン) is a fighting video game developed and published by Nintendo in 1984. It was first released for the Famicom and Nintendo VS. System for arcades in 1984, and later released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America and Europe in 1986. It was inspired by the 1984 Game & Watch game Boxing. It is Nintendo's first 2D fighting game, eventually followed in 1993 by Joy Mech Fight, released exclusively in Japan for the Famicom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual band</span> Real musical group with fictional members

In entertainment, a virtual band is a band or music group whose depicted members are not people, but animated characters or virtual avatars. The music is recorded by real musicians and producers, while any media related to the virtual band, including albums, video clips and the visual component of stage performances, feature the animated line-up; in many cases the virtual band members have been credited as the writers and performers of the songs. Live performances can become rather complex, requiring perfect synchronization between the visual and audio components of the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitness game</span> Video games that are also a form of exercise

Fitness game, exergame, and gamercise are terms used for video games that are also a form of exercise. Fitness games rely on technology that tracks body movement or reaction. The genre has been used to challenge the stereotype of gaming as a sedentary activity, and promoting an active lifestyle among gamers. Fitness games are seen as evolving from technology aimed at making exercise more fun.

<i>Wii Sports</i> 2006 sports video game published by Nintendo

Wii Sports is a 2006 sports simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The game was released in North America along with the Wii on November 19, 2006, and in Japan, Australia, and Europe the following month. It was included as a pack-in game with the console in all territories except Japan, making it the first sports game included with the launch of a Nintendo system since Mario's Tennis for the Virtual Boy in 1995. The game was later released on its own as part of the Nintendo Selects collection of games.

<i>Wii Fit</i> 2007 exergaming video game published by Nintendo

Wii Fit is a 2007 exergaming video game designed by Nintendo's Hiroshi Matsunaga for the Wii home video game console, featuring a variety of yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance mini-games for use with the Wii Balance Board peripheral. Matsunaga described the game as a "way to help get families exercising together". It has since been adopted by various health clubs around the world, and has previously been used for physiotherapy rehabilitation in children and in nursing homes to improve posture in the elderly.

<i>Golds Gym: Cardio Workout</i> 2008 video game

Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout is an exercise video game for Nintendo's Wii video game console, developed by Japanese video game developer Rocket Company and released in the late 2000s worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatsune Miku</span> Singing voice synthesizer software

Hatsune Miku, officially code-named CV01, is a Vocaloid software voicebank developed by Crypton Future Media and its official anthropomorphic mascot character, a 16-year-old girl with long, turquoise twintails. Miku's personification has been marketed as a virtual idol, and has performed at live virtual concerts onstage as an animated projection.

<i>EA Sports Active</i> 2009 video game

EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer is a video game developed by EA Canada for the Wii console. It was released on May 19, 2009 in North America. The game ships with a strappable pouch to hold the Nunchuk and a resistance band.

<i>Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA</i> Video game series

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA is a series of rhythm games created by Sega and Crypton Future Media. The series currently consists of 6 main titles, released on various PlayStation consoles, the Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and in arcades, the 2 Project Mirai games for the Nintendo 3DS, and 4 spin-offs for mobile and VR platforms. The series primarily makes use of Vocaloids, a series of singing synthesizer software developed by the Yamaha Corporation, and the songs created using these Vocaloids, most notably the virtual-diva Vocaloid Hatsune Miku.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zumba</span> Exercise program

Zumba is a fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance. It was founded by Colombian dancer and choreographer Beto Pérez in 2001. It currently has 200,000 locations, with 15 million people taking classes weekly, and is located in 180 countries. Zumba is a trademark owned by Zumba Fitness, LLC.

<i>Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade</i> 2010 video game

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade is a 2010 arcade rhythm game developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega and Dwango Music Entertainment as well as character and voicebank licensing from Crypton Future Media for arcade machines with the Sega RingEdge arcade system. The game is a port of the 2009 video game, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA, with updated visuals and was released on June 23, 2010 in Japan. Like the original, the game primarily makes use of Vocaloid, a singing synthesizer program, and the songs are created using voicebanks from the program, most notably, the most-famous and moe anthropomorphic virtual diva and mascot Hatsune Miku.

<i>Wii Fit U</i> 2013 exergaming video game published by Nintendo

Wii Fit U is an exergaming video game developed by Nintendo for the Wii U console, and is the successor to the Wii games Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus. Wii Fit U utilizes both the Wii Balance Board and the Wii U GamePad in gameplay, and is bundled with the newly introduced Fit Meter, an activity meter accessory. It was released in Japan on October 31, 2013, followed by North America and Europe one day later. It is also the only game on the system to support the balance board.

<i>Crypt of the NecroDancer</i> 2015 video game

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a roguelike rhythm game by Brace Yourself Games. The game takes fundamental elements of a roguelike dungeon exploration game and adds a beat-matching rhythm game set to an original soundtrack written by Danny Baranowsky. The player's actions are most effective when moving the character set to the beat of the current song and are impaired when they miss a beat, so it is necessary to learn the rhythmic patterns that the various creatures follow. The mixed-genre game includes the ability to import custom music, and the option to use a dance pad instead of traditional controllers or the keyboard. The game was released for Linux, OS X, and Windows in April 2015, being co-published by Klei Entertainment, for the PlayStation 4 and Vita in February 2016, for the Xbox One in February 2017, and for Nintendo Switch in February 2018. Crypt of the NecroDancer Pocket Edition, developed for iOS, was released in June 2016.

<i>Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 is a rhythm game created by Sega and Crypton Future Media for the Nintendo 3DS and the sequel to Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai. The game is also a spin-off of the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA series of Vocaloid rhythm games and was first released on November 28, 2013 in Japan with no international release until September 2015. Like the original, the game primarily makes use of Vocaloids, a series of singing synthesizer software and the songs created using these vocaloids most notably the virtual-diva Vocaloid Hatsune Miku. It is also the second game to include a Vocaloid made by Internet Co., Ltd., Gumi. An updated version of the game was released in 2015, first in Japan as Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai Deluxe, then in North America and Europe under the title of Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacock Theater</span> Music and theater venue in downtown Los Angeles, California

The Peacock Theater, formerly Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater, is a music and theater venue in downtown Los Angeles, California at L.A. Live. The theater auditorium seats 7,100 and holds one of the largest indoor stages in the United States.

<i>Ring Fit Adventure</i> 2019 video game

Ring Fit Adventure is an exercising action role-playing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The game comes with two physical components: the Ring-Con, a Pilates ring that the user holds and one Joy-Con slots into, and a Leg Strap, a piece of fabric affixed to the user's leg that holds the other Joy-Con.

<i>Kimi to Fit Boxing</i> (TV series) Japanese anime television series

Kimi to Fit Boxing is a Japanese anime television series adaptation of the Nintendo Switch game named Fitness Boxing. The series was produced by Japanese studios Imagineer and Story Effect, and it aired from October to December 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Yanmoto, Shinichi; Sasaki, Shuji (March 16, 2019). "「Fit Boxing」プレイヤー必見！ "中の人"に聞く，開発秘話と正しい運動法。プロによるレクチャー動画もあり" ["Fit Boxing" player must-see! Asking "people inside", development secrets and correct exercise method. There is also a lecture video by a professional]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Craddock, Ryan (October 9, 2018). "Nintendo Shares First Details, Release Date And Screenshots Of Fitness Boxing, A Switch Exclusive". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ Seedhouse, Alex (July 31, 2018). "Nintendo Announce Fitness Boxing For Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Insider. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "New Switch Exercise Game Fitness Boxing Launches In Japan On December 20". Siliconera. September 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ Rai, Nagaoka (2018-10-30). "Nintendo Switch用「Fit Boxing」、プレイムービーと声優陣のサンプルボイスを公開" ["Fit Boxing" for Nintendo Switch, released play movie and sample voice of voice actors]. GAME Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  6. ↑ "Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise". Nintendo . Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star". Nintendo . Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  8. ↑ Romano, Sal (September 14, 2023). "Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku: Isshoni Exercise launches March 7, 2024 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ Romano, Sal (May 9, 2024). "Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku coming to Asia in English on July 12". Gematsu. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Romano, Sal (June 12, 2024). "Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku coming west". Gematsu. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fitness Boxing Is Being Removed From Switch eShop Later This Year". www.nintendolife.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  12. ↑ "Get a cardio workout at home or on the go with Fitness Boxing for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site". Nintendo.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  13. 1 2 Craddock, Ryan (2018-10-30). "Track Listing And First Gameplay Video Revealed For Switch Exclusive Fitness Boxing". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  14. ↑ "Nintendo Switch ソフト「Fit Boxing」発売決定のお知らせ～日本国内はイマジニア、海外は任天堂が発売元～" [Nintendo Switch software "Fit Boxing" release decision-Imagineer in Japan, Nintendo overseas-]. imagineer.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  15. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (2018-11-29). "Nintendo-Published Fitness Boxing Gets Free Demo On Switch eShop, Full Pricing Revealed". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  16. ↑ Lada, Jenni (2018-12-13). "Fitness Boxing Demo Arrives On The North American Nintendo Switch eShop". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  17. ↑ "Photos of the Fitness Boxing Event at Nintendo NY Store Are Available on Business Wire's Website and the Associated Press Photo Network". www.businesswire.com. 2019-01-15. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  18. ↑ Doolan, Liam (2019-01-16). "Nintendo's Private Store Event Turned Out To A Promotion For Fitness Boxing". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  19. ↑ Kawase, Ayuo (August 26, 2021). "フィットネスゲーム『Fit Boxing』まさかのTVアニメ化。「キミとフィットボクシング」として、10月よりTOKYO MXにて放送へ" [The fitness game "Fit Boxing" has been made into a TV animation. Broadcast on TOKYO MX from October as "Kimi to Fit Boxing"]. AUTOMATON (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  20. ↑ "キャラクター" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  21. ↑ Loo, Egan (August 26, 2021). "Nintendo Switch's Fitness Boxing Game Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Fitness Boxing for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  23. ↑ Andriessen, CJ (31 August 2021). "Review: Fitness Boxing". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Fitness Boxing Review (Switch) | Aces high". Nintendo Life . 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  25. ↑ Koopman, Daan (31 August 2021). "Fitness Boxing (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  26. ↑ "Fitness Boxing". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  27. ↑ Lane, Gavin (2019-01-01). "Review: Fitness Boxing - Rhythm Trappings Help This Limber Wii Fit Successor Land Its Punches". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  28. ↑ Koopman, Daan (January 3, 2019). "Fitness Boxing Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  29. ↑ Ganos, Jason (2019-01-11). "Review: Fitness Boxing". Nintendo Wire. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  30. ↑ Bayliss, Ben (2019-01-28). "Fitness Boxing Review — I Woke Up Stiff and Aching". DualShockers. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  31. ↑ Andriessen, CJ (2019-02-16). "Review: Fitness Boxing". Destructoid. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  32. ↑ Hidalgo, Jason. "Punch out: Fitness Boxing review for Switch | Technobubble". Reno Gazette Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  33. ↑ Romano, Sal (2019-01-16). "Media Create Sales: 1/7/19 – 1/13/19". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  34. ↑ Carter, Chris (2019-02-11). "Fitness Boxing on Switch is experiencing shortages over in Japan". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  35. ↑ "Nintendo Switch ソフト「Fit Boxing」・「Fitness Boxing」（海外版）全世界累計出荷販売本数100万本突破のお知らせ" [Nintendo Switch Software "Fit Boxing" / "Fitness Boxing" (Overseas Version) Announcement of Worldwide Cumulative Shipment and Sales Exceeding 1 Million Units]. Imagineer (in Japanese). September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.