Review by: Danielle Riendeau

The EA Sports Active brand has consistently been the very cream of the “fitness software” genre – perhaps a dubious distinction, but the games – like the workouts within – are no joke. With far better motion sensing and feedback (thanks to a heart rate monitor and body sensors), and a full-featured suite of online tracking tools, this second “full” game proves a worthy successor.

Before you even start sweating, you’ll need to strap on the three body sensors that come with the software. Once properly suited, two chunks of plastic will adorn your arms (the left serving as a heart rate monitor), and your right leg – and you’ll want to be sure they’re all snug, or you’ll soon find the leg strap tugging your shorts down.

Upon booting up, you’ll get a snazzy intro video and the opportunity to create a profile (that you can adorn with all manner of branded clothing or semi-ridiculous accessories), including the ability to sign up for the online services. You’ll pick a male or female trainer, and then decide how you’re going to get your groove on. While you can create your own workouts (or go through any of the hundred-odd exercises and stretches one by one), the real meat of the game lies in the fantastic training programs. You can opt for the “standard” nine week program, which will track your progress for four workouts per week, increasing difficulty as your fitness levels peak, or a three week “cardio” program, designed to get your butt whipped into shape rapidly.

To help you on your way, you have fitness goals set by your virtual trainer, and a journal that tracks every imaginable statistic (including your total calories burned and time spent working out). There’s also an absolute glut of trophies to earn – designed like achievements, with a nice mix of easy rewards and neigh-insane challenges (like 1,000 km biked in the super tough mountain biking drills).

Even better is smart online integration that motivates you by treating the metagame as a giant, life-improving RPG. All of those stats are tracked and available for you to analyze like so many XP, only instead of slaying virtual dragons, you’re burning real-life calories. It’s smart design, and a surprisingly addictive part of the “game”.

Of course, the best underlying structure in the world would be useless if the game played like 90% of fitness titles out there (which is to say, not well). Thankfully, those body sensors do an excellent job keeping your avatar’s motions accurate, and the heart rate monitor is a truly inspired touch (this is precisely how high-level fitness freaks and athletes train – by staying in the desired “zone”).