Fitness Boxing, Fist of the North Star, is the latest game in the Fitness Boxing franchise for the Nintendo Switch. It combines the usual Fitness Boxing workout routine with the characters from the Fist of the North Star manga and anime.
Just like the previous iterations of Fitness Boxing, this game is designed to be played with Joy-Con controllers. Players use their fists to punch their way through a variety of different workouts. The game offers a variety of different modes, including a battle mode, a daily workout mode, and a free training mode. The daily workout and free training modes will be familiar to players of the first two games. Enter a little information about yourself and your workout goals, and the game creates a new unique workout each day to help you meet those goals. Free training allows you to choose which workouts you do and the order you do them in.
BATTLE MODE
The real star of the game though is the new battle mode. The player follows the story of the main character Kenshiro as he fights his way through the post-apocalyptic world of Fist of the North Star. This mode reminded me a little of the old Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat games. The player must defeat five different bosses in sequential order. Each boss has several substages where you will need to knock out a certain number of goons before unlocking the next stage. Then, After you complete enough substages, you’ll reach the main boss. You attack and defend by completing successful combinations of punches and defensive moves. If you are able to defeat the boss, you get to perform a special move at the end of the battle.
FIST OF THE NORTH STAR
The other major improvement over previous titles is the overall aesthetic. Gone are drab instructors in dull personal trainer garb. Instead, six Fist of the North Star characters serve as the instructors. Each of the instructors has a slew of potential outfits, which look a little more badass than gym shorts. Likewise, the backgrounds to the workouts are all post-apocalyptic hellscapes instead of the old non-descript backdrops.
The game’s soundtrack is also much improved. It features an amazing selection of Fist of the North Star-inspired music. This is a welcome change from the “muzak” styled lyricless pop songs of the first Fitness Boxing game. The music in FOTN is high-energy and perfectly suited to the workouts that players will be engaging in. It does a great job of keeping players motivated and energized throughout their workout sessions.
THE WORKOUT
The workout itself is primarily aerobic and cardiovascular. It definitely got my heart rate up, especially on the higher intensities. The constant punches can help tone the arms and twisting the torso can be good for the core. However, this game probably won’t help you bulk up or put on significant muscle mass.
Overall, Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star is an excellent fitness game that is both fun and effective. The game’s combination of intense workouts and exciting Fist of the North Star-inspired action makes it a great choice for fans of the anime or manga. The main benefit of working out with a video game is that it is more fun than going to the gym. The new battle mode and aesthetic changes are definitely an improvement in that regard. If you are unfamiliar with the Fitness Boxing franchise or if you are interested in a livened-up version of the old games, Fist of the North Star is worth checking out.
See the trailer here.