It’s been six years since the first Fitness Boxing was released, during which time we’ve had two main games and two spin-offs based on Fist of the North Star and Hatsune Miku. Now it’s time for the third proper entry in the series, and thankfully regular Fitness Boxing players will find some new stuff in here to freshen up their daily routine. There are new modes, new tasks, and even a new way to explore the Fitness Boxing lore. Yes, it turns out there’s lore now, apparently.
The main workout mode returns and brings with it the same strengths and weaknesses it always did. Those who played the previous games will know exactly what to expect here: after picking your workout of choice (or accepting the Daily Workout chosen for you based on your required time, intensity, and target body areas), you repeat a series of punching and dodging motions to the beat, almost like a violent rhythm game.
This part is by and large business as usual. There may be a few new options here and there to make things feel a little different but otherwise anyone who’s bought either of the first two Fitness Boxing games will be in very familiar territory here. Thankfully, for those who were expecting a little more from the third entry in the series, there are some new modes this time which mix things up a little.
Sometimes you’ve had a long day and can’t be doing with all the leaning, ducking, and dodging malarkey the game sometimes makes you do, especially in the more intense workouts. For such couch potatoes, the new Sit Fit Boxing mode is the answer. As the name suggests, Sit Fit Boxing allows you to stay firmly seated on your chair – or, let’s face it, slumped on your sofa – while performing a modified set of instructions.
Your in-game trainer sells Sit Fit Boxing to you as a mode “for folks who are less physically inclined or may have trouble performing standing exercises,” but you can very much add 'lazy sods' to that list too, because after a long day’s work we appreciated the option to collapse on the couch and swing at the air for a while. Naturally, it could be argued that you’re not getting much of a workout in this mode, and that’s fair: we certainly worked up far less of a sweat than in the standing workouts, but we suppose every little bit helps. Needless to say, this mode is welcome and makes the game more accessible for players who aren't able to stand.
We got far more out of Mitt Drills, which is much closer to what we had in our heads when the first Fitness Boxing was originally announced. If you like the idea of boxing-based exercises but haven’t been keen on the fact that the series has essentially been Just Dance with punches instead of pirouettes, Mitt Drills takes away the rhythm element and offers a more straightforward punching programme.
There aren’t many of these Mitt Drills but we love what there is of them. Instead of waiting for an icon to pass a line before you throw your punch, you can instead punch as soon as your trainer lifts their boxing mitt. In a sense, there’s still a game element here in that if you take too long to punch you don’t get a Perfect rating, but you’re shown your upcoming combination on the side of the screen, meaning it isn’t really a reaction test because you know what’s coming.
The great thing about Mitt Drills is that they’re generally of a higher intensity than the standard workouts because there’s less pausing and waiting for the next move. You can fire through them, performing your combos at a fairly fast pace if you want to. There’s even a rapid punch section at the end where your trainer just holds both mitts up and you can go Fist of the North Star on them by flailing wildly: there’s clearly no skill involved in this bit, but it’s a nice little final spike for the heart rate.
Speaking of the trainers, there are six to choose from this time, which is fewer than before. Some of them return from previous games, meaning anyone fascinated by Bernardo’s Popeye-like arms can rest assured they won’t miss out this time, while newcomers Monica and Stella tick the ‘flirty’ and ‘mysterious’ boxes respectively for those who like to pretend their trainers are real people they’re trying to get to know. And if you’re that type of person, then does Fitness Boxing 3 have a treat for you.
An odd new feature called Box and Bond is unlocked when you spend enough time with one trainer. As you continue to do workouts with them you’ll fill a gauge which, when filled, unlocks a new Box and Bond chapter. These are special sessions where your personal trainer will share their thoughts and feelings on certain topics with you, giving you more insight into their character. Don’t expect anything wild – they don’t give their detailed analysis on Middle Eastern conflict or anything like that, most of them just talk about fitness – but for those who like playing along with the idea that their trainer is an actual person, it’s a nice added touch.
By taking on the game’s daily and weekly missions you can earn coins which can then be spent on unlocking new outfits and any of the game’s 20 ‘licensed’ music tracks. And when we say ‘licensed’, we mean Imagineer has seemingly found someone who’s never played a MIDI keyboard in their life and then given them a licence to have a go at recreating each song. We’d have hoped that after two games like this the quality would have improved but the new tracks here are still abysmal.
On paper, it’s a fine mix of songs from the likes of Britney Spears, Fall Out Boy, and Billie Eilish (let’s just ignore What Does the Fox Say), but sadly people tend not to listen to music on paper. In practice, the results — with no hint of hyperbole for comic effect here — genuinely sound like bad polyphonic ringtones from the early 2000s. Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins is a particular lowlight – the guy’s in his late 70s, please make sure he never gets to hear this or the next danger zone will be in his ticker.
Conclusion
The awful music aside, Fitness Boxing 3 brings some much-needed variety to what could have been another by-the-numbers release with new songs and not much else. The Sit Fit Boxing and Mitt Drills modes give options to those who want to be less or more active respectively, and the extra trainer options are ideal for players who like to pretend they’re dealing with an actual person. And even better, because Mitt Drills isn’t rhythm-based, you can put your headphones on and listen to your own tunes.
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"The music sounds like someone punted a piano through the window of a cat cafe"
May I see the full songlist and artist name from Fitness Boxing 3 and how many songs are there?
Btw, is there option to mute the song?
Been playing fitness boxing 2 for a couple of months now and I'm enjoying the workouts.
However it seems that sometimes the joy con doesn't register the punches you make. @scully1888 is that still the case with FB3? And is it worth a upgrade if you have a previous game in the series?
Now I'm Inclined to get this just for the Danger Zone rendition. Maybe the cheesy music is intended to induce rage?
That is a hilariously written Con
One step closer to Wii Fit Trainer dating sim
Three steps back for Kenny Loggins
@1UP-HUSKY Haven't noticed any major occurences of it not registering punches this time, to be honest. That doesn't mean it won't happen depending on your own setup / punch style but it's generally been fine for me.
I’ll eventually pick this up. I enjoyed the other games along with the Fist of the North Star edition. I hope they add some more trainers that didn’t make the cut.
I feel like Ring Fit Adventure is so good, everything else will disappoint me.
Thanks for the review, too bad about the quality of the songs, but overall I'm still glad I've preordered a discounted physical copy of this and my plan is to alternate it with the Fist of the North Star Fitness Boxing (and other ones I'll eventually get) although I'm not sure if I'll start doing it as soon as it arrives!
Clearly people should buy Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU instead for the tunes.
Anyone else think 5 fitness boxing games on Switch is overkill?
@FishyS : It beats five FIFA Legacy Editions on Switch.
@FishyS I'd also like more variety. Especially since I have pretty much the same exercises in a little game from more than 10 years ago called Wii Fit U... that I still very much enjoy.
I have played through the demo of Fitness Boxing 3 and that didn't make me want to buy the full game. I still have #2 unopened and I do plan to give it a proper try once I collect all of the titles in Ring Fit Adventures. But I do need more variety in the exercises. And to be honest, I think the less there is of a "virtual trainer" the more enjoyable is the game and actually focused on the exercises.
I'm also curious about the Hatsune Miku spinoff (mostly for the music) but ... it will need a huge discount to make me get it.
i was somewhat tempted to pick this up just to box to fall out boy, shame they couldnt just get the instrumental versions of the songs they licensed if not just using them straight up, vocals and all
Those hunky personal trainers have made this day 1 purchase.
Nothing wrong with early 2000s polyphonic ringtones! Better than Crazy Frog at least!
I'd be more impressed if they were Floppotron renditions though.
Wild that Nintendo publishes these games, they look like shovelware.
@FishyS I wish this was more dlc and improvements to the original game, but I understand music licenses can be costly and push them to making the games separate.
I have the first game digitally. I’ll have to try out the demo for 3 and see if I want to pick it up.
Come Friday night I will be punching air to the sounds of Former’s new ep.
GRONINGEN!!!!!
So it's not bad then and has decent extras. I think I've unlocked all the moves/drills/etc. I can unlock in FB1, so I maaay pursue FB3 (Even if it doesn't have Laura... Maybe Monica or Stella can fill that for me... grumble grumble). I wasn't going to, but I'll download the demo and see how I feel about it.
I've been interested since the second game but didn't go for it for whatever reason, so I'll try the demo. This third game sounds better suited for my living space, so that's a big plus.
I already have FB2, was using it regularly but stopped because reasons. I like the new modes, looks like it adds a little variety to things, Is FB3 a worthy upgrade, or do you think sticking to FB2 is better?
@1UP-HUSKY Try the FB3 Demo.. the "Hit Box" timing is hugely improved....
@Gavintendo Actually, FB might look a bit cringey BUT ... it really works if you want to lose weight.
You do need a certain amount of willpower to make sure you do it everyday but I lost 2 stone in Lockdown just using FB2!
@scully1888 referring to those using sit fit mode as “couch potatoes” is disappointingly ableist of you.
@SilentBluntman There was certainly no offence intended, it was supposed to be a joke aimed (I thought quite clearly) at non-disabled people – I even went to the effort in the article to ensure I differentiated between people who actually do have physical impairments who would benefit from the sit-down mode (and listed that as a Pro at the end of the article), and people who don't necessarily need that mode and are just too lazy to get off the couch and do the full standing routine. It's the latter who were the target of the joke, as the article itself explains, and I'd hope anyone who knows me knows I wouldn't dream of poking fun of disability.
@scully1888 your intention isn’t clear in your review - even referring to people as couch potatoes after a hard day’s work is unnecessary. It could easily be revised to something like, “for those tired after a hard day’s work but keen to get a little exercise in, the new Sit Fit mode is ideal. It even caters to those with disabilities who otherwise wouldn’t benefit from buying the game”. You didn’t even mention accessibility in the main review, you just went straight to the couch potato gag. Take it from one writer to another: sometimes you make honest, unintentional mistakes and have to learn from them
@scully1888 I put your passage to ChatGPT and this is what it said:
Your passage could potentially come across as ableist because it uses terms like “couch potatoes” and “slumped on your sofa” in a way that might be dismissive of individuals who may prefer or require seated exercises due to physical limitations. While the tone seems playful and lighthearted, such phrasing might unintentionally alienate or offend readers who rely on seated workouts for accessibility reasons rather than choice.
Suggestions for improvement:
Revised passage:
Sometimes you’ve had a long day and can’t be doing with all the leaning, ducking, and dodging malarkey the game sometimes makes you do, especially in the more intense workouts. For those seeking a seated alternative, the new Sit Fit Boxing mode is the answer. As the name suggests, Sit Fit Boxing allows you to stay comfortably seated on your chair – or even your sofa – while performing a modified set of instructions.
This revision keeps the tone approachable while being mindful of inclusivity.
@SilentBluntman With the very greatest respect I can muster, I will never have ChatGPT or any other AI tool rewrite my own words, and from "one writer to another" as you put it, you must surely understand that.
The reality is that ever since it was coined by a cartoonist in the 1970s, the term 'couch potato' has always referred to people who consciously choose to sit on the couch and watch TV instead of doing exercise, with the emphasis on 'choose to'.
It has never been a term that refers to people with disabilities who can't make that choice, no matter what an algorithm tells you. If you ask ChatGPT about me, it credits me for books I never had anything to do with, so I'd respectfully suggest that it's certainly not infallible. But if you absolutely insist on referring to it for advice, it told me this:
"The term "couch potato" is generally not considered ableist in the traditional sense of the word, as it doesn't specifically target a group of people with disabilities or impairments. The term typically refers to someone who spends a lot of time sitting on a couch, usually watching TV, and is often used humorously or critically to describe a sedentary lifestyle."
With the last of my respect, I'd politely suggest you focus your attention on people who actually do have discriminatory viewpoints, because time is finite and I'd wager your energy would be best spent preaching to someone other than those already converted.
@scully1888 I’m not surprised your ego is too big to admit your mistake here - too many writers are unwilling to accept feedback, no matter how much evidence is presented to them. For a reviewer, your reading comprehension is appalling. Context is key - the actual meaning of couch potato is irrelevant; it’s about the context you used it in. I wouldn’t bother wasting my energy if I didn’t know what I’m talking about and if it weren’t important - you have a public platform and you’re using casually ableist remarks, intentionally or not (and since you’re now aware of it but refuse to edit it, it’s actually fully intentional now).
I asked ChatGPT a VERY specific question: could the paragraph featuring “couch potato” be considered ableist?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: see previous post. AI is pretty good at analysing that kind of information (and weirdly mirrored my own thoughts on it without me telling it so).
AI is a tool that can provide answers. I wasn’t asking it to rewrite your work - that assumption was your own and reveals your insecurity and prejudice regarding AI. I was merely checking whether I was perhaps seeing something that wasn’t there.
You keep using the phrase “with the greatest respect” while treating my concern with the utmost disrespect by refusing to even acknowledge it. This is known as cognitive dissonance. Adding such phrases while behaving in a diametrically opposed manner won’t fool me.
I am disabled myself and found the comment distasteful. I politely suggested you rewrite it. You refused.
This is the problem with ableism: most people don’t even realise they’re doing it. But when you’re made aware of the mistake yet refuse to address it, you become part of the problem. I personally will not let it slide, and I will be sharing this conversation on social media.
I hope in time you will learn to do better.
@scully1888 also, go read the comments on your YT video review. I’m not the only one who noticed it. Opinions can be wrong sometimes.
@SilentBluntman AI is absolutely a tool that can provide answers but, as I explained in the examples I gave, those answers aren’t always correct. Indeed, the same question gave me a different answer to the one it gave you.
If the term offended you I genuinely apologise, but I respectfully reserve the right to keep it there because, by definition, it simply isn’t a term that relates to disability: if I thought it was in any way, shape or form I clearly wouldn’t include it. I have disability in my own family and I’m strongly against people making light of it.
The review clearly gives a scenario in which someone comes home from work, can’t be bothered doing exercise and collapses onto the sofa, before referring to THOSE people as couch potatoes.
It then goes on to point out that the mode is actually designed for people who struggle to perform exercises while standing – I make a point of ensuring the mode’s most useful purpose is highlighted – before going back to the original scenario and continuing the joke which, again, was aimed at non-disabled people (including me, the writer) who just can’t be bothered getting up.
In the pros and cons at the end I then again explicitly point out the accessibility benefits of the mode, in case there was any doubt that I do actually acknowledge who would benefit from it the most.
It was a light-hearted remark aimed at people like me who like the idea of a fitness game but lack the motivation to commit fully to it and, once again, was in no way aimed at disability, because neither is the term.
Once again, I’m sorry if there were hard feelings, but I stand by the text.
@scully1888 Let’s break it down, shall we?
“Sometimes you’ve had a long day and can’t be doing with all the leaning, ducking, and dodging malarkey the game sometimes makes you do, especially in the more intense workouts. For such couch potatoes,”
Couch potato definition: a person who takes little or no exercise and watches a lot of television.
Unrelated to previous sentence, therefore ambiguous. It does not clearly refer to THOSE people as couch potatoes. Adding the “can’t be doing with all the… malarkey” creates a scenario that can include disabled people, because some of them are still able to work. Any writer should be aware of the ambiguity of the written word and strive to make their point as clearly as possible, rather than creating two muddled paragraphs.
“the new Sit Fit Boxing mode is the answer.”
This implies the mode is ONLY for lazy people, forming the unintended ableist remark.
“As the name suggests, Sit Fit Boxing allows you to stay firmly seated on your chair – or, let’s face it, slumped on your sofa – while performing a modified set of instructions.”
Perfect opportunity to explain it as suitable for people with disabilities missed.
“Your in-game trainer sells Sit Fit Boxing to you as a mode “for folks who are less physically inclined or may have trouble performing standing exercises,””
Another missed opportunity to explain it as suitable for disabled folk.
“but you can very much add 'lazy sods' to that list too, because after a long day’s work we appreciated the option to collapse on the couch and swing at the air for a while.”
Unnecessary repetition; suggest consolidation with elements of previous paragraph.
“Naturally, it could be argued that you’re not getting much of a workout in this mode, and that’s fair: we certainly worked up far less of a sweat than in the standing workouts, but we suppose every little bit helps.”
Third missed opportunity to explain benefit to disabled players.
You never explicitly stated that it’s suitable for disabled players - you left that between the lines while making the out-of-place couch potato “gag” that could have been utilised better elsewhere.
I can see you’re determined to die on this hill, but the very fact that I and on YT, numerous others, see it as a problem, you should acknowledge it, apologise, and update it.
And that’s the funny thing here, isn’t it? If you took just some of the energy you’d spent trying to justify this oversight you could have fixed the problem and it wouldn’t be an issue anymore. But you’re certainly stubborn, I’ll give you that.
I’ll give you an example of how I have reacted to feedback on my writing: a friend read one of my novels and said she didn’t particularly like it, which is fine. She sent me a few questions. Some were clearly where she hadn’t understood certain aspects due to a lack of interest, but she raised a few salient points, and I updated the text as a result. Don’t immediately dismiss feedback - think it over, read your own work dispassionately, and if you can’t see a good reason not to address it, then just change it. Don’t be so precious about it.
@scully1888 you really should read the YouTube comments if you still refuse to believe me. Here are some examples:
@AJDarkstar 11 hours ago
Referring to people using sit fit as "couch potatoes" is incredibly ableist.
@tonydelat2322 1 day ago
The seated mode I feel was aimed to people with reduced mobility
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@MyPieceOnThat 1 day ago (edited)
Yeah I'm gonna echo the others here: the seated mode is CLEARLY for accessibility, and it's honestly weird that you guys missed that.
It doesn't seem like a big deal to most, but those of us who are actually in need of such tools are very appreciative.
Also 4:40 this would've been great discreet commentary Imao
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@harrisonjones6507 1 day ago
The sit fit mode was made for people with limited ability like me who are in a wheelchair, not "lazy" people. I usually like your reviews but i didn't really like your attitude in this one.
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@astrallyprojectedwhale5113 1 day ago
Yeah, the tone of the review sounded almost disdainful, especially around the sit fit mode. Weird to hear that around an obvious accessibility mode.
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@MissMasamicchi 1 day ago
Came to the comments to voice this. The attitude really didn't sit well with me. Tone deaf!
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@MissMasamicchi agreed seemed so judgmental to hear him talk like that
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@anyone_but_maddy 1 day ago
Unfortunately really not a fan of the tone this video with the seated mode which is VERY obviously for people with disabilities or mobility issues.
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@dereklove007 1 day ago
Huge L on this one guys. Accessibility is super important and you kind of made a joke about it here.
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