Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku (Nintendo Switch) Review

Hatsune Miku is no stranger to the video game scene. The vibrant, danceable pop tunes being the perfect contender for rhythm games, coupled with an eclectic cast of supporting characters. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA has had massive success across different platforms, now something of a worldwide phenomenon.

Entries like Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix for Nintendo Switch and Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone on PlayStation 4 have brought those pop anthems to the West to critical acclaim. With the core rhythm series cramming in expansive song lists, can the same be said about Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku?

It does seem like a rather odd collaboration initially. Previous entries in the Fitness Boxing arena revolving around fighting characters, like the chap from Fist of the North Star. However, it all becomes apparent when the rhythm elements start to flash on screen. Boxing is very much a reliant on a good sense of timing, stance and form.

Much like most games in the rhythm genre, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku is all about that timing. Swinging and jabbing punches in time to the on-screen icons, each defining the type of move needed to lock in those points. There are on-screen instructions around how players should - if they can - stand/pose, but ultimately it all comes down to those sensors in the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con. There a willingness needed from the player to really go for it! Keep the moment going on the toes, maintain form and really push through those punches. Hatsune Miku and friends chime in from time to time with words of encouragement, but it's the instructors themselves - Rin and Evan - that belt out commands to spur you on. A shame that there's not as much input from Hatsune Miku as there could be, however!

Overall, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku does have a well-rounded set of modes, from timed daily workouts to a more flexible Free Training feature. Here general music tracks and more familiar Vocaloid songs can be selected, together with difficulty toggles to up the ante and intensity. There's quite a solid selection of pick from - though perhaps not as much as the huge roster in the Project Diva games. There are over forty songs to pick from, which is about average in a fitness / dance game. The longevity really does depend on if Fitness Boxing feat.

Hatsune Miku becomes part of a daily fitness routine and how long players can jab to Vocaloid pop.
Songs and characters aside, does the game offer a sizable workout? Short answer is yes. They can become intense, especially if you truly follow the stretches and committing to foot movements. It surprisingly hits those joints that have been lurking in the shadows for some time. It may not quite be as fully-fledged as something like Ring Fit Adventure, but there's a definitely burn after completing a handful of workouts.

Beyond the workouts, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku features a selection unlockable content - outfits for the various partner characters to customise the experience. It's a nice to have, but not the main draw for completing workouts.