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Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout is a value priced exercise game that would more accurately be named Gold’s Gym Shape Boxing.

Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout main attraction is Shape Boxing and other than the control not really measuring anything except movement, it does a very good job at it.  Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout offers a wide variety of shape boxing programs starting from basic punches to complex sequences including dodging and side-stepping.  Depending on the activity level chosen the automated programs will last between about 10 to just over 30 minutes.  In addition to shape boxing, there are a number of other activities included.  The game tracks the number and quality of punches you throw and uses it to trigger various unlocks such as more music and additional clothes for both you and your instructor.  There’s also an exam mode that tests your ability to accurately throw various combos.  Some of these even make use of the Wii Balance Board.  However, none of them are done nearly as well as the shape boxing and all of them have various issues and the exercises they implement are done much better by competing exercise games.  On its own Cardio Workout would not make a good enough exercise game to keep you occupied for long periods of time.  However when used with other more comprehensive games such as Wii Fit Plus or EA Active More Workouts it makes for a good change of pace and with its value price (about $20) it won’t break the bank.

Scores:

Graphics:
Marginal at best, but gets the job done.

Sound:

Midi style music can get very annoying, but you can turn it off.  Voice instruction work fine, but is nothing exceptional.

Gameplay:
Shape boxing works well, everything else is marginal.  Lack of development of none shape boxing modes makes it more of a companion game rather than something that can stand on its own.

Controls:

Controls for the most part only detect motion not that you are throwing the correct punches.

Originality:

Shape boxing for an exercise game is a good idea, it just isn’t fully implemented.

Overall Single Player:

The single player experience overall is ok if used as a supplement to another program.  By itself the amount of time your likely to play before being bored is limited.

Reviewer’s Opinion:

A good idea and a decent value, but overall merely mediocre.

Screenshots: