UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System

Review

Common Sense Media says

Workout program encourages fitness while advertising UFC.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System is a workout program designed to help people lose weight, build muscle, and stay in shape. It's a spin-off product tied to the UFC, a mixed martial arts professional fighting league. Expect to see plenty of logos, names, and personalities associated with the sport. However, aside from some repetitive workout activities that emulate fighting moves -- including aggressive punching, kneeing, and elbowing movements -- the software does not encourage players to engage in fighting or teach them how to be a mixed martial arts fighter.

  • Positive messages2
    Though an offshoot of a professional fighting league, the game does not aggressively promote the UFC. Nor does it encourage the audience to train to become fighters. Its primary concern is to help users get in shape, to encourage people, and instruct them in how to engage in a regular workout regimen to lose weight and build muscle.
  • Positive role models3
    The humans in the game (filmed instructors) are actual trainers who look into the camera and speak directly to the player, providing guidance and encouragement. When engaged in a workout, players can hear voices telling them that they are doing a good job and to keep it up.
  • Ease of play4
    All players have to do is follow instructions and physically emulate what is depicted onscreen. Common Sense Media was provided the Xbox 360 edition of the game for evaluation, which requires the Kinect motion sensor. All activities are highly intuitive using Kinect.
  • Violence0
    There are no acts of violence in this software, but many of the workout routines involve repetitive fighting-style movements, including throwing punches, jabbing with elbows, and raising a knee as though making contact with an opponent. The instructors also reference what it is like to be in professional fighting competitions.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism3
    This software is a spin-off of the mixed martial arts professional fighting league known as UFC. It features references to and videos of personalities associated with the league. It also references real training facilities used by some UFC athletes, and a box insert advertises UFC-branded weight training gear that can be used in conjunction with some of the routines.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
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What's it about?

UFC PERSONAL TRAINER: THE ULTIMATE FITNESS SYSTEM isn’t a game but instead a piece of workout software designed to help people lose weight, build muscle, and establish an ongoing fitness regimen. Users begin by entering data including height, weight, and age, then working through a simple fitness test composed of sit-ups, push-ups, and jumping jacks, which allows the software to track a participant’s progress. Users can then select the workout routine of their choice, engage in one-off activities, or begin a longer-term 30 or 60 day program. A few activities allow pairs of players to train simultaneously. Note: We evaluated the Xbox 360 version of the game, which requires the Kinect sensor. The PlayStation 3 edition requires the PlayStation Move wand, and Wii version is compatible with the Wii Balance Board. 

Is it any good?

 

There is little doubt that, used as directed, UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System delivers an excellent cardiovascular workout. We were panting and sweating within minutes of popping in the disc. What’s more, the variety -- there are dozens of routines and activities -- does a good job of keeping workouts fresh from one session to the next. The progress tracking system allows users to track their performance and delivers a visual representation showing improvement, which is key for keeping people motivated.

However, much will depend on your interest in UFC. While the game does not train users how to fight, many of the routines involve aggressive movements, including punches and jabbing with elbows. Plus, the UFC logo and UFC personalities are omnipresent. If you don’t enjoy the sport or what it represents -- people beating each other up -- you’ll likely walk away with at least a slightly sour taste in your mouth. 

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about other ways to stay fit. When possible, do you take the opportunity to walk or use public transportation rather than drive to your destinations? Do you participate in regularly scheduled physical activities, such as sports or workout programs?

  • Families can also discuss whether they think video games can be a valuable part of their fitness regimen. How long do workout games hold your attention? Do you feel as though you can take what you’ve learned in a game like this and use it away from the television?

This review was written by Chad Sapieha

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This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Exergaming
Developer:THQ
Release date:June 28, 2011
Price:$49.99
ESRB rating:E for Violent References
This review was written by Chad Sapieha

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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