Parents' Guide to BoxVR

Ask most personal trainers and they'll tell you that boxing is a great way to build cardio and stamina while also burning calories and getting or staying in shape. But even if you can't make it to a fully stocked gym, BoxVR offers an alternative way to get in a solid boxing workout. It combines the motions of boxing with the mechanics of a rhythm game, all with the massive scope and scale through the magic of virtual reality. Like most rhythm games, the basic objective is to hit brightly colored targets with your corresponding hand to the beat of a song, all while ducking and dodging hazards tossed in the way. In BoxVR's case, though, the stages have been specifically designed by professional trainers to provide a wide range and speed of motion meant to maximize your workout. After entering in details such as your height, weight, age, etc., the game records your progress and helps you to reach specific fitness goals. It can be a daunting task, but then again, what workout isn't?

There are a few things players need to watch out for when using BoxVR. First and foremost, the constant motion and attention required to monitor onscreen targets makes it very easy to lose track of where you're physically positioned in the real world. If you're not careful, you'll find yourself stumbling over yourself and losing balance while dodging or worse, taking out anything unlucky enough to be within arms' reach due to a stray punch. One other oddity is that, despite being a rhythm game, the targets and motions are never really in sync with the music. Instead, it's more like background noise to exercise to, much like listening to a personal playlist while on a treadmill. It doesn't serve much purpose other than to help pass the time while working out. Still, BoxVR makes for a great (and exhausting) virtual workout that's sure to make you break a real-world sweat.