Title: Zumba Burn It Up!
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
Publisher: 505 Games
Genre: Rhythm/Dance
Available On: Nintendo eShop
Official Site: Zumba Burn It Up!
Release Date: November 19th, 2019
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch
The art of Zumba is available now, for both at home and on the go. Zumba Burn It Up! is the new game from Kuju Entertainment and published by 505 Games for the Nintendo Switch.
In Zumba Burn It Up!, you will dance to a multitude of songs from different genres. It caters to those looking for a workout or a fun party game, with varying levels of success.
For those unaware, Zumba is a global sensation that combines dance with high-intensity workouts. It is done at over 200,000 locations in over 186 countries, so it is safe to say a market for a Zumba game is there.
Zumba Burn It Up! Features Over 30 Songs To Dance To
The game features over 30 songs to dance to, with a variety of genres like salsa and pop. Each song also has a varying level of intensity, so the player can balance out how intense they would like their workout to be.
Starting a song it will be immediately clear that Zumba Burn It Up! falls in line with other popular dance games like Dance Central or Just Dance. After selecting a song, the player will mirror an instructor on screen and follow their movements to match up.
The player is scored on how well they match their movements to what is happening on screen. If they match completely they get a Zumba bonus, but missing beats will result in lost points. At the end of each song, the player is scored from one to five stars along with other workout statistics.
Even with the tracking of the Joy-Con controllers, it never felt like it was completely right. Sometimes the game would say I nailed a move when I knew I was off while other times I felt I was mirroring the instructor perfectly and the game would say I missed it.
Perfect For A Zumba Fanatic
Other modes include the Full Class, which makes compilations of different songs together for more focused workouts. The classes range from 15 to 60 minutes, so someone looking for more lengthy gameplay sessions will be more than satisfied.
In addition, Zumba Burn It Up! includes the Fitness Party mode for up to four friends to dance together. Dancing and working together will reward the players with bonus points, so it is important to be in sync with your friends.
Given that the game is on the Nintendo Switch, it works just as well docked to the television as it does out in the world in portable mode. The only aspect to note is that the game does require a lot of space to move and dance, so those in a tight play area might need to get out into the open to play.
One tool the game has uses well for workouts is the fitness tracker. It has in-depth sections for statistics, challenges, awards and different goals to complete. The game features daily and weekly goals so there is always something to be striving towards.
Can Lack As A Real Workout
In general, the game works better as a party game than for someone looking for a good workout tool. Even after longer play sessions, it did not feel like a real workout was happening.
The main reason is the lack of instruction from the game in teaching good technique for Zumba. For someone that has never done Zumba before, it felt as if the game could have had a better onramp to get the most out of the workouts.
For example, the recent Ring Fit Adventure, also on the Switch, does a better job communicating to the player how well they are doing with their workouts and where they need to improve. This is also an issue given that Zumba only does tracking through the one Joy-Con controller held in hand, so it can not tracking any lower body movement.
Reduced Price Makes It More Viable To Try
At $39.99, the reduced price does make this more viable for someone to try and see how they would like it. If you are a fan of Zumba, this is an easy recommendation but others might be more interested in games that cater more to their style.
Verdict: Zumba Burn It Up! is the perfect game for a Zumba fanatic that wants a way to dance to their favorite songs at home or on the go. However, if you are someone looking for a party game or more of an introduction to Zumba, it might be better signing up for Zumba lessons at a studio.
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