Let's Yoga
Encyclopedia
is a fitness
video game developed by Vanpool
and published by Konami
for the Nintendo DS
. It was released in Japan on July 5, 2007, Europe on November 16, 2007, and in North America on April 29, 2008.
Let's Yoga features 25 main yoga
exercises for the user to perform, and functions as an interactive yoga workout guide for the player. The game was released concurrently with Let's Pilates, a game also developed by Vanpool. It has received a 76.67% from GameRankings.
. The game then unlocks the first set of workouts for the player; in an effort to keep players at yoga levels equivalent to their abilities, the game asks the player to self-judge whether they are ready to progress to the harder difficulty yoga poses based on user-submitted results. Let's Yoga includes options for shorter sets of yoga poses if the player lacks the time to do the main longer poses. The game also includes yoga poses to complete in office chairs during times the player might be restricted to a desk.
When the player selects a Yoga pose, the game offers voice and video instructions to the player to direct their pose. The game does not offer a preview of the selected yoga pose before starting. The game requires the player to enter in information about their completed exercises as the game has no way of measuring whether the user actually completed the exercises or not.
IGN
's Daemond Hatfield stated that the game would appeal to those who already had experience with Yoga as the game lacked traditional game mechanics. PALGN
's Evan felt that the game was an outstanding compliment to Wii Fit
, although he noted that it "... isn't going to appeal to everyone."
Exergaming
Exergaming or exer-gaming is a term used for video games that are also a form of exercise. Exergaming relies on technology that tracks body movement or reaction. The genre has been credited with upending the stereotype of gaming as a sedentary activity, and promoting an active lifestyle...
video game developed by Vanpool
Vanpool
Vanpools are an element of the transit system that allow groups of people to share the ride similar to a carpool, but on a larger scale with concurrent savings in fuel and vehicle operating costs...
and published by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. It was released in Japan on July 5, 2007, Europe on November 16, 2007, and in North America on April 29, 2008.
Let's Yoga features 25 main yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
exercises for the user to perform, and functions as an interactive yoga workout guide for the player. The game was released concurrently with Let's Pilates, a game also developed by Vanpool. It has received a 76.67% from GameRankings.
Gameplay
The player begins by creating a profile for the game, after which the player is given basic information and background about YogaYoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
. The game then unlocks the first set of workouts for the player; in an effort to keep players at yoga levels equivalent to their abilities, the game asks the player to self-judge whether they are ready to progress to the harder difficulty yoga poses based on user-submitted results. Let's Yoga includes options for shorter sets of yoga poses if the player lacks the time to do the main longer poses. The game also includes yoga poses to complete in office chairs during times the player might be restricted to a desk.
When the player selects a Yoga pose, the game offers voice and video instructions to the player to direct their pose. The game does not offer a preview of the selected yoga pose before starting. The game requires the player to enter in information about their completed exercises as the game has no way of measuring whether the user actually completed the exercises or not.
Reception
Let's Yoga received mostly positive reviews from critics, who were impressed by its detailed yoga instructions; the game received a 76.67% from review aggregate site GameRankings.IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Daemond Hatfield stated that the game would appeal to those who already had experience with Yoga as the game lacked traditional game mechanics. PALGN
PALGN
The PAL Gaming Network is an Australian based video game news and reviews website that focuses on the videogame industry and culture in PAL territories, particularly Australia and the UK. It was launched in 2003 by a group of PAL forum members on the IGN message boards who were disenfranchised by...
's Evan felt that the game was an outstanding compliment to Wii Fit
Wii Fit
is a video game developed by Nintendo for the company's home video game console, Wii, designed by Hiroshi Matsunaga. It is an exercise game consisting of activities using the Wii Balance Board peripheral...
, although he noted that it "... isn't going to appeal to everyone."