Each repetition of an exercise inflicts a bit of damage. I played on moderate difficulty, and defeating monsters took work. A faceless trainer by the name of Tipp demonstrates how to do each one. The exercises you start with include the squat, overhead press, knee-to-chest, and chair pose.

Running into monsters puts you in a turn-based battle where you have to defeat them using a variety of exercises. Felicia Miranda / Digital TrendsĪs you move through levels, enemy encounters will keep you at bay. It takes some getting used to, but once you’ve mastered the art of the ring, you’ll be breezing through levels with style. Push on the ring for strong gusts of air that can break boxes or propel you into the air. Pull on the ring to suck up coins and other hidden objects.

High-knee up stairs and through water to move faster. Just like Phil in Disney’s Hercules, they’ll coach you through the fitness journey and teach you how to use your newfound ring abilities. Ring is a cute, fantastical spin on a personal trainer, resembling a character you’d find tucked away in Greek mythos. It’s not the most original story, but it gets the job done. It’s all in an effort to stop a giant meathead dragon named Dragaux who threatens to ruin the world with his big ol’ scary muscles, and halt the so-called “dark influence.” Playing a bronze, bicep-toting protagonist with flaming red hair, you and a mythical weapon called “Ring” embark on a journey to build your strength. It’s a bit of spartan race mixed with a bit of story to distract you from the fact you’re working out. Ring Fit Adventure has you jog, run, and high-knee through a series of scenic obstacle courses, all the while squeezing on Nintendo’s version of a pilates ring.

After spending a week playing with it, my skepticism sweated away. An adventure game with Joy-Con-powered workout accessories, Ring Fit Adventure is one of Nintendo’s more daring innovations.

Download live a live switch metacritic