Let's Yoga and Let's Pilates are perfectly respectable exercise tools. What keeps them from being truly great pieces of software is their disinterest in embracing any sort of game mechanics. Wii Fit is a perfect example of an exercise tool that works a lot of traditional gameplay into its program. If Yoga and Pilates figured out how to make a game out of their routines, they could increase their audience beyond people who are already into yoga and pilates.
Presentation - 7.5
Graphics - 6.0
Sound - 7.5
Gameplay - 7.5
Lasting Appeal - 7.5
Overall -
CSM Writes:
"Let's Yoga! offers more than 80 different poses, an eclectic soundtrack of Indian music, and heaps of helpful advice and instruction -- a significant portion of which is provided in voice-over as well as text. One of the most helpful features is the ability to pause an exercise at any time and use the DS stylus to rotate the model 360 degrees. Nothing will ever beat going to a real yoga class, of course, but Let's Yoga! is a good substitute to take out on the road or to provide a solid introduction to the world of yoga."
EarthTimes.org reports in Games Technology News:
Casual gaming has become a major buzzword. It's primarily intended for non-players who would not consider gaming as their top hobby. Casual gamers focus on relaxation and pure playing enjoyment instead of story and graphics in games.
GamePro editor-in-chief Andre Horn says there are two major styles of casual games. The first are Windows mini-games like Minesweeper and Solitaire. Then there is the second style that Nintendo has perfected with the Wii and DS and other companies are trying to replicate.
The story reports how publishers are jumping into casual trend that's spreading quickly: Konami with Let's Yoga! (DS), EA with Boogie (Wii), Sony with SingStar (PS2/PS3) and Buzz! (PS3), Eidos with Nervous Brickdown (DS) and Prism (DS), and Ubisoft with the "Games for me" lineup and Jam Sessions (DS).
Casual gamers play Wii sports a few times and guess what?
They casually put the casual console in the casual closet for the rest of
it's casual life.
