Fitness Boxing 3 can and should give you a kick

Boxing is a full body workout. So deceptive: you only move your arms, how difficult can it be, right? But if you throw a punch correctly, you bring your whole body into that movement. A boxing punch should involve a whole series of simultaneous movements involving your legs, your core, your shoulders, And your arms. Fitness boxing 3 cannot provide the same experience as a personal trainer correcting every movement. But it does offer a series of easy-to-learn routines and daily workouts that culminate in a regimen that can get you in shape, as well as attending regular in-person group boxing classes.

As the first paragraph shows, I have taken personal boxing lessons. (Before I started boxing, I also taught karate professionally for many years; I have a black belt in Uechi-Ryū.) So I have a lot of opinions about martial arts training. So it should come as no surprise that I would recommend taking at least one personal boxing class if you really want to understand how to maximize the training you can get out of it. Fitness boxing 3‘s virtual trainers can’t tell if you’re hitting incorrectly and not using your entire body to the extent you should. When I missed a hit in the game, Fitness boxing 3 would almost always give me a “Perfect” or at least an “OK” score on it; the motion sensitivity of portable Joy-Cons is far from flawless. But because I took boxing lessons in real life, I knew when I was doing it right, and so I was able to correct my own form and get a great workout from the routines in this game.

Let’s say you don’t have the intention, time or energy to take an in-person class. How will Fitness boxing 3 rate as your only teacher? Well… fine, if a bit lifeless. After completing the first few days of daily workouts in FB3you can choose from a range of trainers and unlock different outfits for them over time. You can even decide how much they compliment you during a workout (I personally found this scary, although some may find it encouraging – do whatever helps you). They all have slightly dead eyes and narrowly defined body types (the women in particular are tiny) that don’t bear much resemblance to the diversity of the real people who box in real gyms around the world. That body diversity in my gyms has always inspired me, but again, we’re assuming you don’t go to a gym and this game is what you have.

After several days of FB3 If you perform the exercises correctly (and perhaps even if you don’t), you will experience the associated muscle soreness that will illustrate the potential long-term benefits of boxing. The game includes all the actual standard punches and typical combinations that real boxing instructors will teach their students, and it teaches them to you much more slowly and methodically than most classes, which is the main benefit of this game (I definitely felt intimidated and lost on my first personal group lessons became easier, but a group lesson is of course cancelled your pace). You won’t have the advantage FB3 from learning to use a punching bag (something that most in-person classes will include and offer, along with gloves and bandages), but even just 35 minutes of punching the air – if you use your entire body each time – will leave you drenched in sweat and develop muscle mass in places that many other workouts do not reach.

It’s not the same as going to the gym and playing FB3 rewards you with several typical gamification systems so you can log in day in and day out; you earn points and unlock trophies for completing various workouts and routines, and your trainer will soon encourage you to train harder and longer (within reason). If that’s the kind of motivation that helps you stay on track with a new exercise regimen, FB3 will hit all the right notes.

The soundtrack won’t do that. In theory, FB3 is a rhythm game where you hit punches to the rhythm of the music playing in the background. Because the Joy-Con’s motion tracking is so forgiving, this hardly matters, and the game’s music is dull and forgettable. Once you’ve mastered the basic punches and the timing of most combinations, turn off the audio and put on your own soundtrack. I beat along to the speed of my own workout music and still got “Perfect” hits most of the time (and had a much better time with it, since a good workout playlist is half the fun of working out, I say).

The last major disadvantage of Fitness boxing 3 is: it is Fitness boxing 3and that’s it. By that I mean it’s just boxing. Traditional boxing combinations, time and time again. There’s a lot of variety within that framework, but it’s not like a real boxing gym where there are other options: hitting the bag, doing drills, working up to sparring sessions, maybe even using some free weights. This game is just… punching the air. That’s it, every time. And if you’re like me, you need more than one type of workout per week or you’ll get bored. (It’s like I have to constantly create new workout playlists or I get bored. Same deal.)

Luckily, the Nintendo Switch has offered some excellent workout video games. Ring Fit Adventure has been a long time favorite in our household, as has the Just Dance series. I would also recommend expanding your home gym with a set of free weights and a copy of Casey Johnston’s book on Weightlifting for Total Beginners (Launch: from bench to barbell).

Fitness boxing 3 is another great addition to my current home gym and ongoing video game library of workout options, and I was surprised by how comprehensive it was. Personally, I had fallen away from boxing after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the game reminded me how much I love it – and it made me remember that in a simple, approachable way that didn’t make me feel bad about how many years it has been. Whether you’re trying to get back into boxing or are a total newcomer to the sport, Fitness boxing 3 teaches you the basics and shows you how intense the ramp-up can get. It might just inspire you to buy a punching bag… or even go to a place where there are plenty more of them.

Fitness boxing 3 was released on the Nintendo Switch on December 5. The game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch using a download code provided by Nintendo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.