Mesh EA Sports Active 2’s blander interface and straightforward approach to exercise with an intensified version of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved’s routines, and you’d have The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout. Except Ultimate Workout, unlike its counterparts, also adds-on poorly synched voice-overs, grating trainers, and — worst of all — fussy, inaccurate body tracking that makes getting feedback for any of the activities (vital for maximizing the effectiveness of the exercises) a frustrating experience.

The unfortunate part of these detractions is that at its core, Ultimate Workout offers a solid approach to losing weight. It doesn't just spit out a list of exercises — there are also nutritional and diet tips, and even recipes to follow if you so choose. The exercises are suitably challenging; we found ourselves already panting a little at the Moderate level (the second of five difficulty tiers).

Fans of the TV show, the extremely patient, and lovers of ultra-tough workouts will likely enjoy this game the most; for everyone else, we recommend picking up Active 2 or Your Shape.

Kinect

+ Solid workouts, emphasis on whole-lifestyle changes, diet tips during loading screens.

- Frequent inaccurate readings of body positions.

- Nagging, belittling trainers with poor voice-over dubs.

? Seriously, if our knee is lifted to chest level, how much higher can it go?

6.0