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Ring Fit Adventure

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Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit Adventure icon, depicting the female playable character, enemies and the Ring-Con accessory
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD[a]
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Hiroshi Matsunaga
Producer(s)Kouichi Kawamoto
Designer(s)
  • Naoya Yamamoto
  • Ryosuke Suzuki
Programmer(s)Shinji Okane
Artist(s)Takafumi Kiuchi
Writer(s)
  • Mari Shirakawa
  • Yuichiro Ito
Composer(s)
  • Shinji Ushiroda
  • Maasa Miyoshi
  • Shiho Fujii
  • Asuka Hayazaki
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseOctober 18, 2019
Genre(s)Exergame, role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Ring Fit Adventure[b] is an exercising action role-playing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The game comes with two physical components: the Ring-Con, a Pilates ring that the user holds and which one Joy-Con slots into, and a Leg Strap, a piece of fabric affixed to the user's leg that holds the other Joy-Con.

The game's main mode is a turn-based role-playing game in which movements and battle actions are based on performing physical activities using the Ring-Con and Leg Strap, with the Joy-Con's motion controls detecting the player's movement and a strain sensor in the Ring-Con detecting bending of that accessory. Other modes include guided fitness routines and party-style games. These activities are centered around common fitness exercises, making the game part of Nintendo's "quality of life" goals in line with the game's spiritual predecessor, Wii Fit. The game was released worldwide on October 18, 2019, and received generally positive reviews from critics. As of March 31, 2023, the game has sold over 15.38 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games on the system.

Demand for the game increased drastically during 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related closures of gyms and other exercise facilities, causing shortages in many countries. This led to resellers in America selling the game for over $300, up from its retail price of $80.[1]

Gameplay

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Combat in Ring Fit Adventure has the player complete an exercise move (shown on left) to defeat enemies in game.

Ring Fit Adventure ships with the Ring-Con and Leg Strap, which have docks to hold the Switch's Joy-Con. These accessories are required to play the game, as the player's interactions with them are tracked by the motion controls built into the Joy-Con.[2]

The game's main mode is a role-playing game in which the player takes the role of a young athlete who meets the sentient Ring and teams up with them to take down the evil, bodybuilding dragon Dragaux.[3] The player moves their character across the game's overworld and into various dungeons, where they encounter monsters to fight. Moving across the game world is similar to a rail shooter; the player moves along a fixed path by running in place, jumps over obstacles by squeezing and releasing the Ring-Con, and can fire projectiles at items by squeezing the Ring-Con in the target direction. When the player encounters monsters, the game uses turn-based combat, in which the player attacks enemies by performing exercises, with the amount of damage they deal based on how effectively they completed the exercise. When monsters attack, the player can defend by pressing and holding the Ring-Con into their abdomen for as long as possible during the attack. Defeating monsters earn the player-character experience points, and as they level up, they can unlock additional exercises that deal more damage. Exercises are classified by color, with each color corresponding to a general part of the body the exercise is geared towards: red for arms, blue for legs, yellow for core muscles, and green for yoga positions. Monsters are also marked by colors, and exercises of the same color are more effective against them, but only after that ability is unlocked early in the game.[2]

In addition to the adventure mode, the game includes a general fitness routine mode that allows the player to perform exercises separate from the game. The game also has mini-games based on certain exercises, which is either single-player or multiplayer.[2] An update in late March 2020 added a "Rhythm Mode", which allows the player to exercise to music from the game as well as music from other Nintendo games, such as Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, and Wii Fit.

The game includes the option to enable only quiet exercises to avoid disturbing others nearby. For example, in quiet mode, the running-in-place in the adventure mode is replaced by performing squats.[2]

Development

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The game was first teased in early September 2019 with a video showing people using the Ring-Con and Leg Strap without showing the game,[4] with a full announcement of the game a week later.[2]

Several journalists observed that the game fits into Nintendo's long-running "quality of life" program, to introduce more physical activity into the playing of video games, that had been started by Satoru Iwata with the introduction of the Wii console, particularly in the game Wii Fit.[2][5][6] Parts of the design of the Nintendo Switch had been from player feedback from Wii Fit looking to make the controllers smaller so they could be strapped to the body and used in more possible ways.[7]

Ring Fit Adventure was released in North America on October 18, 2019. The game, shipping with the Ring-Con and Leg Strap, costs slightly more than a typical game.[2]

On March 26, 2020, a free update was released, adding a rhythm game mode.[8]

Reception

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Ring Fit Adventure received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic, with a score of 83/100. It has also been rated on IGN as 7.8/10. Critics agreed that, while not designed for strength training, it was effective exercise for maintaining fitness. As well, they found its RPG elements to be simplistic, which made it more accessible to casual players, but could be disappointing those who wanted more of a strategic challenge.[20]

Sales

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Ring Fit Adventure debuted at #3 in the UK,[21] and #1 in Japan and South Korea.[22][23] In Japan, it sold 68,497 copies within its first week on sale, which placed it at number one on the all format sales chart.[24] By December 2019, the game had shipped 2.73 million units worldwide.[25]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for the game increased significantly, creating shortages.[26][27]

On June 18, 2020, it was confirmed that Ring Fit Adventure had sold over one million copies in Japan, where it shipped a total of 1,006,069 copies across the region.[22]

From launch to September 2020, the game has sold 5.84 million units worldwide.[28]

As of March 31, 2022, the game sold 14.09 million copies making it one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games.[29]

By March 31, 2023, 15.38 million copies of the game were sold worldwide.[30]

Awards

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The game was nominated for "Best Family Game" at The Game Awards 2019,[31] for "Family Game of the Year" at the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards,[32] and for "Game Beyond Entertainment" at the 16th British Academy Games Awards.[33]

Potential benefits of Exergames

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Exergames such as Wii Fit, Kinect, and Ring Fit have been the subject of research for their potential for therapeutic and health benefit. Studies[34][35] have shown potential use of exergaming in lowering BMI and improving mobility, especially in older individuals.

Notes

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  1. ^ Additional work by 1-Up Studio, Mario Club and SRD
  2. ^ Japanese: リングフィット アドベンチャー, Hepburn: Ringu Fitto Adobenchā

References

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  1. ^ Gartenburg, Chaim (March 19, 2020). "People Are Driving for Hours And Paying $300 to Buy Nintendo's Fitness Game". Vice. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Webster, Andrew (September 12, 2019). "Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure is Wii Fit meets Final Fantasy on the Switch". The Verge. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  3. ^ "Ring Fit Adventure™ for Nintendo Switch™ – Official Site". ringfitadventure.nintendo.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Gartenburg, Chaim (September 5, 2019). "Nintendo teases strange new motion control experience for Switch". The Verge. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Good, Owen S. (September 12, 2019). "Nintendo Switch's new ring controller game is Ring Fit Adventure". Polygon. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Dayus, Oscar (September 12, 2019). "Nintendo Switch's Weird New Fitness Device Detailed: Ring Fit Adventure Releases Soon". GameSpot. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  7. ^ McAloon, Alissa (February 9, 2018). "The Nintendo Switch, Joy-Cons, and even Labo are the result of Wii-era feedback". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  8. ^ McWhertor, Michael (March 26, 2020). "Ring Fit Adventure adds a rhythm game mode with music from Splatoon 2, Breath of the Wild". Polygon. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "Ring Fit Adventure for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Andriessen, CJ (November 3, 2019). "Review: Ring Fit Adventure". Destructoid. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Miranda, Felicia (December 12, 2019). "Ring Fit Adventure Review: A sweaty week in Nintendo's ring". Digital Trends. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Sitzes, Jenae (October 18, 2020). "Ring Fit Adventure Review: One Year Later". GameSpot. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Loveridge, Sam (October 18, 2019). "Ring Fit Adventure Review". GamesRadar+. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (October 17, 2019). "Ring Fit Adventure for Nintendo Switch Review". IGN. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "Test: Ring Fit Adventure: When sport and video games become one". Jeuxvideo.com. October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  16. ^ Scullion, Chris (October 22, 2019). "Ring Fit Adventure Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  17. ^ Tekaia, Pascal (April 17, 2020). "Ring Fit Adventure Review". RPGamer. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Erskine, Donovan (January 14, 2020). "Ring Fit Adventure review - Slaying monsters and calories". Shacknews. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Donaldson, Alex (October 26, 2019). "Ring Fit Adventure review: Nintendo's fitness RPG is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year". VG247. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "The Legend of Zelda: Ring Fit Adventure for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  21. ^ Batchelor, James (October 21, 2019). "UK Charts: Switch dominates as The Witcher 3 leads slew of new releases". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  22. ^ a b Romano, Sal (June 18, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 6/8/20 – 6/14/20 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "MediaCreate 10 月 14 日～10 月 20 日一週銷售排行榜 《健身環大冒險》再掀體感熱潮" [MediaCreate's Weekly Sales Ranking from October 14th to October 20th "Ring Fit Adventure" set off another wave of somatosensory sensations]. 巴哈姆特電玩資訊站 (in Traditional Chinese). October 28, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  24. ^ Romano, Sal (October 23, 2019). "Famitsu Sales: 10/14/19 – 10/20/19 [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  25. ^ "Million Sellers Titles of Nintendo Products" (PDF). p. 7. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  26. ^ D'Anastasio, Cecilia (March 10, 2020). "Coronavirus Fears Spark a Run on Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure". Wired. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  27. ^ Yu, Sophie; Lee, Joyce (February 25, 2020). "Chinese consumers snap up yoga mats, video games, condoms as coronavirus keeps them at home". Reuters. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  28. ^ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2020/201105e.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  29. ^ "Financial Results Explanatory Material 1st Quarter of Fiscal Year Ending March 2022" (PDF). Nintendo. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  30. ^ "Financial Results Explanatory Material" (PDF). Nintendo. May 9, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  31. ^ Winslow, Jeremy (November 19, 2019). "The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Full List". GameSpot. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  32. ^ Chalk, Andy (January 13, 2020). "Control and Death Stranding get 8 nominations each for the 2020 DICE Awards". PC Gamer. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  33. ^ Stuart, Keith (March 3, 2020). "Death Stranding and Control dominate Bafta games awards nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  34. ^ Sato, Takashi; Shimizu, Keisuke; Shiko, Yuki; Kawasaki, Yohei; Orita, Sumihisa; Inage, Kazuhide; Shiga, Yasuhiro; Suzuki, Masahiro; Sato, Masashi; Enomoto, Keigo; Takaoka, Hiromitsu; Mizuki, Norichika; Kim, Geundong; Hozumi, Takashi; Tsuchiya, Ryuto (June 2021). "Effects of Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure Exergame on Pain and Psychological Factors in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain". Games for Health Journal. 10 (3): 158–164. doi:10.1089/g4h.2020.0180. ISSN 2161-7856. PMID 33891508. S2CID 233382037.
  35. ^ Sween, Jennifer; Wallington, Sherrie Flynt; Sheppard, Vanessa; Taylor, Teletia; Llanos, Adana A.; Adams-Campbell, Lucile Lauren (May 2014). "The Role of Exergaming in Improving Physical Activity: A Review". Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 11 (4): 864–870. doi:10.1123/jpah.2011-0425. ISSN 1543-3080. PMC 4180490. PMID 25078529.
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