The package includes a wide angled lens which you must attach to your EyeToy camera before commencing. This projects a full head-to-toe image onto the TV screen, thus increasing the level of interactivity. Instead of just waving your arms about - as you do in EyeToy: Play's head-n-shoulders format, you can now use your entire body. Be sure to dress appropriately, i.e., as if you really were going to the gym, because you are guaranteed to work up a sweat. Depending on the size of your room, you will probably need to rearrange the furniture to facilitate freedom of movement. This can be a workout in itself and could prove a deterrent to maintaining a long-term fitness programme. On the other hand, you could look upon the furniture shifting as a precursor to your warm-up, and incorporate it into your routine: "Breathe in, push couch. Breathe out, shift coffee table..."

Once past the introductory trailer, you meet Matt and Anna - two buffed, virtual personal trainers whose attributes include positive and distinctly different personalities, and whose role is to guide and motivate you throughout your programme. They are responsible for introducing each exercise, monitoring your performance via the camera and providing advice, encouragement and feedback throughout. For example, when the camera detects you are too close to the screen, your chosen personal trainer will prompt you to move back. If you are having trouble with a particular exercise, a silhouette will appear, demonstrating correct stance and movement, and verbal instructions are given to aid your efforts. Granted, everyone looks a bit silly kicking and punching at thin air, but any feelings of self-consciousness will quickly evaporate as you find yourself concentrating on the screen.

The exercises are divided into four very different categories or 'zones': The Cardio zone features exercises in the form of games to improve your cardio fitness and is guaranteed to get that heart rate up. The Combat zone is for increasing the speed of your reactions plus improve flexibility and strength. The Toning zone concentrates on all-round body conditioning and toning (think washboard abs and buns of steel!). The Mind and Body zone is where you go for relaxation, breathing, posture and balance exercises.

The exercises for EyeToy: Kinetic are taken from a range of fitness disciplines - from martial arts to dance and aerobics, with Tai Chi and Yoga sequences rounding out the selection. You can embark on a fully personalised routine that is managed by your personal trainer, and which features a 12-week programme tailored to your age, weight and fitness level. A calorie counter and statistics are displayed at the end of each exercise, allowing you to gauge your performance and chart your progress from previous workouts; each week you performance is assessed and your routine altered accordingly to ensure you gain maximum benefit from the programme.

Alternatively you can elect to design your own routine if you already have the knowledge and confidence to do so. This is done by choosing from a wide range of exercises from any of the four zones - remembering of course to incorporate that all-important warm up and cool down to maximise results and minimise the risk of discomfort or injury. EyeToy: Kinetic's holistic, adaptable approach is sure to appeal to a wide range of people and is without a doubt its most innovative feature.

This is no mere fitness video, where the routine becomes, well... routine after a while. Any personal trainer worth his salt will tell you that an exercise is only effective while your muscles are "feeling da burn". Once those muscles become stronger and accustomed to a certain level of effort, you won't see further improvement until you increase the challenge or diversify your programme.

Each of the four zones includes a selection of music tracks to complement the type of exercise being performed, e.g. ambient and relaxing for Mind and Body, pumping dance tracks for Cardio - or you can switch the music off if you prefer, exercising instead to the sounds of your own, laboured breathing. The personal trainers feature realistic and accurate movements due to the motion capture process used in their creation.

In summary: here is something for both fitness enthusiasts and beginners wishing to incorporate an interactive, customisable and entertaining exercise regime into their lives; proof positive that PlayStation 2 can be good for you. Even affirmed couch potatoes may find themselves pleasantly surprised. The next time some well-meaning friends or relatives make a disparaging comment about video games and poor health, simply whip out EyeToy: Kinetic and make 'em eat their words!