Feel the burn! Countless games and accompanying gadgets have claimed that they would turn gamers from being simple couch potatoes into lean and mean fighting machines. But what we've mostly been left with are plastic accessories that wind up collecting dust or get tucked under the couch after the appeal of the games and the lackluster results of the workouts have set in.

But EA Sports Active 2 looks to finally give fitness-loving gamers the burn they so desire. And Electronic Arts gets right to the core, figuratively and literally, by keeping the exercises and the equipment simple. Active 2 is available on three platforms - Xbox Kinect, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii - and each versions plays to the strengths and weaknesses of the equipment already available.

On Xbox, the Kinect sensor tracks the player's full-body motion to recognize whether they are doing the exercises correctly or not. The kit also comes with a neon green resistance band to aid with certain exercises, the game disc, and a heart-rate monitor that is strapped to the left arm to provide feedback on heart rate and an estimation of calories burned.

The Kinect version isn't quite as accurate as the Wii and PS3 versions, but it gets the job done. The camera picks up most exercises perfectly, though certain activities (for this player, running) don't seem to read as well, meaning on occasion the gamer will spend too much time trying to trick the system rather than just doing the exercises. Those moments can be a major buzz kill for an otherwise solid workout, but luckily they don't occur often.

The Nintendo Wii ups the sensors, with an arm band and leg band. It also uses the built-in motion controls of the wireless Wii Remote to sense the gamer's motion during the workout.

But the most accurate of the bunch may be the PlayStation 3 version, which comes with three motion-sensing bands. Players attach one to each arm, and one to a leg. On Sony's console, these bands track the motion of the player during the exercises. Though it sometimes still has issues based on size of the player, it generally reads very well and provides an accurate reading without the need to hold anything while playing.

Despite the difference in the equipment, at the core of EA Sports Active 2 is a solid piece of fitness software. Given, the lack of equipment makes it rather obvious that gamers could be getting this same workout without a $99.99 retail purchase, but like the workout tapes of old, EA Sports Active 2 is geared toward guiding gamers in the right direction and keeping them motivated through progress tracking. It's also fairly easy to find the set on sale.

Active 2 offers more than 70 unique exercises - from traditional stretches and core routines, to themed ventures like soccer-, basketball- and biking-inspired exercises. The exercises can be placed into totally customizable routines by the gamer, or the player can follow a guided program, such as the core nine-week program.

It's the stat tracking that will be really beneficial to those looking to monitor their progress, though. Active 2 monitors calories burned and heart rate within each exercise session, but it also allows players to compare workouts over time, along with the help of website account integration. Players can lay out their workout schedule in advance, and get info on missed days and the like.

Players can also take daily surveys about exercise and nutrition in daily life. These are used to track progress outside of the game, including calories burned and bettering nutrition. All in all, it's a nice package, albeit a little pricey. On Xbox, players are simply receiving the addition of a heart rate monitor for the price tag, so they're better off waiting for a good deal than dropping nearly $100.

But for what it's worth, EA Sports Active 2 provides a more legitimate workout than any other company to date. It is all but guaranteed to make gamers truly feel the burn from its back-to-basics core workout. And while it will add a few more peripherals to the living room, with a heightened price tag, for those looking to get a good workout alongside their video game equipment, there likely isn't a better option available than EA Sports Active 2.