I recently purchased a Quest 2, Meta’s virtual reality headset, to check out the Horizon Worlds, also known as the “Metaverse.” Unfortunately, the metaverse turned out to be hot garbage. It’s a buggy mess of the experience of floating cross-legged with a stranger in a world that looks worse than a video game from 20 years ago.
Then I found Supernatural. It’s such a great virtual reality fitness experience that Meta has acquired Within, the makers of Supernatural. The FTC recently tried to block the move because it believes Meta should compete on its own terms rather than “buy your way to the top.”
Anything is fine.
Having done CrossFit for three years before the pandemic hit, I was skeptical about working out with a big white box stuck in my face. But Supernatural blew the wind out of me. In less than ten minutes, I was sweating to the floor and my heart was pounding. This was something he hadn’t experienced since he last tried CrossFit about a year ago.
The classic Supernatural workout is called “Flow.” As soon as you boot, you’ll be immersed in a breathtaking location. For example, the Great Wall of China, the Galapagos Islands, the Temple of Horus in Egypt, and more in gorgeous, photorealistic VR. Then move your entire body, smash flying targets with your virtual club, crouch to dodge virtual triangles, lunge, and lift your knees to the beat.
By the way, the beats come from tracks by popular artists like Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, The Jackson Five and more. There are also songs from Broadway musicals, 80’s and his 90’s oldies, and Disney classics. (There’s nothing like swinging a baton in the air and smashing something while blaring “Circle of Life” at the same time.)
Flow isn’t the only workout at Supernatural. You can also box, stretch and meditate. (You don’t need to smash your target here, just sit back, breathe, and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you.)
Sure, you look completely silly to everyone while working out in VR. —PD
can get a subscription to Super natural About $15/month.
you can buy Quest 2 VR Headset About $400 on Amazon.
