Beat Saber vs Synth Riders - Which is the better workout?

[@RiskiVR]

I lost it at "Beat Saber is like wack-a-mole on steroids"

[@FitProVR]

Lol tell me I’m wrong! 😂

[@American-Jello]

I snickered at that too! It's such a good descriptor hahahaha

[@MrLichmeister]

@@FitProVR i would say that, but we all know i would be lying😁

[@mimixis]

that title clearly goes to ragnarock

[@godrilla5549]

That's a perfect destriction.

[@nostrace]

For some reason, I feel like Synth Riders feels more like a complete workout when you let your body go along with the song, whereas Beat Saber you need to remain pretty stiff and only rely on your arms and some crouching/leaning here and there. But the thing that is holding SR is that custom songs, although there is a good amount, the well mapped ones can be hard to find and really disrupt the flow you were hoping for. Bear Saber has some terribly mapped songs too, but some of them are pure gems. In the end, IMO, it doesn't hurt to own both. Synth Riders is cheaper and has more chances to be on sale.

[@Jeffs820]

When you find those songs you like on Synthriders put them in your favorites and you'll eventually build a killer play list. To make it in my favorites list is a big deal that is not easily achieved but I'm sure I have over 200 songs in my play list now. We can now play days on end and never hear the same song twice and enjoy each and every one of them. Hope that helps you too.

[@frozenpiper2]

Just got my Oculus Quest 2 after Christmas and immediately bought beat saber. I got Synth Riders bundle with Ohshape for $30. I love BS but feel like I get a better workout with SR because you have to move around.

[@smoothlyrough512]

Arms. Use your wrists. lol, arms....

[@oarguello]

Thats because you chooose to be stiff and in place with BS.... When you realize you can dance to be a better BS player, youll see it s a full workout. They both need you to dance to be fun/effective, but I think there is more freestyle with BS vs Synth Riderz is less flexible

[@a_spiteful_clovr]

​@@frozenpiper2this no longer applies

[@HealyHQ]

Good review! I love both games a lot, and am glad we have them both. Though my personal favorite, if I *had* to choose only one, would be Synth Riders, as I feel it gives the most variety in movement and gameplay. 👍

[@LangeManGlenn]

I was already used to Beat Saber. I was interested in Synth Riders fully expecting it to be a lot easier. I was wrong.

[@graham2409]

Great video. I'm with you on force mode. One thing I'll say though is that the workout you get from Synth Riders is incredibly dependent on the difficulty, more so than with Beat Saber. The hardest difficulties of many tracks (not to mention many of the custom maps) absolutely murder me. The thing is - as you get better in Beat Saber, you subconsciously train yourself to move *less* and just flick your wrists more. As you get better in Synth Riders, you move *more* (there's simply no avoiding it, due to the higher range of motion it forces you to follow). So while at a "moderate" level of play one or the other can seem more intense, I think as you get into the hardest difficulties Synth Riders is a clear winner in exercise intensity.

[@FitProVR]

Totally agree on beatsaber, forced efficiency. Thanks for your comment!

[@brandonakey6616]

You're only partially right. Firstly you get more points for the more you move, though still, If you decide to play it like a robot, sure it can be less intense (like many video of experts I see play it) however this is a choice on how to play the game. When I play it. I PLAY it. And can easily get my BMP very high. It's like with any exercise. You get out what you put in.

[@mimixis]

Omg lmao you are actually the first person in the world to ever get it haha, big props hit that dead on the money!!!;) Top Player here and after 500h I still always physicallly die after every map

[@MrLichmeister]

@@mimixis i think we all die a little after every map when we see our scores are, like, 50% of yours!

[@mimixis]

@@MrLichmeister xD 🥲

[@Leafling]

I'm a big fan of both games and found that switching between them improves my performance on each. Force mode was a game changer for me though, and I initially avoided it for a long time because I imagined it as punching the notes with forward momentum rather than horizontal movement. When I finally tried force mode I found it required increased creativity in movement and that really helped keep me hooked. It made the game much more dance like and is the only way I play it now.

[@SheGingerSnaps]

It's a tough call if you're like me and extremely music motivated. To me, Synth Riders would be the clear winner, more immersive, better graphics, better movement, better flow, game **BUT** Beat Saber has more custom maps and that counts for A LOT. There are amazing mappers out there too but I have to say if Synth Riders had a Beat Sage style AI map generator, it would be over for me.

[@FitProVR]

Tough battle for sure.

[@MrLichmeister]

yeah the map editor really sux. i honestly was shocked that it cant be done IN VR, too. SR is starting to catch up in the cool songs department. Most of the best songs, however, are still only mapped for Master level. I count myself very fortunate that my fave music these days is electro swing and synth-heavy electronic. For me, the fitness game i preferred just so happened to have the tunes i like preloaded 😉

[@axphin]

Synth Riders is a better workout for me because I enjoy it more. I also mix it with some Knockout League training in the reflex alley and maybe some Pistol Whip

[@bigredxennial]

I feel like both are good for different types of workouts, so it ends up being like comparing apples to oranges. Beat Saber is great for cardio. Keeps my heart rate up, its higher impact because you're trying to move faster. Synth Riders I've found gets my arms a lot more sore much faster, so is probably better as an upper body resistance type workout.

[@JetScreamer_YT]

I enjoy Beat Saber so much, but I see your criticisms. I've beefed up in the upper body, but the weight loss isn't as quick as Id like. Even though I try to bounce at the music, I'm sure I look like an airport guy with the orange sticks. It's all torso, and no leg work. And for the last almost three years, I needed an exercise program that I didn't have to move much. I have a tiny apartment. So I did what any sane person would do, I built a murphy bed! Best VR accessory ever! Im ready to try more stuff. Boxing, Synth, and Supernatural are ones ive already bought, but never used. Beat Saber is awesome. I have gone far a 53 yo with heart troubles, to a 29 yo in PAI. I can never leave beat Saber. I love it for saving my life!

[@ninacity3362]

Synth Riders is the best!! I love moving and dancing. Ladies, get Synth Riders!

[@dbmeagle]

Got my Quest 2 a few weeks ago and picked up Beat Saber just because of how popular it is. I moded it and added songs. I've been curious about Synth Riders and now I know I can mod that also and get more songs, I might just have to pick that up too! Thanks!

[@FitProVR]

Yeah! It’s super easy! You just download them from that website and drag and drop them onto the headset.

[@SjaakSchulteis]

A year ago you were right about beatsaber, but now the maps are a lot better (the official ones) where you really swing your arm to the uttermost left or right with the opposite arm. Also with the latest maps, you really are made to swing your arms in long wide bows and at a slow precise pace... it makes Beatsaber a lot better than the old one where you wiggle your hands... I don't know much about synthriders, I played yesterday for the fist time and will play a few times more before I can decide wether I like it or not. It looks nice though and a good addition to my rhythm games.

[@FitProVR]

Agreed!

[@lyrichord]

It’s counterintuitive to the name, but you’re not actually supposed to punch the orbs in Force mode, instead swipe through them at high velocity like slicing through the blocks in Beat Saber, it’s more satisfying than trying to punch them and you get more points. I agree Beat Saber is more fun/a better workout/more challenging etc, but it hurts my wrists during longer workouts due to RSI, so I play Synth Riders more and mainly in 360+ spin mode, which gets the feet moving and arms stretching to a greater degree.

[@Spicy_So_Nicey3746]

I’m going to try this tip! I was doing the same punching thing on Force mode

[@MrLichmeister]

yeah punching doesnt work so well. since it is reading your orbs velocity, there will be alot of hits with velocity at or near zero. instead, swinging and waving your hands through the notes keeps your velocity cranked and makes for a brutal workout. i found, with BS, i could play while sitting down since all it really required was rapid wrist twitches. also, alot of the custom master maps are perfect for force mode or rhythm mode because of the pace and placement of the notes. they keep your velocity cranked just trying to reach for the next orb or rail. Thanks for the vid @FitProVR. I've been asked to compare these 2 tons but my beat sabre experience is limited to the demo. i tried them out both via a demo but after completing maps while lounging on the couch i opted out and bought SR. since the whole point to vr (for me) was to get my ass OFF the couch!

[@Spicy_So_Nicey3746]

Both games are great and it’s sort of comparing apples to oranges or hammers to nails. Both can be equally valuable depending on what you are looking for. It’s really okay to like both for different reasons. That said, I’m REALLY enjoying Synth Riders. I’m on PSVR though and don’t have mods :(. Also- Definitely need to treat both games with proper degree of attention to get good workout. It can make all the difference in the world if you slack off vs. giving the extra effort with good swings/squats etc. Totally agree with you on your point on preference and do what works best for you personally.

[@kurtgoddard2142]

I have watched a lot of videos on comparing the 2 of these and I feel that this 1 is the best representation of both games, well done sir and thank you for the pure honesty.

[@MaryJoSminkey]

One thing not mentioned in here, is the mechanics of how to score well in Beat Saber can be far more likely to create problems in your arms, particularly if you are not someone that regularly exercises and do weight lifting, etc. such that your arms are conditioned to handle lots of swinging motion in wide arcs. Not stretching out before you play is also going to matter here. I found I can play only short sessions of BS even at the easiest levels before I start having some pain in my elbows and shoulders, while Synth Riders up until the harder levels is FAR less impactful on my arms (due to disabilities I am unable to do a lot of exercising so I know that is part of the issue but was still surprised at how fast BS started hurting my arms). I've heard from a number of other SR players that they too ran into problems with BS as well developing tendinitis issues in their elbows or shoulders. SR actually has been therapeutic for me when I'm having any pain in my elbows as long as I don't overdue it (and stick to Rhythm mode) as the gradual movements around the map really help get blood circulation going through those areas without needing to use forceful movements that can cause tendinitis in the first place. Force mode is far more like BS and I've found most people in SR don't like or play force mode (the one time I accidentally joined a Force mode multiplayer room there was only a couple people in there)... which makes sense because if that was the method of play you like, you'd probably just be playing Beat Saber instead (granted BS has the additional challenge of having to swing through the notes in specific directions which is another thing I like about SRs, it makes it much easier to get to the higher levels of difficulty without that additional element to master).

[@cheshirecatmoonsmiles]

I rotate between Beat Saber, Synth Riders and Oh Shape. I like when I come back to a game it feels new again. I know Oh Shape isn't as popular but I love it and its more workout than BS and SR. Like I will be sweating and my floor mat is twisted.

[@razorlightmike4353]

Great video dude

[@popinly8902]

When he said his heartrate doesn't get high in beat saber, he's clearly never beaten spin eternally on expert+

[@FitProVR]

It’s true, i do not have the skills to pay those bills yet :(

[@battleboywildboy1374]

I think that beat saber has a lot more movement if you are playing tech maps like "accelerate" or "final phase". And for visuals and costom maps i would also say beat saber too if you include modded songs like songs by acloudysky.

[@pointmutationVR]

One big difference between the two for me is for some reason I find myself banging my controllers together with Synthriders but not with BS, like hard. Maybe more cross body moves in Synthriders or something. But yeah, totally agree with this vid. And dude, clips from Major Payne and Kung Fury?! Noice.

[@FitProVR]

I agree! Now excuse me while i go watch major Payne for the 666th time!

[@7mcandes]

That was filmed near me

[@MrLichmeister]

lol so true. i've gotten better at NOT slamming them together lately. However, as i have started in on master maps i have encountered a new issue: the wrist straps will wrap around each other during crossovers and will tear the controller right out of my hand. a few days ago i did almost half a song just holding the R controller by the ring because of that.

[@mimixis]

@@MrLichmeister oh wow, that’s a first;) Will get better though quickly and after a bit I’m sure the pesky crosses are nothing but child’s play

[@MrLichmeister]

@@mimixis i have started using the wrist straps since then :) can i just say: your scores are super impressive! 😍👌

[@aldewyn4372]

I used to worry about comparing calorie burn to other people and thinking I was doing something wrong but I realized everyone is different. I can't get higher heart rates. I have two forms of arthritis and can't always move well. In fact synth riders is my go to game when I have a hard time moving. Play on easy or normal and it helps my joints feel better. As a result of my limitations i learned that focusing on my overall calorie count for the day was more important. If I Had a low workout I would take small walking breaks during the day to compensate. It's all relative to the individual.

[@FitProVR]

Love that! Exactly right. Calories are so dependent on things beyond just the workout itself.

[@Leynad778]

Watch out for the carnivore diet. It seems to do some magic healing (not just) for arthritis.

[@American-Jello]

"I'm used to people NOT watching my videos and then hate commenting". Says a man who clearly has KZbin completely figured out 🤣🤣🤣. You're so right my dude! I keep laughing out loud at your descriptions of stuff..

[@TsumitaTenshi]

I just found this video and I found you are so honest and humble. And you said the truth no matter what others might think/say. Respect!!! I played Beat Saber too much I feel fed up and need something else then I considered find a comparison for Synth Riders.

[@FitProVR]

#always

[@twitchster77]

Just picked Synth Riders up last night but haven't played it yet. To me...just by watching this video...it seems like it more closely compares to Audio Trip. Like...a lot! Anyhow, I think Synth is going to be a blast and I'm going to enjoy all 3 of the games!

[@mimixis]

Just go play synth, it’s a gem;)

[@nnnnopeitsmelori3073]

I still use both games everyday, but Synth Riders is my #1. Even above Audio Trip. 🎉

[@kennethmalloy3437]

Overkill (riot) and break free (teminite) are fairly difficult on synth riders. They are well mapped and require lots of movement. For anyone wondering.

[@lonestar98]

This is exactly the video that I was looking for, thank you, great work here really appreciate the insights

[@BartCunningham]

I bought Beat Saber at launch on the PSVR and played it LOTS. It has some really great music. I stumbled into Synth Riders and I definitely prefer it. I also developed some issues with my shoulders and elbows from playing Beat Saber. Playing Synth Riders involves much more natural movements and doesn't cause these issues for me at least. I am 63 and play Synth Riders on Master mode for most songs. I do miss some of the music in Beat Saber and I do go back and play it some but there really is some great music in Synth Riders. Both are great but I do prefer Synth Riders and some of the special 'Experience' maps are just mind numbing trippy experiences that you really must play.

[@64onehotmama]

I'm 58 and played beat saber on Expert Plus for over a year and loved it and played it daily until I found synth Riders. OMG. Synth Riders is hands-down my favorite now. I play in master also and it is definitely a workout for me.

[@DWS2020]

This video did not make me hate you. It made me subscribe to see future content. Keep at it my dude. 😊

[@johndoe-yw7eb]

I play both because I've found them to be a lot more different than I anticipated. With Beat Saber, I feel more connected to the music via the movements it requires. It almost feels like you're accompanying the song on a percussion instrument. With Synth Riders, it feels more like you're working out to music. Way more range of movement in both your body and arms, and if you've got noodle arms, it quickly gets your shoulders burning.

[@ellensamir374]

I purchased BS and SR, love SR for its custom songs. And I just made my first SR song.

[@cuttingback]

Synth riders has my vote.

[@DeshaunXD]

Hot take. I think Synth Riders is the better game overall in my personal opinion.

[@compenceTV]

Definitely cooked when you were talking about Beat Saber not having a frontal plane aspect back then. Almost as if they were listening when they added in the slide notes

[@RickyGarcia_Learning]

I have both, and Audio Trip, and FitXr, etc. Beat Saber has had the most longevity out of all of them. While it's not the hardest. It's the one I have the easiest time picking up. Pro-tip, make sure no fail is enabled so you don't break your flow and have less resting time. It also helps a ton with getting better. In addition to that practice mode while slowing down the tempo really helped. Now I play nearly all my songs on expert+.

[@FitProVR]

Very cool. I like no fail for practice but i do better without it because the pressure is higher for me lol

[@a8lg6p]

That's good advice. Just today I realized I can do Master difficulty on SR, and it's kinda easy. I got there by trying a few times, getting instantly destroyed, and being like, ok, I'm not there yet. And just did Expert for like at least 20 minutes a day for a week. Then one day, bam, master is easy. But with BS... I got to Expert by getting pissed off and doing the same song over and over, doing practice mode, gradually increasing the speed... Can handle Expert pretty well, but on Expert+... Sometimes I can do it, but then it's like I'm total noob again, I forget which hand is which, and I just want to hide from the blocks that are pelleting me in the face. But now I realize from SR that it's just doing a bit of practice every day that does the trick. And one day suddenly you're like "Woah, I know kung fu." This is what I love about these games: you learn so much about the process of learning itself. So I think I'm going to try... Just go through my playlist of like 5~8 songs I like every day on Expert+, no fail mode, and if I miss some... So be it. Just try to hit the ones I can. And just keep doing it every day. I'll see how long it takes until I can hit almost all of them.

[@DrGGP]

I totally agree with the custom maps being boring, most of the so-called 'difficult' map is just ridiculously fast, I find myself having to limit all my movement on my wrist if I want to hit all the boxes, I think this comes from traditional rhythms games in which the speed you can press the button is a crucial part, but for a VR rhythms game this is just not a good design

[@cephun]

First time seeing your videos. I really liked that you covered so many different aspects of these games.

[@miuramarco]

Want a good workout? Thrill of the Fight. That's intense.

[@FitProVR]

Never heard of it

[@miuramarco]

@@FitProVR try it! It’s so good. Hoping they release a sequel.

[@loitersquadX]

​@play it now FitProVR

[@JackPinesBlacksmithing]

​ @FitProVR one day I will stream myself playing it. It's whack-a-mole for my son but it's dance for me. It all depends, even the range of motion, on the player. My son is more a T-rex playing while I'm wanting a whole body workout so I am not just moving my head to dodge walls but squatting, dodging, stepping, am on the balls of my feet, and flowing through the notes. My son always complained that I leave the headset sweaty. I am considering getting Synth Riders, too. Just don't think you're getting the most from Beat Saber if you think it's just whack-a-mole.

[@djdronkenhenk4543]

This is the first video I've ever watched from you and I've got to say that its insanely refreshing. Only 10 seconds of the usual KZbinr "bullshit" and allllll the way in the end. Just straight to the point, getting the content I'm coming for. I love it!

[@FitProVR]

I try not to do too much KZbin bs, you’re all here, you know how it works. Thank you!

[@MarcEspie]

Dude, they're different. Both are fun.

[@MrMilkyCoco]

I just bought synth rider. In beat saber if you get really good then you can rely on the flick of the wrist. With synth riders, you dont have to move your wrist so much but it makes you move more. Synth riders also make it much easier to move your whole body without competing with your wrist for movements. I find myself making more mistakes in beat saber when i try to move my body.

[@twatinahatsmith7428]

Synth riders for me. Not going by DLC as I don't like paying more for a game. I do like Beat Saber not so much the base game gives in regards to music. I actually enjoy the swing songs on there. Nice change up if you are playing non-stop mode from favourites.

[@a8lg6p]

The answer is Audio Trip, hands down. It's exactly like Synth Riders, but they added ones you have to hit with a swinging/punching motion instead of just touching. And after "Master" difficulty, there's "Cardio" "difficulty" setting... Which isn't actually harder; the patterns are actually simpler and more repetitive, but require big movements, fast, over and over. The first half dozen times I tried, I was completely winded at the end--I mean, gasping for breath as if I had done an all-out sprint, despite already being in good shape and having been working out for at least an hour every day for the last year+. I still like Synth Riders for its sound track though... Love the Electro Swing expansion. Between SR and BS though, it's SR, definitely. I tried Ragnarock, and was like, what is this, it's barely physical! There's only one move you ever do, just in different combinations. If BS is "like wack-a-mole on steroids", Ragnarock is even more whack-a-mole, on less steroids. I returned it. So Audio Trip, Ohshape, and Pistol Whip because of all the ducking you have to do would be my top picks for the ones that really work up a sweat.

[@HeliusM112]

I just started with VR. Have both played a little and there the for my little playtime I enjoy Synth Riders way more. Better flow for me

[@Atomsk2]

Synth riders cardio mode is a workout for god damn sure. Beat saber on Fitsaber is all we’ve got there. And I absolutely love Beatsaber. But 5 songs deep on Cardio mode and I’m sweating my soul out. 5 songs deep on Beatsaber and my arms are just tired a bit

[@LordSandwichII]

I started with Beat Saber, but moved to Synth Riders because Beat Saber was starting to really hurt my wrist. I exclusively play on force, because it is more of a workout. Force takes some getting used to, but I promise it's worth it once you get the hang of it. You don't have to punch the notes head on, you can hit them in any direction. Also, because you're not specifically directed as to which direction you are supposed to hit the notes, you have to figure out the optimal way to strike them and still be in rhythm. I also like the YUR watch that comes with Synth Riders, because I can set goals. I know you said not to track calories, but I use the calorie tracker to know long to go, and to push myself. I don't care what anybody else is doing, because my goal is to lose weight, not flex. Another thing I like about Synth Riders, is that you don't always have to play harder modes to get a good workout. I tend to use normal mode to warm up, and because there are fewer constraints in how I have to move, I can embellish it with dancing. In contrast, I find that easier levels on Beat Saber are just too slow and boring. On top of that, there is that issue of constrained movements which means that if I try to dance, I am likely to make a mistake when lining up to strike the next block. If I weren't a terrible dancer, this maybe wouldn't be a problem. 😅 As for Graphics, Synth Riders is a perfect recreation of what we thought VR would look like in the 80s and 90s, and I like that. I sometimes feel like I should be playing it in a shell suit! Lastly, I like the way I can create playlists or do a random song as my next song; I like the fact that I can add custom songs without having to hack my Oculus; and I like the fact that I keep seeing my gamertag on the leaderboards! 😎

[@BenjaminBarlow-t2q]

These are two of the greatest games of all time. No other games can get the serotonin and/or endorphins flowing like them two. I love BS on ps4 and SR on ps5.

[@ChrisJohnsonCJs-Kitchen]

I just recently picked up Synth Riders and I picked it up right away, almost no learning curve from Beat Saber. I actually like the mix of music they have built in and already have a nice list of favorite songs. I definitely get my heart rate up more with Synth Riders and the danceability is much better. Even so, I'm missing my Beat Saber, I love it so much and have a much larger library of songs. Sadly, I have not been able to get it to load for some time now & have been unable to resolve it

[@romank._]

In my opinion, I like Synth Riders better. I just think its harder than Beat Saber

[@lijie2511]

I prefer the custom songs in Synth Riders.

[@fanuvkorn85]

Haha love that hat dude! Oh the nostalgia. That was a game I loved but didn't really like at the same time in some weird way.

[@frankie9373]

For me I definetly sweat more in synth riders and feel like Im working out s lot more because Im actively dancing with my whole body and usually use songs that are more quick movements (like electro swing or disco) and less flowy. I try to also make the beatsaber moves into dance movies and put my full body into it but thats a lot harder to do with the set directions and speed of the notes imo

[@a8lg6p]

Best VR workout: cross training. 10 min each of: Synth Riders, Beat Saber, Audio Trip, Gorn, Blood & Sorcery, Pistol Whip, Creed/Thrill of the Fight, Space Pirate Trainer... That's like an hour and a half of intense cardio, moving in lots of different ways. It's basically how I warm up on all my days off now.

[@FitProVR]

You warm up for an hour and a half?

[@a8lg6p]

@@FitProVR Well, I mean I do at least an hour of physically intense VR games in addition to my regular workout, not necessarily in any particular order, which for the last...long time now has been Gymnastic Bodies. Can't really do progressive strength training and flexibility in VR yet unfortunately. I don't really think of VR as a "workout", just a fun active hobby... Which incidentally is great for cardio. I never did cardio consistently before, maybe a run once a week, a swim now and then. Thanks to VR, I've dramatically increased how active I am throughout the day, on a daily basis. (Lucked by getting a ton of free paid time off lately, so my days have been mostly filled with regular IRL workouts and VR.)

[@a8lg6p]

@@FitProVR So not technically warm up... I just meant how I'll start my VR time with like 10~20 minutes each back to back of Beat Saber, Synth Riders, Pistol Whip, OhShape, Audio Trip... Maybe a bit of Gorn, Blade & Sorcery, the Climb... I like how with VR, unlike flat games where I tend to get sucked into one for hours every day until I finish it and I'm done forever, unless I do a second playthrough at some point... There are some things like that in VR... But most are like activities/skills you can practice. There is no "beating the game", you just get a little better each time, and it's fun to just do a little bit of everything, and get lots of different experiences and movement patterns.

[@kristina3752]

Thank you for your video. I appreciate the comparison between the both.

[@booshting3520]

Like for the Altered Beast retro cap

[@neoneb6401]

Milage will vary based on how much extra effort you put in. When I play bs I try to move my legs and dance around as much as possible to always stay in the aerobic zone or higher.

[@reshaevickery8373]

I find that I get a really good work out by adding wrist and ankle weights. I prefer Synth Riders as it can also target glutes if you sit back into your squat correctly and more full body by design. However you can train yourself to do the same with Beat Saber.

[@MrLichmeister]

I have been warned off the wrist weights by both players, doctors and a physiotherapist. apparently, there's a lot of potential for damage to ligaments. I still use them for custom maps without lots of brutal moves (think vengaboys - up & down) and normal mode tracks. And never more than 2 or 3 songs in a row. I swear those weights are awesome, but i am a layperson. The people telling me to be careful (or to completely stop it) are trained professionals. actually just found fitprovr has a response vid addressing this: ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXrEpJKVf9mbiqM

[@jeffreydanowitz3083]

I really liked this video. I don’t know why you’d expect so much hate when you’ve said what I think is actually quite true. The latest beat saber update 1.17 caused some problems on my quest so I’m going to exclude this assuming it will be fixed but away from that, yes beat saber foes get me into the song more. In terms of sagittal plane and circular motions, when you get into higher modes in beatsaber you get that. If you understand what motions they are getting at, it’s rotations sometimes. Otherwise you’ll break your hands off trying to slash! I never sweated in synth riders like in beat saber. On the other hand synth riders has a built in make your own mappings. I wish beat saber did that and had competitions. Neither of the 2 have classical music. Laugh as you will, there are some classical pieces that would really meet the mark in either game so this is a pity. All in all I love your calls. I agree with your assessments. I think you’re saying what lots of people feel but just are afraid to say out loud. Thanks for the video.

[@adeadphish7931]

Both have music selections that fit my tastes even without mods and will get my lazy gamer ass up and moving now that my psvr space is up and running

[@FitProVR]

I’m jealous! I need that psvr!

[@mari-2-2-2]

Great video! I'm gonna buy Synthriders now! (for crossplay purpose cuz I'm on PSVR) I've been enjoying Beatsaber for over 2 yesrs and It's been great exercise for me but crossplay with non PS isn't available so, time to play synthriders for me hehe.

[@gregr28]

I love Beat Saber and am looking for more similar games to add to my routine. Excellent review and I'll definitely check out Synth Riders (you more than sold me with Muse Algorithm). But thank you so much for adding the caviar about individual fitness level. So many others I see ignore that aspect. As a 300 pound person who's trying to find enjoyable ways to work out that's a very important aspect. Me throwing my arms around is like a more fit person doing it with 5 pound weights strapped to their arms. Which is actually something I've done to compensate for weight loss previously before some injury setbacks.

[@georgejohnson9381]

Ari, I can't imagine me ever hate commenting on your reviews. I find them honest, well thought out, and thought provoking. Doesn't mean I agree with you lock step on every point but I always appreciate your prospective. In some ways, Beat Saber is difficult to compare directly with Synth Riders. They really utilize different game mechanics in my opinion. Just like you cannot really compare Beat Saber with Supernatural which do share some mechanics, Synth Riders is even a more difficult comparison. I like both but I think I lean more towards Synth Riders as my preferred app. I like the range of motion Synth Riders provides, plus as opposed to you, I kind of like the music more. But like you said, that is a very subjective topic. I hate heavy metal for example but some people really like it. To each their own I say. Keep up the good work, Ari.

[@FitProVR]

Thank you George. I always look forward to your comments. They are so different, and beat saber definitely has an a acquired taste.

[@roxy8534]

I prefer beat saber but I love synth rider too, just sad they don't have much easy level some songs look insane but I can't play

[@Te3b0]

6:09 that map/video looks familiar B) great video my guy

[@TheNitpicker]

In case you're using figure 9 or omni then you're using your mic wrong. You should see the leds not the viewer if you use it in cardioid mode and you speak into the front, not the top which it may only look like you're doing with this camera angle. No complaints, your sound seems fine on a phone, just a tip

[@FitProVR]

Sound has spread been a weak point for me. Currently using a boom mic instead of this. Thanks for the tips.

[@yaboirairai]

@@FitProVR but you’ve literally got the mic facing the wrong direction LOL

[@FitProVR]

@@yaboirairai I’ve come a lot g way from this video! Thanks for the input!

[@crstnio]

I just played Synth Riders for the first time and tried easy with maximum movement range. Just two songs from Lindsey Stirling killed me. That is comparable to Expert in Beat Saber. Additionally, Synth Riders has random song selection and custom songs built in without modding the sh*t out of the game on Oculus Quest 2. I like it. **hard breathing**

[@lastrategieduchoc7398]

Good analyse and for me the best IS synth ryders cause i have more fun

[@martinshelton9533]

Beat Saber for warm up and Synth Riders for more of a work out!

[@christuusgnosis]

Good video. I'm not hating on BS, but I really don't dig it. Its too blocky? I just don't have fun with it. I like the custom stages in SR, and the song maps can be so different between mappers. Many SR levels really have a nice flow, whereas I felt almost robotic in BS. I would like to mention that for some ppl like myself, if you have an injury I think you can adjust SR a bit more for comfort and it even has a one handed setting for example, sometimes I have to bring the height down because I can't go above my shoulders sometimes or pain. I am old and wasn't fully into the SR music at first, but with the 3000+ custom song maps out there I have a couple hundred favs to keep playing with. I like your reviews. I can't believe I am losing the fat I accumulated video gaming by playing vr video games

[@cmwyeye1214]

Best beat saber workout, FitBeat and turn on no fail mode!

[@FitProVR]

Meh, I’m not a fan

[@RealPi]

It's good to use different apps for variety. I even like Kizuna AI on standalone quest and Hatsune Miku on both standalone and oculus store (which is much harder). For some reason that makes me sweat a lot more sometimes, so it really varies plus yeah... I'm more into EDM than rock, so BS is less for me eg... Great vid, thanks man!

[@Armis71]

Awesome review! Keep it up!

[@lauriehand1021]

I think synth riders visuals is great! The Billie Eilish environment on beat saber is sooooo good though

[@bobbyshmurdaaaaaa]

I know this video is from a long time ago, but I’m synth riders I don’t understand how to get perfect accuracy. I’m 90% sure I’m hitting the notes at the appropriate times but maybe there’s something I’m missing

[@bobbyshmurdaaaaaa]

Bro why would you heart my comment without responding 😭

[@LoveandSoul7]

subbed!! you have great content that is helping me make great decisions!! thanks man, keep it up!!

[@FitProVR]

Comments like this make my day! Thank you so much!

[@jakelong-hx1ue]

Saber is just so much harder which makes it more enjoyable. It took me weeks to get to the end of a level on hard difficulty whereas I finished the very first level i ever did on rider was on hard and it was very easy. Still a good game. just much easier.

[@grahamkelly8662]

I bought synth riders for psvr2 and I absolutely suck and have no fun, because of this. I have 2 left feet and standing still feels weird. I might try it sitting down but I think I’ll give up.

[@simpedros4766]

Totally agree on the beat saber song mods current fashion of not being fun to play and having anything to do with the music and it’s all about what’s the highest amount of blocks . I’m assuming that’s cus modders think the most people playing beat saber are ranking players. Which is a shame. There are some amazing fun custom songs still coming out but you have to Wade through a ton of ranking shit to find them.

[@AftChalice250]

So i feel like with synth riders, you're able to justify using your full body, whereas beat saber kinda feels like it punishes you for not sticking to just arm movement save for the blocks that fly your way. You get a way better workout in synth riders if you really get into it as opposed to just being efficient with it.

[@TrevorNet]

I’m a die hard Synth Riders fan, but I do have one major complaint. There doesn’t appear to be any standardization when it comes to custom songs. Most of the creators are at the higher levels. When a new map is created, they may shrug and set it as _Normal._ When I jump into the map, it would instantly set it to hard+. So I’m other words, I can clear a map designated as hard as x2 speed, but fall flat on my face when it comes to an “easy” map. I can sweet a series of hard+ songs, hitting the leaderboard, and then take a run at my favorite map, Alice Deejay, and totally fail.

[@FitProVR]

I agree and this goes for most games with custom songs, this is the reason i don’t typically factor that in for my reviews

[@neurocosm]

This is a fair assessment I bought just about all of these rhythm games, and I would say SynthRiders is the overall best because of it's ease of use, simple to add songs, and the visuals contribute to the enjoyment over all other rhythm games including Beat Saber and AudioTRIP. Speaking of AudioTRIP, similar to Synthriders in some ways, the music just plain sucks, even when adding/sideloading songs. It comes down to the creativity of the Mappers, and the songs themselves. If you're a natural at rhythm, whether you're a dancer, boxer, musician (drummer, for instance), I think your body is going to do what it wants in cooperation with the style of play you are experiencing with either of these games. In my opinion, the only songs on Beat Saber that matter are the rock songs and the newly released pack with Food Fighters, GnR, and others..... the modern pop stuff just does not do it for me. On the other hand, Synthriders more modern selection is very cool, and has introduced me to a ton of new styles, bands and artists. I think with AudioTRIP, they are missing the mark with GOOD music and there are maybe 2-3 selections on there that are truly any good and enjoyable along with it being a challenge in a beneficial way. BeatSaber is one of the cleanest looks, though - along with SynthRiders, too - but audiotrip is a mess in some areas, but for what they DO have (Mandala, RED), it's pretty great, too. I usually cycle through them all but mainly stick to SynthRiders because the mappers are much more taltneded in my opinion. If you know how to move your feet, any one of these games can and will provide you with a decent heart rate bump.

[@zeldaprincessgirl100]

I bought both Beat Saber and Synth Riders, i tried Beat Saber first, then Synth Riders, i just think Synth Riders is much more fun.

[@Ykskolme]

I think Ill just prefer synth riders when I finally buy my own VR set next year. (I tried both games + Audio trip, which my brother prefers) Synth rider just has suberb asthetis for my taste and you dont constantly feel annoyed by missing one block and that failure following another after another, since you cant prefectly follow the arrows due to your hands being at wrong position already. Or in otherwise, Synth Rider is just you VIBING to the song instead of flailing your hands to the way the blocks tell your to. And I was never good at quick time event, which those pretty much are, plain and simple. Sure Synth rider may not be as good for workout, but instead it inspires to do longer workout since to me its so much more fun. < I myself moved more playing Beat Saber, I think. Maybe because I reacted to all walls as no-head-zone. My fault, I know Sure Beat saber isnt bad, but honestly the other options just rank better to me, makin Beat saber to me kinda overrated, since its pretty much the only VR rhythm game I utypically find vids of btw in Synth RiderM Instead of orbs I just thought they were some kinda yoyo rolls or some shet. But there was one vid where the whole asthetic was compared to TRON and now I can only see those rollers as motorcycle wheels. Which kinda make it even more epic

[@macmartin86]

Synthriders for me, I can't keep up with Beat sabers, I'm okay with hitting blocks but when I also need to identify which way I need to hit a block, I'm done. Besides, I don't like any main stream music so Synthriders is a far better fit for me.

[@brakepie]

Learning curve probably shouldn't be a tie between the two, I learned to play BS well only after spending one year of playing nearly everyday, whilst In the case of synthriders, I learned to play at master level in only 3 days !!! Maybe that's due to my BS mastery that may have helped in SR? I dunno, but synthriders seems easier

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

i just snagged Synth Rider from Steams Free week end and so far i like Synth Rider more, because i just like to have a comfortable experience while listening to songs i like, while Beat Saber was my first intro, the mods are borderline impossible. and its really unnecessary to have almost every mod Expert/Expert+ or higher...

[@FitProVR]

Hit me up on Twitter dm and I’ll hook you up with an Ohshape key to add to your mix!

[@jimlockhart9540]

Nice video, i know this a little old. Just curious if you had any tips on which settings to use for or both games to try and maximize workput potential. Like, as an example, I was wondering with Beatsaber if there wouldn't be value in putting on slow songs mode, maybe at a higher difficulty, so that you can focus more on trying to bring full body movement and range into all of your swings over just speed and accuracy.

[@jakelong-hx1ue]

I do get frustrated that most custom levels on saber i download are next to impossible. You'd have to play all day, have no job and no life to get close to finishing it (I do like metal though so perhaps thats why).

[@jakelong-hx1ue]

And I think the simple fact you’re slicing and dicing with long lasers is just too satisfying to ignore. I love the way synth rider works though with its custom songs and the like. The pain we go through to do the same in beat saber is a joke

[@EvilSl0th]

You are talking heart rates. But I struggle to get my heartrate over 120bpm. I don't play beat saber tech levels, but I do play some faster songs. My resting heart rate is under 60bpm. Is this strange?

[@FireinTheBowl]

Synth rider I get a better workout punching the lights. It doesn't help the score but better sweat

[@legologo08]

I've also played both and they are both pretty easy.

[@frederiklist4265]

Why wouldn't you just play both! And also Pistol Whip and Ragnarock, they are all challenging and fun in different ways. By the way it looks like you play Syntheriders mostly just with your arms, you should try just really letting yourself go and use your whole body as if you are dancing and it will be an insane workout.

[@amz7290]

Both are really good games.. but personally I prefer Synth Riders Force mode and x3 speeds a good one to make it more challenging I move around too much for beat saber 😄

[@eclf]

Can you also do a review again for quest 3 now? Also i think the newer songs of beat savers have a more full body and swing curves and stuff

[@FitProVR]

planning on it and trying to find time to film! So much new content!

[@Ahzafera]

Hi. I'm one of the insane people. Daily beatsaber sessions on expert+ for hours at a time :P I find joy in the challenge, especially when I see results in my skill level.

[@AliciaMarkoe]

Thank you 🦋

[@Qarnifex]

The best exercise is the one you enjoy enough to do again