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May 20, 2008

Nintendo Wii Fit review

Nintendo Wii Fit is the fitness regime designed for couch potatoes.

While not exactly a lazybones, we've fallen out of the gym routine sufficiently to know better than to sign up for another pricy membership, but we'd like to tone up a bit and supplement regular swimming and other light exercises. The Wii Fit proved to be just the thing.

Wii Fit consists of a balance board and an exercise mat plus the software. The balance board takes four AAA batteries whose life is prolonged by going into standby mode between uses.

The Wii Fit Plaza screen acts as the central management area where you register for your fitness regime and choose a Mii avatar if you haven't already assigned yourself one with your existing Nintendo Wii setup.

Press your big toe against the power button conveniently located at the back to power it on and synchronise with your Nintendo console. As well as between some exercises, you generally need to reactivate the power button when switching between users as it needs to recalibrate for the new user.

After entering a few basic details – age, height and gender – you are prompted to remove your socks and step on to the balance board to be weighed. The board is quite sensitive and you're asked to estimate how much your clothing weighs so these are taken into account. If you don't hold steady while your weight is being calculated, you'll be admonished as one of the key aspects on which the Wii Fit assesses you is balance and weight distribution.

For people like your author with weak lower back muscles from too many hours at a desk, plus aches and pains from inadvisedly lugging heavy laptops and review kit to and fro, a chance to redress the balance and even up the body was very welcome.

You can choose the exercises you want to do, although it pays to combine several types. As you progress through each task and go from being a mere 'dwindling star' to 'amateur' and beyond, you unlock additional exercise – some in the same category such as more advanced yoga stretches; others might be in the muscular workout or balance category.

We were particularly pleased with the mix of breathing exercises and stretches. The balance and coordination exercises such as the table tilt and ski slalom felt more like games with the associated sense of achievement as you top the leaderboard or learnt the importance of subtle, controlled moves. More traditional exercises offered include the discipline of a step routine, a jog around the park or floor work.

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Independent customer reviews from

Nintendo Wii Fit scored:
9.1 out of 10 100% real reviews

The 2 most helpful reviews based on 2245 reviews:

20 Feb 2009 clive, lincolnshire

10

Good Points

being around 14 1/2 stone i thought i might feel i'd break it but it feels very strong and robust.there is also several different mini games with the wii fit so you dont need to go out and buy a game for it immediately.everything ,including the setting up,is explained very clearly and you are up and running in no time!a great chunk of fun(even if my legs did hurt for two days after!!) ;-)

Bad Points

not a bad point,but i'd reccomend getting a silicone skin for the wii as it does mark easily,these are fairly cheap to pick up tho!

07 Nov 2008 Rebecca, Sheffield

9

Good Points

The variety of exercises means that it caters for all members of the family. It is hours of fun for all. Whilst it does cost more than standard games it is worth the money.The mixture of fun activities and the more serious yoga activites makes exercising fun without the need to go to a gym. Not sure whether it wil improve my weight but it is good fun trying and a lot cheaper than monthly gym subscriptions.

Bad Points

Having to use the board does limit play as only one person can use it at one time. Whilst I understand that the game is to encourage exercise I do not agree with the constant reminder of your profile. I think that this could become obsessive to someone who may not feel confident in themselves and could result in depression. If people are serious about using the profile to track improvement then it should be on a choice option not in your face as soon as you turn it on.

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