Wii Fit Review

05/19/08

For decades, videogames have been lambasted by mothers who blame stationary "thumb aerobics" for turning their children into pudgy, lethargic couch potatoes. Kids who "gamed" were unjustly classified as "non-athletic," while mothers who dared not get caught spying a videogame enjoyed a double standard regardless of their own personal physical fitness.

Turnabout is fair play, thanks to Nintendo's new Wii Fit and Balance Board peripheral. Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has cleverly designed the electronic dynamic duo to inform those same mothers that they're the ones who are overweight and, ironically, need to play this videogame to get back into shape. Once these moms get into Wii Fit, their kids will wonder whether mom will ever cough up control of the TV again, due to their obsession with the exercise video and glorified weight scale that masquerade as a videogame.

Wii Fit's premise is strikingly similar to how an exercise video pushes its viewer to reach a goal, but Wii Fit adds interaction and personalization to the experience. Using a combination of the Wii Balance Board to determine weight and "players" manually entering their height, Wii Fit calculates a player's Body Mass Index (BMI) and assigns the player into one of four categories ranging from healthy to obese. My BMI was calculated at 25.99, putting me into the slightly overweight category, which is laughable given my slender frame. There will be many complaints from kids and adults alike claiming Wii Fit labeled them "fat" when their weight could come from solid muscle.

The goal of Wii Fit is to lower BMI over a customized length of time by playing a number of workout "games" designed to improve balance and posture -- and burn calories -- all while having fun. It's hard to have fun when Wii Fit assigns a high BMI or calculates your Wii Fit age a baker's dozen more than your actual age, even if you performed reasonably well on the balance tests used to determine the age. It's as if Nintendo wants you, or more specifically moms, to feel old and fat so there's incentive to return for additional "workouts" on a regular basis.

The telltale sign Wii Fit was built with moms in mind is the abundant number of Yoga and stretching/strength exercises most men wouldn't be caught dead performing, even in their homes. I watched my wife spend multiple hours going through the yoga workouts so she could accumulate enough minutes exercising to unlock new exercises. She complained about where to put the Wii Remote while doing yoga, since you have to use it to navigate the menus, and that's certainly a valid concern. Meanwhile, I did each Yoga workout once and promptly shifted to wondering how much I could raise my BMI in a 24-hour period. Gamers want to have fun, after all, and being graded on staying still while performing yoga isn't the most engaging videogame opportunity around.

Men are more likely to gravitate into the balance games that are just that, "games." Heading a soccer ball, skiing down a slope and rolling balls into holes offer zero fitness value, but these are the lone links Wii Fit has to traditional gaming. As expected, my wife had zero interest in the balance games, while they were the only ones I wanted to return to and master.

Whether Wii Fit will actually help people get into shape over the long haul remains to be seen. Most of the challenges are geared toward being aware of your body's strengths and weaknesses as revealed by balance and flexibility tests. Running in place by holding the Wii Remote in your hand or in your pocket will burn the most calories, but you really don't need Wii Fit or a Balance Board to do that, right?

Men will find Wii Fit and the Balance Board has a high "wife acceptance factor," and it may even get their wives and girlfriends interested in videogames (this one, anyway). But it's the countless moms who will make Wii Fit and the Balance Board as difficult to find in stores for months to come as the Wii console itself has been. If sales are the determining factor to a game's success, then Wii Fit and the Balance Board will be one of the most successful "videogames" released this year -- much to the chagrin of true "gamers."

Buy Wii Fit at Amazon.com

Score: 8

Send News to N4G | | Slashdot It!

Most Recent Features

In-Game Ads Finally Done Right: Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is getting a campaign for Tropic Thunder, the first effective use of the medium.

EA's Big Changes -- That Nobody Even Notices

As we begin an on-location visit to Electronic Arts, we wonder just how big the industry truly is.

Overlord: Raising Hell Review

Bossing around minions on the PS3 doesn't get old, but the "improvements" just cover up lingering issues.

ESA Evaluating Major Changes for E3 2009

Changes are always considered, but this year's post-show survey shows some biggies in the air.

DailyGame's Best of E3 2008 Awards

The competition this year was somewhat slim, but it was very tight. Here are the best of the best.

DailyGame's PlayStation Homepage

In-Game Ads Finally Done Right: Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is getting a campaign for Tropic Thunder, the first effective use of the medium.

EA's Big Changes -- That Nobody Even Notices

As we begin an on-location visit to Electronic Arts, we wonder just how big the industry truly is.

Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 Review

Full of explosions, guns and huge bosses, but nothing so amazing that you'll be clamoring for it.

ESA Evaluating Major Changes for E3 2009

Changes are always considered, but this year's post-show survey shows some biggies in the air.

DailyGame's Best of E3 2008 Awards

The competition this year was somewhat slim, but it was very tight. Here are the best of the best.

DailyGame's Xbox 360 Homepage

EA's Big Changes -- That Nobody Even Notices

As we begin an on-location visit to Electronic Arts, we wonder just how big the industry truly is.

ESA Evaluating Major Changes for E3 2009

Changes are always considered, but this year's post-show survey shows some biggies in the air.

DailyGame's Best of E3 2008 Awards

The competition this year was somewhat slim, but it was very tight. Here are the best of the best.

Space Invaders Extreme Review

The five-stage game has some nice updates for a storied franchise, making this a worthy chapter.

Most Disappointing Games of E3 2008

E3 may have ended, but developers still have plenty of work ahead -- especially on these games.

DailyGame's Nintendo Homepage

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Unrated) Blu-ray Review

The mix of courtroom drama and horror film is surprisingly good, and the A/V aspects hold up well.

Batman: Gotham Knight Blu-ray Review

Its six episodes are too disparate, too short and animated too differently for a truly compelling experience.

The Ruins Unrated Version Blu-ray Disc Review

It's got all the stereotypical teens and blood you need, but it starts too slowly and has serious plot deficiencies.

Earth: The Biography Blu-ray Review

The BBC once again strikes documentary gold, but a thesis and A/V issues seem more like iron pyrite.

Stargate Continuum Blu-ray Disc Review

The cast reunion is nice and story is good, but a few plot holes and inconsistent VFX are disappointing.

DailyGame's Blu-ray Homepage

Actiontec Mega Plug AV Powerline Gaming Kit Review

Getting a wired connection through your home's electrical wiring couldn't be easier or more secure.

3K RazorBook 400 Mini Notebook PC Review

This could be a blogger's best friend, at least for basic functions.

D-BOX: How and Why Home Theater is Evolving

You may think Star Tours-like seating is not for home, but it's closer than you think.

Skullcrushers Subwoofer Headphones Review

The name may be brutal, but if you're into bass, this is one refined headset.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets Blu-ray Review

Nicolas Cage rocks Mount Rushmore, and the movie itself is rockin' too.

DailyGame's Home Electronics Homepage