Wii Fit

Here you have it. Our poll winner!

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Nintendo's newest and most hyped game yet, is the somewhat highly expected Wii Fit. This package includes a Wii Balance Board, and the Wii Fit game with over 30 activities for $100. This game has been anticipated in some places (such as New York) beyond belief, but is it really worth the price?

1. The "revolutionary" Balance Board

The balance board used in Wii Fit, is not actually much work at all. On a video on Youtube, Japanese workers explain that the their "amazing invention" is just a few load cells here and there to detect where your weight is being placed. Even though those load cells can measure fractions of a kilogram of movement, and can be expensive, the profit on Nintendo's side is still unbelievable.

2.The Gameplay

The actual gameplay of Wii Fit can be taken 2 different ways. Some of the activities included can be quite interesting such as Table Tilt, Ski Jump and Rhythm Boxing. The main problem in the gameplay lies in the recognition by the balance board. For example, I was doing the "Plank Challenge", and instead of doing a plank position, I simply stood there trying to keep my balance within the yellow circle. That brings me to my next problem with gameplay, the game is focused on balancing. The point of the game, in any activity, is balance. One must always try to keep their balance in a certain area to try to beat the game. Wii Fit just does not give the right experience. One example in the game itself is in the "Basic Run" activity, which is when you have to run on the spot. By the end of this activity, I was like yelling because my calves were about to explode! The sounds are realistic, but I don't feel like I'm running in a real park at all. In addition, the Wii Balance Board Host seems to be a little to excited all the time. This costs you tonnes of time in reading everything that you don't really care about!


3. Effectiveness

The effectiveness in Wii Fit is a well known problem, and it is also known to Nintendo that Wii Fit is somewhat a gimmick. Even though there are known yoga poses and effective strength excersices, the gameplay is not tough enough. A personal example is this:

I did a basic body test. Results: Weight 94 lbs Wii Fit Age: 17
Next, I did a variety of activities, including a "Challenge" for 1 hour.
I did another body test. Results: Weight 93.5 lbs Wii Fit Age: 18

This is absolute nonsense when it comes to Wii Fit advertising.

It Took 1 hour for me to break a sweat.

In fact, after 1 week, only once did my BMI go down.

4. Sucky VO

I would have to say that the voice-overs (VO) in Wii Fit are near pathetic. Not that the voices are bad, its just that the animations are completely off when something is said. The same action is done for ever sentence, as the trainer just sways its hand in a circular motion.

5.What comes after Wii Fit?

After you purchase Wii Fit, there is an option to utilize the balance board in another gaming experience. Titles such as We Ski have been released, but that game (I've played it) is no positive experience. The game is exactly what you can get in Wii Fit, in fact, actually, so far, there is no other great gaming experience to be had with the balance board other than Wii Fit.

Overall, Wii Fit can actually be a fun game to play, but when you take out those hundred dollars, don't visualize your "ideal body", because its not going to happen with Wii Fit.

By Arjun Bali