'Wii Fit' gets gamers thinking about exercise

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By Aimee Green/Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star | Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:47 PM CDT | () comments

NINTENDO Yoga in Wii Fit also has player focusing on their center of balance (the dot in the circle). Buy this Photo

Nintendo has bragged that its Wii game system gets gamers off the couch. But while the motion-sensitive controls do encourage arm movement, they're still easily performed while sitting.

Now, the company is attempting to get gamers' feet into the scheme. ''Wii Fit'' - which can be called an exercise trainer - uses a balance board to detect both players' weight and their positioning.

The balance board looks like a mix between a scale and one of those steps you use in step aerobics. It's sturdy and well-made; it has to be to handle the weight of an adult. The board uses AA batteries (included) and automatically shuts itself off when the Wii turns off, which is nice. I have a feeling the board will suck the juice out of batteries fairly quickly, although I haven't had it long enough to test that theory.

''Wii Fit'' is no replacement for a real exercise regimen, but I can see it being used as a warmup for a real exercise.

After inputting your age and height, ''Wii Fit'' tests your weight and your center of balance. It then gives you a report, telling you your body mass index (a measurement based on your weight and height) and your Wii Fit Age. Your age is based on how well you control your balance in a series of tests in which you shift your weight back and forth.

Then comes the terrible part: ''Wii Fit'' will adjust your Mii to the proportions that fit your BMI. In my case, that meant my cute little Mii suddenly looked like it might topple over. Gee, thanks, Nintendo.

I would like to warn people not to take this part too seriously. Yes, it can be an indicator that you need to exercise more, but it's not an exact science, and BMI has been criticized even outside the game.

You can do this body check daily, and the game keeps track of your progress using a chart. It even lets you set a goal of losing weight by a certain date.

One thing that's really cool is that you can install a mini version of the game on the Wii's main menu. So if you simply want to do your daily body check, you can go to the Wii Fit Channel and do it there without ever having to insert the disk. Nice.

Once you're done with the body check, you can get into the training. ''Wii Fit'' splits training into four self-explanatory categories: yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. Each category has a dozen or so different activities, although only a handful are usable from the start.

Each time you do an activity, you earn credits toward unlocking more exercises. Additionally, some exercises have varying difficulties within them that can be unlocked.

I found I tended to gravitate more toward the balance games category, which has the more gamelike exercises. For example, one has you shifting your weight left and right to head a soccer ball. Another has you performing a ski jump (no jumping on the board, just crouching, then standing straight).

Some of the aerobics exercises are fun. The step games involve stepping on and off the board to a beat, like a simplified ''Dance Dance Revolution.'' The hula hoop exercise has you gyrating your hips as if using a real hula hoop; I actually felt this one a bit in my stomach muscles but probably looked like I was having convulsions.

A few activities don't use the board at all, such as running, which just has you run in place with the Wii remote in your pocket. I didn't care for that.

Strength training includes push-ups, believe it or not. You put your hands on the balance board as you do the push-ups.

''Wii Fit'' is fun, but I'm not sure how well it qualifies as an exercise program. Some of the ''Wii Fit'' training activities will leave you aching a little, but for the most part they are no replacement for a real workout. However, ''Wii Fit'' is good for keeping track of your progress. It also allows multiple family members to have profiles and compare them for some friendly competition.

I'm more excited about the potential in the balance board. In addition to being sturdy, it's surprisingly responsive - it picks up even the slightest shift in balance. I can see it being used in a number of sports games, such as skateboarding or skiing.

In fact, a number of these games are in the works already. One, ''We Ski,'' is already available, though I haven't had a chance to try it yet. A balance board version of ''Skate'' is also in the pipeline.

''Wii Fit'' isn't some miracle weight-loss solution, but the software will help keep you on track. And as long as you're thinking about the need for exercise, that's a good start.

Reach Aimee Green at (402) 473-7326 or Aimee.Green@lee.net.

Wii Fit (with balance board)

Nintendo, for Wii

Rated: Everyone

Cost: $89.99

Score: 7/10

Score based on an evaluation of gameplay (4 points), visuals (2), sound (2) and replayability/value (2).