Wii Fit Review

By Ellie Gibson Published 16 April, 2008

Well balanced.

Version tested: Wii

This month will see the release of Grand Theft Auto IV. It's variously been described as the gaming event of the year / the defining moment of this console cycle / the pinnacle of human achievement including the discovery of fire, walking on the moon and the invention of the Oyster card. It'll sell millions of copies and more than a few consoles.

But while the launch will be covered in the mainstream media to some extent, you won't see Lorraine Kelly giving it a go on GMTV. Fern and Philip won't be discussing the merits of the new cover system and procedural animations, and Richard and Judy won't marvel at how the motorbikes can do backflips.

Wii Fit, on the other hand, will be everywhere. It's launching on 25th April, four days before GTA IV, and it's going eat column inches, take up all the airtime and fly off the shelves. Will it sell more copies than GTA? That will partly depend on whether Nintendo can churn out balance boards quickly enough to meet demand. Two things, however, are certain: Wii Fit will be huge, and it deserves to be.

For GBP 69.99 / EUR 89.99 you get a copy of the game and a balance board peripheral, neatly packaged in one of those pristine white boxes Nintendo does so well. They even throw in the four AA batteries required for operation. The board has a real heft to it. This is no cheapo bit of plastic (yes, Mr Wii Zapper, that means you), but a serious piece of machinery.

That fact becomes even more evident once you boot up the disc and set about creating your Wii Fit profile. You can register as any of the Miis stored on your console, create a new one or play as a guest. Then it's time to take a Body Test. After entering your birthdate and height, the balance board measures your weight and calculates your Body Mass Index, telling you whether you're Underweight, Ideal, Overweight or Obese.

Ideal, obviously.

Your actual weight isn't displayed on-screen unless you hit the specific button, so no one else in the room will know what it is unless you want them to. You can even set a password so other console users can't peek at your weight or Body Test records when you're not around.

Once your BMI has been recorded, you can take a series of balance tests. These involve things like shifting your weight left or right on the board so you stay within certain markers on the screen, or trying to remain steady while standing on one leg. At the end of all this your BMI, age and balance test results are combined to calculate your Wii Fit age.

It's hard to tell just how scientific all this is, but some wild variations in results suggest it shouldn't be taken too seriously. The first time I took the Body Test, I was given a Wii Fit age of 46; the next day I had apparently lost four pounds and 20 years. All that really changed was I chose the "light" rather than "heavy" option when asked to describe my clothing and was better at the second day's selection of balance tests. Friends had similar experiences, which suggests these two variables might have an overly significant effect on the outcome of the Body Test. (Not nearly as much of an effect as alcohol, though; a bottle of wine and a pint of Cheeky Vimto can add half-centuries.)

Despite this it's fun to compare Wii Fit ages, and it's a neat way of tracking your progress. As with Brain Training you get to stamp your calendar each day you complete a test. There are graphs to show how you're progressing and how close you are to reaching any weight loss targets set. There's satisfaction to be had.

With the Body Test out of the way it's time to move on to training. There are four categories of exercises to choose from - Yoga, Muscle Workouts, Aerobic Exercises and Balance games. They're designed to improve your posture, tone your muscles, burn fat and improve your balance respectively.

At first less than half the exercises in each category are available. The amount of time you spend on them is stored in a virtual piggy bank, and the more minutes you collect the more exercises you unlock. So even if you're rubbish at everything, you're rewarded just for putting in the effort (although if you do perform well you'll get extras such as higher difficulty levels and different stamps for your calendar).

Wii Fit Yoga, like proper yoga, is all about stretching your body and maintaining your balance - the difference being the balance board is there to measure performance. The Muscle Workouts are more traditional exercises, involving lots of lunging and bending and some impossibly hard press-up sequences. You're often left feeling out of breath and, if you're not used to this whole fitness thing and didn't warm-up properly, with aching limbs the next day.

Yoga flame.

The yoga and muscle exercises are most like what you'd expect to do in a gym, and are consequently the most boring. Being able to track your balance does add novelty value, and there's the added advantage of not having to show a group of strangers what you look like in lycra. (Unless you work for the Internet, but that's another story.) But it's a shame there are 15 in each category to unlock compared to nine each in the Aerobic and Balance sections, which are much more fun.

This is partly because they feature Miis stored on your console rather than the android-like trainers. The aerobic step exercise, for example, shows you and a bundle of familiar Miis standing on a stage as you work out, facing an audience of other friendly faces - so you might see your Mum cheering you on. When you're jogging through a pretty Nintendo park (an exercise which doesn't use the balance board at all, but instructs you to place the Wii remote in your back pocket to act as a pedometer) your friends will wave at you from the sidelines. In one memorable incident, my ex-boyfriend raced past me only to trip and fall flat on his face.

In addition, Wii Fit gives regular players priority placing as background characters. So if you're trying out the hula hoop catching exercise (wiggling your pelvis in circles, shifting your weight left and right at the right moment), the last two people who played the game will be the ones chucking the hoops. It's just one of many neat little touches that remind you this is a Nintendo product through and through.

The Balance exercises are the most fun, because they're the most like proper games. Table Tilt is Marble Madness except you control the tilt using your weight, and the balls bear the faces of your friends. It's addictive. There's a great game involving flying penguins, and the ski slalom and jump exercises are excellent for party play.

In fact it's surprising how well Wii Fit works with a group of friends. You can't perform any of the exercises simultaneously, but they're short and entertaining enough to ensure that taking turns isn't a pain. The only real problem is having to quit out to the Wii Fit Plaza (or main menu screen, in old money) each time you want to select a different Mii. A party mode enabling you to quickly pick your own character between turns would have been useful here.

The question, as with so many Wii titles, is whether the novelty will wear off. Everyone wants to come round and have a go at Wii Fit right now, but will they get bored in a few weeks like they did with Wii Sports tennis? There is the added bonus of being able to track your progress, but regular play is required to make it a real incentive.

Which is probably why Wii Fit is being presented as a solo experience more than a party game. You can compare your results with others, but really it's about setting your own targets and seeing how your performance improves. So far I've found this provides enough motivation to play Wii Fit every day - sometimes for ten minutes, sometimes for an hour. I don't know how long I'll keep this up for, but I do know switching on the Wii is a lot easier than going to the gym. Wii Fit is not as beneficial, undoubtedly, but a lot more fun.

If this were Stiliyan Petrov, there'd be a goal in the offing here.

Which just about sums it up. With Wii Fit, Nintendo has made exercising enjoyable. Not as enjoyable as eating a giant burger obviously, but it's a good effort. It's produced a superbly made peripheral and a piece of software that offers both entertainment and a sense of achievement. It's all very slick and lifestyle, with plenty of white everywhere, but there are the bold shapes, bright colours and moments of sheer charm you'd expect from Nintendo.

In a similar vein, Grand Theft Auto IV looks set to feature the unique visuals, innovative gameplay and superb humour you'd expect from Rockstar. There will be plenty of gamers who want what's on offer there, and who have any desire to spend GBP 70 on what they perceive as a pair of scales that can tell how good you are at standing on one leg.

What's brilliant is that these titles can come out simultaneously and both sell millions of copies, even if one gets more mainstream column inches than the other. You probably already know which title you'll be picking up at the end of April. If you're one of those people who'll be buying both, you're in for a great May.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (123) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • the_dudefather #1 4 years ago

    GTA V: yoga city stories

  • StringBeanJean #2 4 years ago

    Witness the fitness

  • Psychotext #3 4 years ago

    I want it... but I don't know why!

  • JediMasterMalik #4 4 years ago

    ELLIE GOT AN 8/10!

    But it's Wii fit... Oh well, take what you can get eh? ;)

    My mum wants this.

  • Benno #5 4 years ago

    sold

  • AliRay #6 4 years ago

    Great peripheral with loads of potential.... but not a great 'game'?

  • mkreku #7 4 years ago

    I can't believe how horribly boring this all looks.

  • RobertFoster #8 4 years ago

    My mum wants this.

    So does mine. I wonder if it'll be back in stock for her birthday next month...

  • Der_tolle_Emil #9 4 years ago

    I will so buy this.

  • Camorrista #10 4 years ago

    Please, EG, remove the captions from within the images. It's unreadable half the time, looks awful in that huge font and, well, covers the thing you're trying to look at.

    Put them below the preview image, like you do with normal pictures, and all shall be happy.

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #11 4 years ago

    They are videos not screenshots (click on them to play)...

  • McBradders #12 4 years ago

    I'm not sure I can take this review seriously...

  • MightyMouse #13 4 years ago

    Hmmm if this counts as a game, does Nike+ too?

    Basically to me looks like a motivational tool for exercise, how lasting it'll be will therefore vary enormously from person to person.

  • rhubarbandcustard #14 4 years ago

    As someone who is gym fit from going to, you know, a gym I can say catagorically that this game will not improve your fitness. At all. Getting fit requires you to push yourself hard. Damn hard. This game is just eurgh. It will sell millions though.

  • QPRobbie #15 4 years ago

    rhubarb and custard - why don't you wait until you've played it before you question its credibility?

  • Lemming81 #16 4 years ago

    @rhubarbandcustard:

    I'm suspicious you are just bitter you've spent all that money on a gym membership and now this comes along... :p

  • mingster #17 4 years ago

    This is what the wii owners have been waiting for...
    expect it to be SOLD OUt almost permanently.

  • QPRHOOPS81 #18 4 years ago

    im with rhubarbandcustard on this. Standing on a wobble board isnt going to stop you being a fatty.

  • orakio #19 4 years ago

    @ rhubarbandcustard: Perhaps these excercises themselves won't matter much for a person's general condition. But the incentive to get your fit age and BMI down to acceptable levels will be there, and that's what matters. People might want to leave that last chocolate chip cookie in the package in fear of the number they'll see on the TV screen that evening.

    A must buy imho, if only to experience something entirely new.
    Edited by 1 at 16/04/08 @ 14:55

  • Darren #20 4 years ago

    My own parents are really excited about this and plan on buying it when they get back from their holidays in early May. Personally, I think it looks too much like hard work and nowhere near as fun to "play" as GTA IV so I won't be buying it. I will have a go on my parents' Wii Fit though to see what all the fuss is about.

    Incidentally, does anyone know what the maximum weight is that the board will take?

  • JohnnyWashnGo #21 4 years ago

    As someone who regularly went to the gym for a good many years until recently, I gotta say I will be grabbing a copy of this as soon as I can.

    Sure, you can hit the gym and spend time with the weights to try to increase muscle mass or spend time doing cardio workouts, but my main aim these days is to keep supple and lean and this board will help me do that.

  • Starbow #22 4 years ago

    having a bit of trouble with the ol' football there Ellie Gibson?

  • DADHAT #23 4 years ago

    i don't think the game is meant to be an alternative to going to the gym, it's more of an interesting way to do the exercises that are possible at home. it's ridiculous to compare this game to going to the gym, obviously the latter is better for you.

  • mossychops001 #24 4 years ago

    Ladies.
    Buy it, use it once, stick under the bed with the rest of the exercise equimpent you bought.

  • dryden555 #25 4 years ago

    i cant agree with the review -- the Fit is just a left and right input that you step on -- wayyyyyy too simple to be anything more than a mildly amusing novelty. Compare that to Rock Band's various controllers and software interface and there you see thoughtful gameplay design. There's a youtube video that takes Nintendo's ad for the Fit and replaces the narrator and it pretty much sums up how ultra simple the device is.

  • 4thVariety #26 4 years ago

    Log of Wood to step on: $2
    Piece of paper with instructions: 4 cent
    Having the same delivered in plastic on your TV: priceless

  • HolyJebus #27 4 years ago

    I'm surprised no one has mentioned the price of this compared to Rockband yet. Any takers?

  • HiddenAway #28 4 years ago

    "it pretty much sums up how ultra simple the device is"

    Which is why the game will be a resounding success. Casual gamers have taken over...

    My sister's pre-ordered this

  • mingster #29 4 years ago

    umm dryden555 your wrong it also incorporates an up and down in form of analogue weight like a set of scales and an accelerometer for how fast up and down left and right so perfect for skiing snowboard games too.

  • kincaide #30 4 years ago

    Both for me - in your FACE Wii haters

    ;-)

  • Prodigy_BE #31 4 years ago

    Hooray for Nintendo, but as a hardcore gamer, I'd rather the put all their efforts in new versions of known games. Kid Icarus RPG, Faxanadu, Donkey Kong...

    But that's just me.
    I'm glad for big N that tons of moms, sisters and granny's want to step up (no pun intended), butI mourn the death of old Nintendo

  • dsmx #32 4 years ago

    Ellie in decent game review shocker.

  • mingster #33 4 years ago

    Does wiifit help improve vaginal elasticity?

  • siro #34 4 years ago

    This might just be the game that'll make me buy a Wii. I haven't been to the Gym since I moved for a job and I doubt I'll find the time some point soon. I need some kind of sports in my life and running outdoors won't cut it living downtown in a major city (at least for me).

  • Strac #35 4 years ago

    I just have a hometrainer in front of a telly. not sure if wii fit would be an improvement over that

  • mossychops001 #36 4 years ago

    mingster

    LOL.

  • JonFE #37 4 years ago

    I have it on pre-order and will get it for the missus; not sure if it can put up with my weight - yeah, I'm a fat bastard, SO WHAT???

    /can't wait for a Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat sequel using the board :)
    Edited by 1 at 16/04/08 @ 15:40

  • CallousB #38 4 years ago

    Pre-ordered..lets hope they get enough stock to cover it.
    I'm looking forward to finding out what other games are going to be announced for it....and hopefully some clever smaller devs will be supporting it via Wiiware.
    Edited by 1 at 16/04/08 @ 15:42

  • Goffee #39 4 years ago

    People wear clothes while using Wii Fit? Damn - that wasn't in the instructions I got!

  • HolyJebus #40 4 years ago

    Jesus Ellie, were you aiming for the footballs or the football boots? That video did make me laugh tough.

  • Shrike #41 4 years ago

    I'm sensing an interesting development in the "why play guitar hero? GET A GUITAR!" school of trolling here:

    "Why stand on one leg in a game? GO OUTSIDE AND DO IT FOR REAL!"

  • TheDudesRug #42 4 years ago

    It's a different world the Wii. Gaming pulp fiction.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #43 4 years ago

    I'm sensing an interesting development in the "why play guitar hero? GET A GUITAR!" school of trolling here:

    "Why stand on one leg in a game? GO OUTSIDE AND DO IT FOR REAL!"

    Even better:

    Compare that to Rock Band's various controllers and software interface and there you see thoughtful gameplay design.

  • Yeevle #44 4 years ago

    Oh christ that video clip was hilarious!

  • Ciaran #45 4 years ago

    Good article!

    /already pre-ordered mine

  • rudedudejude #46 4 years ago

    This will be spot on for me. Never been to a gym in my life so this should be a nice introduction into a little bit of exercise and im sure will improve my flexibility from what it currently is!

  • bengray66 #47 4 years ago

    I hope it sells well, the less fat mingers in the gym hogging all the machines the better.

  • rob76 #48 4 years ago

    I'll get this for my bird's birthday. She'll love it, use it once and put it away for ever. At least it solves my pressie dilemma.

  • mkreku #49 4 years ago

    I go to a gym three times a week.. with GIRLS in it. Can Wii Fit beat that?!

  • mingster #50 4 years ago

    yes wiifit will get those girls to come back to your flat.

  • paulf #51 4 years ago

    'With Wii Fit, Nintendo has made exercising enjoyable' - the holy grail, all the advertising for gyms has these people with big grins on their faces, go to a gym and all you get is grunters and moaners - I have a feeling this 'game' is gonna be massive (if they can produce enough to satisfy demand)

  • Widge #52 4 years ago

    I'm intrigued by it, I'm not looking at it as 'the next piece of gaming goodness' either.
    THE WOMAN on occasion faffs about in front of DVDs to exercise, but sometimes can't be bothered, I think a degree of interativity that is provided by this could be great.

    Thing is, you so wish for downloadable new routines and stuff.

  • mossychops001 #53 4 years ago

    Yoka Fanny Farts, thanks Nintendo!

  • afghan_jones #54 4 years ago

    Now get a bloke to review it.

    4/10.

    Dull.

  • Widge #55 4 years ago

    yay! blokes are RIGHT.

  • Waldo #56 4 years ago

    Unlike a treadmill, you can't hang clothes on this when the novelty wears off after a week.

  • darc #57 4 years ago

    So, is there any way to hook up two peripherals to the Wii so that you can work out with your significant other? (We're both addicted to video games and need the exercise.) Sounds like no, which is a major disappointment.

  • WillTheSecond #58 4 years ago

    I'm just wondering and hoping the all the misogyny I see in these comments is sarcastic...

    I'd buy it, but not for £70. Does look like fun, though.

  • Machiavellian #59 4 years ago

    For the people who say they have never worked out and Wii fit is right up their alley, I give you about 2 months before you shove the Wii board into a closet and never bring it out. Fitness takes dedication even when you do it at home. It you was not dedicated to get a fitness machine before Wii fit you will not be dedicated enough to continue using it for more than a few months. By Christmas, I wonder how many people will still be using the Wii board on a regular basis, at least 3 times a day for more than 45 mins.

  • speedjack #60 4 years ago

    So...

    Wii fit IS it !

  • Der_tolle_Emil #61 4 years ago

    By the way, I didn't read anything about the ability to use a SD card to play back your own music during some excercises. Is this not possible? Of course I could just turn on my stereo (and will eventually) but MP3 support would make quite a lot of sense here.

  • onyxbox #62 4 years ago

    I've been a huge Nintendo fan all of my life but the Wii leaves me cold to be honest.

    I've tried to get into it but it just doesn't work.... i'd rather play on the old NES than all this waggle and pointing bollocks.



  • Rush2112 #63 4 years ago

    I got a review copy through yesterday, and the wife and I played it last night. Favourite events so far are the football heading and the ski jump. The jogging is excellent, with a lovely jog through a rather inviting park. Still, my Wii Fit age put 10 years on me and gave my Wii Mii a nice beer belly...

  • Muddtallica #64 4 years ago

    I'm actually quaking with laughter here at that football-heading video. :D

    This looks interesting, actually; maybe not worth me coughing up full-price for, but I'd definitely be curious to have a go.

  • ChaK #65 4 years ago

    So that's video game's future?

    great..

    NOT !

  • andromeda #66 4 years ago

    effing novelty.

  • tap #67 4 years ago

    I love these Wii comments threads; my ignore list is fucking chocka!

    Anyway, getting this delivered on release day and then GTA IV on the Tuesday - cannot wait :)

  • cyber_nicco #68 4 years ago

    As good as Halo then?

    Sorry. Seriously, for entertainment it sounds like a 6, and for fitness maybe a 5. Is it more than "the sum of its parts", or just a mediocre Wii title?

  • captainrentboy #69 4 years ago

    Fuck, all the grotesque fat mommas will be in my store a week Friday then.
    This in one hand, big mac in the other as they wobble out the door.
    You know what's bad about being a sales assistant? (Other than the terrible pay, and the realisation that you went wrong somewhere in life) The fact that I'm going to have to question certain folk's weight when they buy this.
    ''Hey lardy you do realise this only holds 23.5 stone right?''
    ''That's Okay, I'm only 16 stone''
    ''Yeeesss..........''

  • Buggs #70 4 years ago

    Those of you thinking of buying this with a Wii for your Mrs.'s birthday/xmas presents... dont do it! She's seen the advert for Pro Evo too and she knows you want it. She will know it is more for you than for her. ;-)

    P.S. The 'avoid the footballs' game looks great, quite easy though.
    Edited by 1 at 16/04/08 @ 20:09

  • Katsumoto #71 4 years ago

    Christ, there really are a lot of cocks in this thread. I dread to think what the reaction would have been if it had got a 5 or a 4!

  • quantumsheep #72 4 years ago

    Interesting article here:

    [link url=http://www.4colorrebellion.com/a rchives/2008/04/02/the-great-experiment-wii-fit-–-final- report-or-how-i-lost-10-pounds-in-7-weeks-by-playing-video-g ames/
    ]http://ww w.4colorrebellion.com/archives/...[/link]

    As he says, Wii fit didn't make him lose weight, HE did. But Wii fit helped.

    Going halves with 'er indoors on this, *if* we can find it!

  • some1 #73 4 years ago

    masterbates with slow steady strokes

  • some1 #74 4 years ago

    FUCKING WANKING CUNTING NINTENDO

  • captain-future #75 4 years ago

    Well at least Nintendo doesn't rip-off European gamers like the fiasco that EA / Rock Band is...

  • TheNinkyNonk #76 4 years ago

    I was tempted to get this but then remebered that getting pissed and laid was by far the better alternative to getting my heart rate up.

    Oh that and some decent graphics.

    Old skool hardcore ftw.

  • The_Inquisitor #77 4 years ago

    I don't need it, the couch potato workout is keeping me fit and toned (my thumbs and fore finger anyway).

  • jynxce #78 4 years ago

    Wow. The feel good game for overweight gamers.

    I may be obese, but at least I have good posture...

  • Daikon #79 4 years ago

    Wii Fit Yoga, like proper yoga, is all about stretching your body and maintaining your balance

    "Proper" yoga is about spiritual awareness, not about stretching your body.

  • Rodney #80 4 years ago

    Daikon,

    Not all yoga isnt about spiritual awareness, some of it is granted but thats becase new age hippy yuppy types hijacked it and emphasised that part of it.

  • Rodney #81 4 years ago

    unless you are severely overwieght, wii fit is just not intensive enough to be any good as exercise.

    youtube 'crossfit' if any of you want to know what a propper workout is

    fitness doesnt require gimmicks, distractions for the mind(wiifit) or even much in the way of expensive equipment, just motivation

  • Nithron #82 4 years ago

    Hmm... There aren't any meaningful cardiovascular exercises you can do while standing on a small board, and the BMI has been proven to be an inaccurate indicator of health.

    So what's the point, exactly?

  • Tonka #83 4 years ago

    What is the point of being an expert on cardiovascular exercises and posting your knowledge on a gaming site? What is the point of looking down your nose at anything that is remotely different and new? What is the point of being shit scared of games that doesn't feature the staple iconography or resent years? What is the point of making the same games over and over? What is the point of me actually expecting any of the haters to have any reasonable answers at bloody 3 in the morning.

    Why am I up?

    Good night

  • Rodney #84 4 years ago

    well Wii fit is a game and also a fitness product so commenting on its effectiveness as a fitness product on a game site is some what relevent.

    Whats the point getting so upset about it?

    Goodnight



  • stallion185 #85 4 years ago

    It is amazing to see how many people are cynically critical of this game and anything on the Wii just for the fact that it is new and different.

    I have been a gamer for most of my life and I am as much a fan of the classic games and consoles as anybody else. I think what Nintendo has done with the Wii is fantastic. Why can't people accept new age games and their respective players into their communites? Are people scared of something? I dont know. All I know is that Nintendo are now giving even more people that same happy and comfortable feeling that we have all experienced for years. Even my girlfriend has started enjoying gaming!

    Anyway, Wii Fit looks pretty cool and it seems to me that it could very well be helpful for many people. If not, it should at least be a bit of fun.

  • Rodney #86 4 years ago

    stallion185,

    I know what you are saying.

    If this offers people a new immersive way to interact with games then great.its not really for me, but its good that such a product is available for the people who do want it.

    My criticism of wii fit is that it is about as effective as gimmicky fitness equipment you seen in infomercials. i.e it doesnt work and will be quickly discarded by people who do not see the results that it has falsely promised them.

    Anything that gets people into a more active life style is a positive thing, but it would be a shame if people bought wii fit expecting to lose weight and become disolusioned with exercise as a result.


    I dont want to spoil anyones fun if wii fit is your thing. just ignore me



    Edited by 1 at 17/04/08 @ 05:35

  • stallion185 #87 4 years ago

    Yeah good point Rodney,

    Wii Fit might help a bit but obviously wont deliver those miracle results which all of those gimmicks you mentioned promise.

    Atleast Nintendo haven't advertised the game in the same ridiculous manner as all of those machines. (as far as I know)

  • puddleduck #88 4 years ago

    Rodney - I can see your point regarding all the other "quick fit" products. However I'd suggest that where wii fit is different is that it is actually giving the user some form of feedback unlike the other various products. So instead of losing interest when you can't see any tangible benefits, with Wii fit there are at least various numbers to give that illusion.

  • mkreku #89 4 years ago

    Yes, we're all critical of this "game" because it's new and brilliant and different or whatever. Not because it looks dull as shit. Really.

  • Rodney #90 4 years ago


    sorry, Im just an elitst and I realise this isnt the right forum for that kind of thing, at least not on this subject...

    Just take up jogging, or it could be yogging. I think its a silent J



    Edited by 1 at 17/04/08 @ 07:36

  • Der_tolle_Emil #91 4 years ago

    My criticism of wii fit is that it is about as effective as gimmicky fitness equipment you seen in infomercials. i.e it doesnt work and will be quickly discarded by people who do not see the results that it has falsely promised them.

    NO fitness equipment will ever work if you don't adjust your way of living/eating as well. You can't just do half an hour of Wii Fit every day and keep eating unhealthy, of course that doesn't work. But even a proper hometrainer won't do much in that case.

    They key is keeping motivation up. If you change your diet and have something that gives some kind of feedback that will keep your motivation up. If you can't go to the gym at least three times a week it's hard to keep going. It won't take long until you give up because you don't see the sense in it. Maybe Wii Fit doesn't do anything at all for your body - however if it makes you stick to daily training than you will automatically take the whole diet a lot more seriously which is the most important thing in a diet. You will eat less and/or healthier because your motivation is up.

    And as so many people already said, motivation is the most important thing. Say someone has Wii Fit and a hometrainer at home. Suppose Wii Fit training doesn't even burn half as much calories as the hometrainer would in the same amount of time but Wii Fit can wrap this process up in something fresh and fun while the hometrainer feels more like hard work - guess which one will be more successful to support your diet?

  • Rodney #92 4 years ago

    Der_tolle_Emil

    I agree Diet and motivation are two of the most important things.

    Its very hard to out train a bad diet.

    But, Im not sure if daily wii fit would automatically increase an awareness of ones diet. Im sure it could in some cases, but I know plenty of people who say they exercise so they can eat what they want. In fact I see people consume more calories in the gym juice bar than they burn during their 'workout'.

    Im pretty guilty of that myself, I find the motivation to exercise easy, but I find turning down bbq ribs and chips very very difficult.

  • Tonka #93 4 years ago

    But it will and it have. Both the 4cr and game|life tests has led to the same result. The users becoming more aware of their bodies and more willing to get healthy. Miyamoto said that this was the thought behind it the whole time. Make people more aware of their bodies and thus more willing to lead a healthier life.

    I don't agree with people who think it looks dull. I think it looks like a lot of fun and I've yet to read a review that says otherwise. I think it's the old unfounded fear of Nintendo ruining gaming.

    Listen up all insecure "real" gamers. Halo 3 broke all records, GTAIV might do it again, SSBB and MK is selling loads. Gaming as we know it is not about to die. If you got rid of your fear and started looking at sales charts you would see this. Yes there is a lot of new and scary games on them but GT5 and CoD4 still sits comfortably at the top of the heap.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #94 4 years ago

    Rodney: I understand that. For me it's the opposite. I already lost 30 kilos once so I have been through quite an intensive diet. The thing is if I excercise I feel motivated and that motivation makes it easy for me to say no to a real meal and eat fruit instead. If I don't train however I just think "oh screw it, the fruit doesn't do a thing because the excercise is what burns the calories" and then I go for the real meal.

    I have tried numerous times to lose weight and I failed for that very reason.

    I am sure there are people out there who will eat as usual because they worked for that meal - and of course they are right. If you do exercise than you can easily eat a regular meal; And here I totally agree with you, Wii Fit probably won't burn enough calories to justify disregarding the diet. But if it's someone like me who needs something to keep the motivation then this is perfect.

  • JonFE #95 4 years ago

    "There is a new business model coming right up: wii sutra."

    I'd buy that in a heartbeat - probably my last...

  • Katsumoto #96 4 years ago

    Right on, brother

  • Tonka #97 4 years ago

    Press ups won't build muscle?

  • Lawlost #98 4 years ago

    This will be sold out for months but I think will be gathering dust in years time. Really hope I'm wrong.

  • dryden555 #99 4 years ago

    The folks commenting here who want the Fit are very centered on using it for weight loss. That's fine. But as a _gaming input device_ it is not generally interesting to gamers. Nintendo knows that too and they will market accordingly. This would be a good point to bring up the DDR games and dance mat (that mat offers much more input complexity). And it also offers a cardio workout mode for those wanting to burn calories.

  • prettyboytim #100 4 years ago

    Better or worse than EyeToy Kinetix?

  • darc #101 4 years ago

    Let me try again - w/ two peripherals, can two people work through their routines at the same time? Or in gaming terminology: is there multiplayer?

  • monkie_king #102 4 years ago

    Lesson of this thread: fitness bores are boring.

  • Dermoth #103 4 years ago

    Stiliyan Petrov? Yordan Letchkov would struggle from that range.

  • J.C #104 4 years ago

    Wife wants this soooo bad. she ordered the wii with wii play. (still hasn't arrived)

  • smelly #105 4 years ago

    "So that's video game's future?

    great..

    NOT !"


    I have no interest in this product - but surely if the future of video games is "fun" over complex boring storylines - that's a good thing?

  • Muddtallica #106 4 years ago

    smelly: That's a somewhat daft argument, given that it seems to rely on the assumptions that a) the general gaming community is unhappy with the current state of videogame storytelling, and that b)"complex storylines" and"fun" are mutually exclusive concepts. Neither of these statements are in any way true, so it's difficult to answer your question.

    Still, it's far from the stupidest assumption made in this thread; that accolade would have to go to the panic-mongers that seem to be implying that the success of this one fitness title is going to see developers across the globe downing tools on the new Mass Effect, Final Fantasy or Gran Turismo games in order to start work on Jade Goody's Dance Workout HD Remix. Listening to some people rave on about the Wii's pernicious influence on the games industry is like reading a geek equivalent of a Daily Mail rant about immigrants. Or indeed video games...

  • Rodney #107 4 years ago

    running 32 miles a week is insane. It will make you fit but not healthy.

  • smelly #108 4 years ago

    Surely all you lot who are going on about it not making them fit are missing the point.

    Is it a fun experience? Yes or no? Surely that's all that matters?

    And will it get you sweating/heart rate going/etc more than sitting on the couch playing a "normal" game? Something is better than nothing..

    As for all you fanboys who have come in to YET ANOTHER wii game thread to tell us how "crap" the wii is (andromeda, chak, et al).. seriously.. get a life.. It's one thing to post in a thread of a bad review score.. but it's showing desperation when you post in a high scoring game doncha think?

  • smelly #109 4 years ago

    "This will be sold out for months but I think will be gathering dust in years time"

    Like every popular game then?

  • smelly #110 4 years ago

    >But every other game don't cost £70 + batteries/electricity costs + motivation

    No. they cost £40 or £50 + batteries/electricity costs + motivation


  • smelly #111 4 years ago

    I dont know.. It took me a HELL of a lot of effort to get the motivation to finish halo 3 - to see what all the fuss was about..

    Wish i hadnt bothered.

    As I said before.. This product is of no interest to me.. But i certainly dont classify it as a "game".. merely a way to pass the time and entertain yourself...

  • justMe #112 4 years ago

    And, from what I gather from most (all) the reviews I read, the board works very very well. The skiing/snowboarding games are great fun. That bodes well for future games using the board, an analogue joystick in your feet! Who would have thought of that? Only Nintendo.

  • Rodney #113 4 years ago

    DiamondIce,

    perhaps you shouldnt post the details of your lifestyle choices on public forums if you are unwilling to accept criticism of them. Or did you expect everyone to congratulate you for running the distance of a marathon every week?

    Look, while your running efforts are commendable and much better than most peoples, I stand by my comment. There is a difference between fitness and health and running 32 miles a week is not healthy for most people.

    Jogging will get blood flowing through the heart and lungs and to certain parts of the legs but that’s it and the trade off for what it’s doing to your knees, hips and spine hardly make it worth it. Do you really think running a marathon every week is going to be good for your joints in the long run? Its just too high impact to be sustainable. Each time you put your foot down when jogging the force being absorbed by your knees is greater than 7x your own body weight. Pounding your knees with this force thousands of times each week isnt healthy.

    I dont know your circumstances so I shouldnt have aimed my criticism at you personally. But I stand by my comment, running 32 miles a week is not healthy.






    Edited by 3 at 21/04/08 @ 06:04

  • MrFlump #114 4 years ago

    Quite simply, it looks like fun.

    People these days are more concerned about graphics and length of game than how fun it actually is - i think 8/10 represents the fun value as opposed to graphics or comparisons to other games. Its 8/10 because it achieves most of what it sets out to do. I've got mine pre-ordered and will set it up on Friday and by the looks of things, i'll probably have a bit of fun while at the same time getting more exercise than I would have otherwise sitting down watching a film or playing on the 360.

    Nintendo are taking out a lot of these gimmicky items, each proving to be fun in its own right. Hopefully we'll see a new version of 1080 Snowboarding or some other games to take advantage of the controller coming out soon as well to compliment it.

  • dryden555 #115 4 years ago

    The DDR pads have been out for years for consoles and there's a fitness mode in DDR. Maybe it will sell well but "innovative"? No.

  • Bremenacht #116 4 years ago

    Excellent. I can get rid of the dog, bribe a daughter to play as Mii and then jellify happily, telling anyone who asks that I have a Wiifit age of less than 25.
    Edited by 1 at 21/04/08 @ 23:13

  • Rodney #117 4 years ago

    DiamondIce, fair enough. running on balance is healthier than not running.

    I think a little more variety other than just running is needed for a healthy body. but I am biased because I hate running, but my 'jogging' friends tell me they actually enjoy it.

    Im not so sure.

  • NickN4ck #118 4 years ago

    I ordered it from Argos, going to get buff with Wiifit then marry a super model.

    Thank you Wiifit.

  • NickN4ck #119 4 years ago

    I will look like this after I use Wiifit,

    [link url=http://reppa.ds-blog.com/pics/1188387235-megaman-Vins.j pg
    ]http://re ppa.ds-blog.com/pics/1188387235...[/link]

    I can't wait.

  • lemonfist #120 4 years ago

    This is the perfect fit for my Wii.

  • Yaster #121 4 years ago

    Not for me I'm afraid

    Would have to buy a Wii again for a start

  • TheBigK #122 4 years ago

    'Not as enjoyable as eating a giant burger obviously' haha.. that's the spirit!

  • papalazarou #123 4 years ago

    From a diet pretty much of COD4 and FIFA 08 on 260 (both wowzer games) I am currently hammering my Wii- Mario Kart, Galaxy and yes, Wii Fit. Why? They're fun. I could toss myself off into a frenzy about "what a waste of money", "it's shit", etc, but what the hell. I have a lot of disposable income, so there.
    Edited by 1 at 26/04/08 @ 17:32

  • GESS #124 4 years ago

    and time by the sounds of it

  • Mumin #125 4 years ago

    As a rather overweight person who's just plain uncomfortable with the idea of going to the gym and showing my body to people, this seems like the ideal way to get started. Sure, it may not be as effective as other ways of training, but it's better than nothing.

    Especially this time of the year, when my allergy to pollen keeps me indoors and stops med from getting even the exercise i usually get, walking the dog and bicycling to work. Go jogging is great advise, but not such a good idea when you can bearly breath outdoors for half the year.

  • Stuart07 #126 4 years ago

    I tried it out today for a hour and although I can see why people say going to a gym would be better Wii Fit does add abit more fun to doing the exercises.

    As Mumin said some people would prefer doing exercises at home instead of going to a gym, Also the game does give positive feedback and tips on how to improve.

    Anyone who can't see this as being beneficial in some sort of way is obviously blind.

  • mrTom #127 4 years ago

    I think this looks great. Won't be getting one myself and I am not sure you would see instant gains from playing the game alone but it could make people eat less shit and combined with a little bit of sport or CV training outside the living room may be motivating enough to adopt a more healthy life style. There is nothing mor satisfying than progress tracking when it comes to sport/fitness/dieting.

    If i had a fat girlfriend id be getting her one for sure :)