Wii Fit game review

Virtual reality fitness has arrived in the UK in the form of Nintendo’s Wii Fit. A game that promises to be more than a game by getting you fit in the funnest and least embarrassing way possible.

Review by Kate Wright

Out now - £69.99 - Buy it now

What's the story?
Easy to set up, easy to get the hang of and easy to fall in love with, Wii Fit looks set to be the fitness accessory of choice for all weight conscious ladies and gents across the country.

Using a motion control sensing Balance Board (which looks like your average set of bathroom scales), Wii Fit can not only measure your weight and BMI but is also able to monitor your every move as you follow the various exercise programmes and games. There are 40 activities to choose from, including yoga and step aerobics, plus fun games like snowboarding and hula hooping.

Perfect for?
People who hate the gym. If you are like us (ie have good intentions but end up paying for a gym membership that you just don't use) Wii Fit is perfect for you. Apart from not have to suffer the indignity of working out/huffing/puffing/sweating in front of a bunch of well-dressed, well-toned gym bunnies, Wii Fit is a great deal more entertaining.

Will I get it?
Undoubtedly yes. This game is designed for the whole family, so it's very easy to get the hang of. As soon as you have synched your Balance Board to your Wii, you are pretty much ready to get exercising.

First up you have to select your Mii (up to eight profiles can be loaded on to Wii Fit) then enter your height and date of birth. Following that you are weighed and your BMI (body mass index) is calculated for you based on this information. You are then asked to perform a couple of basic balance tests to assess your Wii Fit age. With this all complete you are able to set yourself some weight loss targets, then get down to business.

Liking...
We particularly enjoyed the cardiovascular activities, which include step aerobics, hoola hooping and jogging. The yoga and muscle exercises are pretty much what you'd expect to do in a gym and the virtual trainers, although a little disturbing to look at, provide demonstrations that are easy to follow. Once you have completed each task you are assessed on how well you performed, which we found reassuring and motivational.

Not liking...
Once your BMI has been calculated your Mii is immediately transformed to better represent your body shape (this reviewer's Mii was promptly inflated to "fat b*$£ard" setting) which was both horrifying and hilarious.

Will I get bored?
It's doubtful, as the better you get and the longer you spend using it the more games and activities are unlocked. Apart from that, there are also some great balance games included like tightrope walking, ski jumping and football heading to provide a little light relief between exercises.

Who's the hotty?
You will be if you use it every day!

Is it worth my hard earned cash?
Apart from being fun, good for you and all those things, Wii Fit may prove to be a wise investment simply for the Balance Board. New games are already in development that plan to incorporate the Balance Board into normal play, so pretty soon the Wii Balance Board could become as necessary an accessory as the Wii Wand.

Anything else?
A throng of Wii Fit accessories have already begun to hit the shelves. We particularly like the Madcatz Wii Fit Kit which includes a Wii Fit Rechargeable Battery Pack, Wii Fit Travel/Storage Case, Wii Fit Exercise Mat, and Wii Fit Protective Silicone Cover, available from play.com

Read the rest of our Wii Fit review special