On test: Nintendo Wii Fit

Can shaping up really be enjoyable? Karen O’Grady puts the Nintendo Wii Fit on test

Ever since it appeared on the shelves in April 2008, Wii Fit has been flying out of the stores and is set to be a big hit this Christmas. One of the fastest selling computer games ever, the Wii Fit promises to get you off the couch and into action, improving health and fitness by playing just a little every day.

                                                 

By reading your real-life movements and bringing them to life on screen, the Wii Fit offers a combination of strength building, yoga, aerobics, and fun balance games such as skiing, hula-hooping and tightrope walking, all in the comfort of your home. I'm starting to see the appeal, especially as there is the added benefit of not having to exercise in public, but can it really be fun?

 

 

How to begin
The Wii Balance Board connects to the Nintendo Wii. If you haven't used the Wii console before you'll be amazed by how simple it is to connect to your television. Not being a seasoned ‘gamer' I was a little apprehensive when it came to setting up, however it couldn't be easier to get going. Colour-coded cables make life easy and the sensor box that picks up your movements is easy to position on top of the television.

 

Once the console and sensor are connected, simply place the Wii Balance Board in front of the television (about two metres away) and switch on. You'll be greeted with a friendly welcome by the game's animated fitness monitor, who'll ask you to switch on the board.

 

What to expect
The first step of the journey on the road to increased fitness involves creating a ‘mini-me'. This is highly enjoyable as you get to create your own likeness through selecting facial features and clothing from a series of options. Your mini-me will act as your representative on screen, mimicking the movements picked up by the sensor when you move on the Wii Balance Board

 

Step two is to take the Body Test. This consists of a series of short and simple activities designed to determine how well your body performs. The Wii Balance Board will measure your centre of balance, body mass index (BMI) and body control. At the end of the test you will have a clear indication of current fitness, and so will be able to set achievable training goals.

You may also wish to discover your Wii Fit age, based on the results. My initial test told me my Wii Fit age was eight years older than my real age - however a few more training sessions soon resulted in the two being compatible. To track progress the virtual fitness calendar will store your results and feedback will be given on your performance. I found the advice given to be extremely useful and motivating as tips on improving technique and training were tailored to my individual needs.

 

What's on offer?
With more than 40 activities to choose from, training is divided into four distinct sections: Yoga, Stength training, Aerobic exercise and Balance games. On-screen instructors will guide you through each exercise while colour-coded sections of the screen pick up movement from your sensor and display how effectively you are completing the training. The ultimate goal is to ensure your movements stay within the guidelines shown on screen.

After every activity, you'll receive a star rating indicating how you performed along with your results. If you're not satisfied with the rating you achieve, you can try as many times as you like to improve your score. As your fitness improves, new games will be unlocked for you to try, ensuring you are always challenged, and of course, entertained.

 

What's the best thing about it?
Using a sensor to assess whether a yoga pose or muscle exercise is being executed in the right way means the body gains maximum benefit from the time spent exercising. Also, the lightweight board makes it easy to lift and store when not in use.

What's wrong with it?
It's hard to find fault the Wii Fit, but you may find it tricky at first to master using the controls as you move from game to game.

 

Anything else?
Don't be surprised if you find using Wii Fit addictive. The combination of personalised training, engaging workouts and fun computer graphics make for a challenging workout, which I'm happy to say is actually fun!

 

Nintendo Wii Fit, £69,99 www.argos.co.uk

For more information on Wii Fit, visit www.nintendo.com/wiifit

 

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Hi-tech scales