Going to a gym = lame
Hahah I decided to live up on my threat and make a Wii Fitness Post (c)! In this post we will be taking a look at Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus, and Wii Active! (Because there is no way I'm going to review every game separately. I am waaaaay too lazy for that.)
Rating: Wii Fit = 3 out of 5. Wii Fit Plus = 4 out of five. Wii Active = 4 out of 5.
Geekyness level: None.
As an FYI, the Wii Fit Plus is by far superior to the Wii Fit, which is why I give Wii Fit a 3 out of 5. If I didn't have the plus version it would probably be 4 out of 5. These games are rated 4 out of 5 because they cause me PAIN. I can't say I'm ever like "Ho hum, I have a spare hour, let's turn on the Wii and play some Wii Active!!"
Anyway, all three games are fitness games. Obviously. Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus (which will be referred to as WF and WFP from hereforth) are very similar. They both use the Wii Balance Board to test your posture and agility, and they use the board to instruct you for yoga exercises, strength exercises, and balance games. WF and WFP have clocks which will keep track of how long you play each time you visit, and they have something called a Body Test.
A body test (supposedly) measures your BMI (Body mass index) and your weight. It also tests your center of balance and will show you how you unconsciously wiggle even when standing still. As you go through the days using this program your Mii will grow/shrink in the tummy area according to your weight. This can be quite the motivator to help you lose weight.
The balance board will not hesitate to inform you how overweight you are. You will be tempted to kill it.
As if observing a fat Mii wasn't enough, the Balance Board itself is your guide in WF and WFP, and it will frequently inform you how overweight/not the perfect BMI of 22 you are. (Even if you are normal this machine will insessently chatter about getting a BMI of 22.) He'll ask you to make a goal to lose weight, which you can't get out of, unless, I suspect, you are that perfect BMI of 22. (Because you will die young if you have a BMI of 22.01. OOOOHHH yes!)
Another cool aspect of WF and WFP is that when you do a yoga/strength exercise the balance board records your movements which 1) helps you know if you're doing it right and 2) will show you how shaky you are. The game will grade your performances, allowing you to unlock higher difficulty levels.
The downfall of WF is that it has no calorie counter. Additionally exercising on it can take FOREVER because starting and loading a yoga exercise/strength exercise takes FOREVER and your trainer feels like he/she needs to say something to you before AND after the exercise. WFP only has probably a dozen new games/exercises (The best of which are new running paths, believe me, running down the same 3 paths again, and again, and AGAIN in the WF is soooo boring.) but the best new features are the calorie counters, the mini work outs (which cut down on the between time for the exercises) and the ability to string together a bunch of yoga/strength exercises. The low point of this is that they will not grade how well you did if you chose to combine exercises.
I too exercise in a completely white room with a white flat panel TV.
As for Wii Active? This game is probably double the cardio and muscle building. It comes with a rubber band and has no yoga, unlike WF and WFP. This game also has a calorie counter, and it has pre-prepared workouts, a 30 day challenge, and the ability for you to create and design your own work outs. Like I mentioned, this game ups the burn--if you want to challenge yourself, just be careful and work your way up. I've nearly made myself sick by playing this game for an hour.
Wii Active does NOT track your weight (or make snide comments if you gained any like that snippy Wii Balance board) Nor does it goad you and pout if you don't visit it for weeks at a time. (The WF Balance Board is a very jealous piece of equipment.) However, Wii Active doesn't do a very good job in the motivation area. No fat Mii's and forced goal setting sessions here.
Like I said, instant motivation.
All three games can be pricy additions to your gaming collection, but I have to say I like mine. I live in the country so going to the gym is not an option. I like how personal the WF and WFP are, but if I want a real work out I use Wii Active. These games are NOT miracle workers, don't buy them thinking you're going to shed weight like no tomorrow. They won't hit you as hard as a 45 minute work out at the gym, and they do take longer because of all the load/direction/selection time.