This time, I'm reviewing one of the latest Wii games to hit store shelves. Well, to be precise, it's not really a game at all. Wii Fit is more like an exercise program than anything else. Its sole purpose, like many other Wii games, is to "get the player off the couch and moving."
Summary:
Just like Mario Kart Wii came with the Wii Wheel, and Link's Crossbow Training came with the Wii Zapper, Wii Fit comes with the brand new Wii Balance Board. It's quite the unique device, to say the least. It's very similar to a bathroom scale used to measure your weight, and is used in a variety of ways in the game.
There's really no definite single player and multiplayer modes within Wii Fit because the whole program is simply designed as an exercise routine. The player performs such activities as aerobics, meditation and yoga, all of which are used to keep track of statistics regarding how "fit" the player actually is. Similar to Wii Sports, players can compare their stats one day to that of the previous day, allowing them to see if they've improved their fitness level.
Wii Fit also features some fun activities as well, including snowboarding down a hill, where the Wii Balance Board is used like an actual snowboard, and you control it as such by tilting your body in the desired direction and seeing your on-screen character move as you do.
Other than that, there's not much more to say about this latest Wii title. Unlike other games I've reviewed, Wii Fit compares heavily to Wii Sports and Wii Play. It offers a unique style of gameplay, but just isn't the type of game a typical gamer would be interested in.
Gameplay Elements - The Pros:
The Wii Balance Board is definitely fun to use and offers something a typical game doesn't - real interaction with the player. Just like its predecessors Wii Sports and Wii Play, Wii Fit literally gets you into the game itself.
Nintendo's idea of taking your typical "couch potato" video gamer and making him/her get physically fit while still enjoying their favorite video games is a very smart idea and I commend them for that. However, the company needs to get more of the popular franchise games to implement this idea. Such titles as Pokémon, Mario, Zelda and Smash Bros. need to follow this same sort of "get off the couch" scheme. If they do, they'll be a big hit, not only among casual gamers set to become fit, but also among hard-core gamers that stick to only their favorite titles.
Gameplay Elements - The Cons:
The biggest problem with most Wii games, including Wii Fit, is that they're not the type of games that would score high in the lasting appeal category. The first time you play through it, you'll find it unique and interesting, but not addictive. After a week or two, the typical gamer will just get bored of the game, especially since in this case, it lacks action. Games such as Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Fit and Big Brain Academy, just to name a few, are designed to try and get both older gamers (50+) and younger gamers (10 and less) into the video game franchise. But the normal teenager just isn't into them that much.
Personally, I've seen amazing graphics in Pokémon Battle Revolution, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Wii Fit, however, once again takes a step backwards in the graphics department. Music and sound effects don't play that big of a part either in the game.
Wii Fit has gained popularity simply because of its "uniqueness" in comparison to other action- and adventure-packed Wii titles. But in the standard categories used to rate a game, it just doesn't stand its own ground.
Final Conclusion:
If you liked Wii Sports and Wii Play, you'll probably like Wii Fit. But if you weren't into the past two titles, you probably won't enjoy this third sequel either. Don't get me wrong. The idea of the Wii Balance Board was genius. It just needs to be implemented into other popular titles, such as snowboarding games. Once Nintendo does that, I think you'll have renewed your confidence in what video games can do for you and your kids.
Graphics - 6 of 10
Nothing too impressive in this department. Money was spent into making the Wii Balance Board work properly, but not much was put into the in-game visuals.
Gameplay - 7 of 10
There's a variety of different activities you can perform in Wii Fit, but they're just simply that. No storyline and no battle modes make this title seem really dull in comparison to, let's say, Super Mario Galaxy.
Music and Sound - 6 of 10
The sounds and music are very low-key and aren't catchy either.
Controls - 10 of 10
The controls are very well organized. The Wii Balance Board adds some style in the way you play the game and gives Wii Fit a different type of feel than your typical Microsoft or Sony title.
Lasting Appeal - 3 of 10
As mentioned in the gameplay elements section, this category scores a low rating since your typical gamer won't be too interested in playing Wii Fit for more than a few weeks. Adults and kids less than 10 years old may find Wii Fit to become a part of their daily routine, but for teenagers, it's just boring.
Final Score - 6.4 of 10
Wii Fit has unique controls and a unique style of gameplay. The graphics and sound leave a lot to be desired, and being purely fitness-related, the title has very little lasting appeal. The question comes down to this: Is Wii Fit worth buying? As usual, the $49.99 price tag (which seems to be the standard for all new Wii titles) appears a bit high for a game that might only be played for a week or two. In my opinion, if you're an adult looking to keep fit in your spare time, then this title, like its predecessors, is right for you. If, however, you're a teenager looking for a good game which will keep you interested for months to come, my advice is to check out one of the other popular Wii titles.
