Nintendo once again breaks the barriers between hardcore and casual.
The first thing you'll notice about the Balance Board, is that it's much more sensitive than you would ever imagine it being based on video demonstrations and observations. The tiniest shift in your balance is detected and replicated on-screen, which will seem frustrating at first, but will come to be appreciated by about the second time you use the Balance Board. Obviously, the more sensitivity the device has, the more options opened up for future game titles that might utilize the Balance Board. Additionally, it allows for an unusually accurate collection of data with the Wii Fit software. I've already come to trust the weight number Wii Fit gives me more as compared to my real scale that I use. This alone says quite a bit, if you ask me.
But don't be confused into thinking that Wii Fit is only weight tracking software, because it's actually more concerned with your overall B.M.I. (Body Mass Index) rather than your weight. In the event that you don't know what your B.M.I. means, then let me explain it in this way... your weight, height, etc. are all tiny components of your overall B.M.I. Your B.M.I. will tell you how healthy you are as a whole. According to Wii Fit, my B.M.I. hovers around 17.00 and 17.34, which is categorized as normal. Be aware that if you are bit on the heavier side, you will be categorized as overweight, so if you have any issues with seeing it in writing, then I'd stay far away from Wii Fit (don't expect it to bluntly call you "fat" however, as certain news articles have portrayed Wii Fit...).
As a whole, Wii Fit delivers seemingly accurate data regarding your B.M.I. and weight. It displays all of your progress on a neat and well organized graph that shows not just your B.M.I. and weight, but time clocked in to Wii Fit as well as your averages of your "Wii Fit Age" (yes, just like in Brain Age). All of this data is calculated by a daily Body Test that takes less than five minutes to complete, but be aware that if you don't take the test at roughly the same time each day, your data is likely to be inaccurate due to tiny changes in your body throughout the course of a day's time.
But enough about the data recorded in Wii Fit, the exercises and mini-games are most likely what you'll be buying this for. Unsurprisingly, the exercises are mostly very simple, but surprisingly more complex in other areas at the same time. The exercises/games are split into four categories; Balance Games, Aerobics, Yoga, and Strength Training. Balance Games are self-explanatory, which consist of about nine different mini-games using the Balance Board. Unfortunately, if you're hoping for a variety of different mini-games, you'll probably be disappointed. Most of the mini-games you unlock throughout the course of the game are either more of the same from the ones that you start with, or just plain boring. Don't expect a whole lot of game time from the mini-games alone. Thankfully, the exercises offer a much broader and more interesting variety. Yoga offers everything ranging from breathing exercises to a "Sun Salutation" exercise. No, I didn't come up with some of the names of these exercises... but I sure wish I had. Meanwhile, Aerobics offers some fun game-like exercises that are more cardio-based. You'll play a fun (and entertaining to watch) hula hoop game, a DDR-ish mini-game (elder style), and of course a basic option of running in place with the Wii Remote slipped into your pocket. The category that will undoubtedly give you the best workout however, is Strength Training. It includes everything from push-ups, to jackknife crunches, to squats. By the time you're done with your thirty minute session, I guarantee you'll have not only broken a sweat, but be panting for breath depending on how fit you are.
With all of this in mind, Wii Fit offers a more than effective array of exercises. Nevertheless, while I'm impressed with the exercises and their effectiveness (at the very least you'll see improved posture and balance as a result of the exercises), I'm not impressed by the poor incentives and weak variety offered in the game. The presentation gets the job done, but is bland and uninteresting considering what could have been implemented. The music is stale and less than memorable, and chances are you'll be left questioning why you paid $90 for a program that's simpler than a $10 pilates tape. I won't lie, Wii Fit is a load of fun with or without friends around (personally I don't want my friends/family watching me exercise...), but the pricetag is the issue here. Even $80 might justify the purchase a little bit more, but $90 is a stretch. Yes, you'll have the Wii Balance Board for future titles that utilize it, but it still has yet to be seen how many titles will even use it. We've seen how quickly Nintendo's peripherals fade out (Where are the Zapper titles?), and I can't help but wonder if this one will fade as well.
In the end, I would easily recommend this game if you're looking for a fun way to lose a few pounds or get in shape, but if you're a gamer looking for a quirky experience with lots of mini-games included, then I wouldn't bother with it. The bundle is quite impressive, however, and I am very pleased with the quality of the Balance Board. If more future titles use the peripheral, then I would at least recommend the game for the Balance Board alone. It's sensitivity and expected Nintendo-quality build is sensational, and fun to just show off to other people. Whether you're a hardcore or a casual gamer, you'll find something here to enjoy... but chances are the latter will get the most enjoyment out of this title.