It won't be the "silver bullet" to getting into shape but its fun workouts do hold some fitness merit.
THE GOOD
-Great introduction to the Wii Balance Board
-Good variety of workouts and games
THE BAD
-Some of the balance games are boring
-You can't customize the workouts
OVERVIEW
Wii Fit is the new and innovative fitness game for the Nintendo Wii. This game also comes with the latest accessory, the Wii Balance Board. There is a nice variety of activities to do like Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics and Balancing games. A few are available from the beginning of the game but most of them have to be unlocked. Wii Fit uses "Fit Credits" that are earned by playing the game (1 minute = 1 credit) and are stored in your "Fit Bank". These credits not only keep track of how long you've played the game but are used to unlock new activities. I would have to say that at first I was skeptical in that if Wii Fit actually had some fitness merit but after playing and sweating, I now believe that there is some fitness value here. Wii Fit isn't the "silver bullet" when it comes to fitness but it is definitely a fun way to start getting in shape.
GAMEPLAY
At the beginning of the game you and your friends will have their Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated. The BMI is calculated using your height and weight. This part of the game can make you feel a little uncomfortable because if you're overweight your Mii will increase in size and display the words your overweight on the screen. After the BMI test you'll be prompted to complete a balance exercise which calculates your Wii Age. Your Wii Age lets you know if your physical body is on par or weaker than your real age. Your BMI and Wii Age can be updated daily at any time. Now, once you and your friends have completed this part, the game will let you set a goal for yourself. For instance, if you wanted to lose 10 pounds over the next 3 months it will track this for you based on each time you weight in. This is a great way to keep track on how well your training is going.
Wii Fit uses a variety of controls but the main device is the Balance Board. The Balance Board is incredibly accurate in determining body movements by shifting your weight. Wii Fit also utilizes the other motion devices like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Each control method is fun and easy to use in this game.
Now I'll run through the different types of activities you'll find in Wii Fit. Yoga combines breathing and stretching techniques which aims to strengthen and relax the body. Before you start any of the Yoga poses you will have the option to practice first. Wii Fit lets you select a female or male trainer to assist you in learning and correctly performing the activity. Some of the yoga skills you'll learn are deep breathing, spinal twist, "half-moon" pose, and the shoulder stand.
The strength training exercises involve many of the everyday exercises you are use to seeing. These activities are aimed towards building muscle tissue. Again just like Yoga, a trainer is there to help you correctly perform the exercise. Some of the strength training activities include push-ups, lunges, squats and leg lifts.
Aerobics is designed to improve your flexibility and cardio-vascular fitness. The idea here is keep the heart and lungs performing at higher levels. This section is probably were people will get fatigued the most. Also, you'll use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in some of the activities. Some of the training activities include jogging (Wii Remote acts as a pedometer), step aerobics and rhythm boxing (Wii Remote and Nunchuk are used to throw punches).
Lastly, we have the Balance Games. The idea here is to work on your balance while playing some fun games. You may not notice at first but playing these games can wear you out which is a good thing because you're getting fit. Some of the games you'll see here are ski jumping, snowboarding, tightrope walking and soccer heading.
Many of the activities in Wii Fit are not only rewarding but fun to do. Unfortunately, you don't have the ability to customize your workouts which can make it a pain switching between exercises. Also, you're restricted to the length, in time, of the exercise which is defaulted by the game. That and the fact that some of the balance games get repetitive and boring after a few plays decreases the replay value a bit.
GRAPHICS & SOUND
The graphics are just fine in Wii Fit. It looks a lot like Wii Sports in regards to the visuals. Although I will say that the island scenery, in the jogging mode, is really nice.
The sound effects, voice acting (trainers) and music are fine in Wii Fit. Nothing too special here except that the Yoga music is very calming.
CONCLUSION
Wii Fit is a good game for the entire family. Whether you're holding the tree pose, jogging in place or ski jumping there is some fun to be had here along with burning a few calories. I recommend this game to anyone because the game is fun and the balance board is exceptional. So, lets get fit, Nintendo style!