"Innovative idea, or doom to gaming as we know it?"

With Grand Theft Auto IV hitting and leaving shelves in the blink of an eye, it is common to see some media pundits crying foul over its over the top violence and sexual contact. In the mainstream, the game has made news all over for its controversial content, especially considering GTA's history. However, in the gaming community, there is a different controversy: the casual gamer. With Nintendo's money printing, inappropriately named console selling like hotcakes to people who would have no clue who the hell Master Chief or Solid Snake are, many of the elder gamers (i.e. those who have been gaming for quite some time) have become a little distressed and panicky over Nintendo's sudden attention to these new "casual" gamers, and they feel abandoned. Wii Fit is the game that has sent these people over the top claiming that Wii Fit could be the catalyst to change gaming forever. A powerhouse like Nintendo, with such a strong tradition of critically and commercially acclaimed games making this the highlight of E3 2007 did not sit well with the elder gamers. Now, it has arrived to both praise and criticism, but which does it deserve?

Wii Fit plays differently than any other game on the market. Instead of using a controller, or even the Wii Remote, you play by balancing on a small platform known as the Balance Board. It's pretty easy to set up, so no one should have any major issues with that. When you first boot up the game, you will pick your Mii Avatar and then perform a body test. This test measures your center of balance as well as your weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). Wii Fit stresses balance above all else throughout the game, so it's important to learn where your center is. After BMI is calculated, you are given a balance test, and then you are assigned your Wii Fit Age, based on your BMI, real age, and test results. You will then set a goal and be on your way. You can repeat the test any time you like, and if you're going to put a lot of time into the game, you'll want to run a test at least once a day. And, if you don't feel like putting the disk in, you can install the Wii Fit Channel that will run the test for you, even if the CD is not in the system.

Wii Fit has a large amount of activities. There are four different categories of activities: Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics, and Balance Games. Yoga works on your flexibility and breathing. Strength Training helps tone your body, Aerobics helps burn calories, and Balance Games get your balance on track. The exercises are legit and you will find yourself breaking a sweat (and if you do not exercise a whole lot, you'll be sore too) with some of them. You can do any exercise type you want, the game does not force any of the exercises on you, and you have a virtual trainer to assist you with how to do each exercise, and they encourage you to do better.

After each activity, you are scored on how you do based on different criteria, and then you are given a grade from one to four stars. You then earn Wii Fitness Credits that stock your time, and this is Wii Fit's biggest flaw. In order to unlock most of the exercises in the game, you'll have to acquire a certain amount of credits. There are two major problems with this. One, the game does not tell you when you are getting close to a new exercise, and two, there is no need for this. Sure it gives extra incentive, but most people who will play Wii Fit will not play it all that long each day. It can take a long time to earn each activity, and it just does not make much sense at all.

The balance board itself works well. It, as its name implies, works based on how you balance yourself on it. The Balance Games, in particular, rely on how well you can control your balance. For example, one game has you trying to cross a tightrope, and you'll have to be careful not to sway too far or else you will fall off. Another is the marble game, where you'll have to guide marbles into holes in the platforms. The balance board rarely slips up, and most of the time, it is your fault if it screws up.

In terms of presentation, Wii Fit doesn't go for much. The music is pretty repetitive and there isn't a whole lot there. The trainers sound like generic trainers, and the Wii Balance Board character has an overdose of cuteness, easily marked by it waving to you and how it says hi. But overall, the presentation of Wii Fit doesn't help or hinder the game. it's bland, but one can live without it.

Wii Fit is a $90 game, so it's either a buy or pass game. If you have a membership to the gym, you can probably avoid this. But, if you need to lose weight, but love your video games, then give Wii Fit a chance. It's a bit annoying with some of the exercises and unlockables, but it's a game, so you may enjoy it. So, what is Wii Fit? It's neither. It's certiainly not going to change the way we play games forever (though the balance board would make a sweet snowboard), but it's got some legs to be pretty powerful among other gaming communities.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/29/08

Game Release: Wii Fit (US, 05/19/08)