Wii Fit
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii
Rating: E — Everyone
Game type: Sports
Rating: **** (out of five)
What’s the premise?
Step on to the new Wii Balance Board and have some fun getting healthier through a series of activities and exercises divided up into four main areas: Yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. Burn some calories, improve your balance and get a little stronger doing everything from a Sun Salutation to tightrope walking to ski jumping and more.
This game is most similar to…
The use of the innovative Balance Board makes this one all its own
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
My five-year-old took Wii Fit for a spin and he liked some of the aerobic activities like stepping and balance games like heading soccer balls and using the hula-hoop. As is often the case with the Wii, it’s nice to see kids up and moving around while gaming.
One player or more?
More than one person can have a Wii Fit profile and benefit from some daily training, however the only two-player element that was evident in hours of reviewing was jogging which only requires a pair of Wii-motes.
The (not-so) secret to success is…
Don’t get discouraged. Try not to hurl the board out your window when it tells you you’ve got the fitness age of a much older person or that your balance is so bad you ought to be walking into walls.
What’s missing?
Gatorade and a towel. If you earnestly try at most of the activities in Wii Fit, you’ll break a sweat and get your heart pumping.
And in the end?
Wii Fit is a refreshing change from everyday gaming with real potential for health benefits and the new Balance Board is a superb new gaming peripheral full of potential.
Boom Blox
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Wii
Rating: E — Everybody
Game type: Puzzle
Rating: **** (out of five)
What’s the premise?
From the mind of Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg comes a pleasurable new puzzle game packed with over 300 levels of block grabbing, blasting and crashing fun.
This game is most similar to…
There’s some Jenga and a little bit of old fashioned carnival game action.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
I’d rather my sons were blasting blox than pretty much anything else in gaming.
One player or more?
Go head to head or work together with friends in a wide variety of levels.
The (not-so) secret to success is…
Know thy blox. Some blox explode and some are made of ice while others cost you points or float away on you. Figuring out how to complete each level will depend on knowing what type of blox you’re dealing with.
What’s missing?
Some insulin after playing the sappy sweet and highly family friendly adventure mode.
And in the end?
With over 300 diverse and interesting levels and some fun and challenging gameplay, there’s a lot to keep gamers coming back for more Boom Blox.
