Giving Nintendo's Wii Fit a test-run

Sport may not have been top of mind on such a hot Berlin evening, but opinions very quickly changed at Nintendo’s stylish Wii Fit Lounge, set up in an inner-city loft.

The Wii Fit program is Nintendo's latest addition to the popular Wii console, which you direct through body movement, not just by pressing buttons. Wii Fit functions similarly;: by shifting your weight on a white balance board you move your figure across the screen. In the same way, the program controls that you're doing the exercises correctly. It has four sections to help get your body into bikini shape: balance games, muscle training, yoga and aerobics.

Exercises

The balance games are great for a warm-up. You can go skiing, navigate your way through a river, or balance on a rope - all just by shifting your weight on the board. Really, you don’t look any more ridiculous than you would in a gym-class. Speaking of which, the aerobics section certainly has some funny moves, the hula-hoop for example. I’d recommend the boxing as the funnest way to burn some cals.

The exercise guidelines are easy to follow, but even screwing up is enjoyable as your animated self is just so damn cute falling over or – as in my case – sent flying down a ski-slope in a giant snowball.

At the same time, it is advisable to have a coach help you the first time to make sure that you do the movements correctly. The exercises are quite focused on the lower body, as the movement of your legs and shifting of your weight are the only ways Wii Fit can assess what you're doing.

... and Interaction

Don't expect a quiet training partner; Wii Fit is constantly talking to you. There’s everything from encouragement, “You’re doing great!” to harassment, "Hey, it's been three days since you worked out." or simple guidance, “Watch your balance.” You can set a goal for yourself and then keep on enhancing your training routine and fitness level, helping to keep your motivation levels on a high.

For a complete sports program though there are simply to few cardio exercises. Jogging on the board? Surely the park, or even gym, would be a better bet. The stretching and balance exercises could be a fun addition to your routine, and by providing a chatty workout partner, you might be coming back for more, but – though undoubtedly entertaining – it should come as no surprise that the Wii Fit is no replacement for a gym coach or personal trainer.

If you want to check out the Wii Fit, head to one of Nintendo's Wii Fit Lounges in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, or Cologne or to their website for more info.