Wii Fit Balance Board with Wii Fit Plus

Gaming often gets a bad rap when it comes to fitness. Apart from the rare stories of people who modify exercise bikes to use while playing games, they are seen as a hindrance rather than a help. But Nintendo's Wii console helped popularise a more active approach to gameplay - and the Wii Fit Balance Board with Wii Fit Plus offers a structured approach to losing weight and getting fit in front of the telly.

Connecting the Balance Board to the Wii console is a simple process and once, once paired, it will connect automatically when switched on. The Balance Board's power button is easy to operate with a light push of the toe.

The Wii Fit Plus game asks you to set up an account to track the time spent in the game (an existing Mii avatar can be used to illustrate it, if you want). Part of this process involves testing weight and mental fitness. This gives a Wii Fit ‘age', an indication of how much work the game thinks is required to get you up to speed. The Mii character also reflects your weight, which is not always kind (though it is honest). This test is repeated on a regular basis to check progress against weight-loss or -gain goals. It can also be added to the Wii menu, so the measurements can be taken without the Wii Fit Plus disc having to be in the Wii's drive. Pets can be added as well, although they can only be weighed and can't take part in any of the games.

There's a great selection of fitness games on offer. These are grouped into various categories, such as yoga, aerobic exercise and balance games. Advanced versions of the games can be ‘unlocked' as your performance improves. Games can be selected individually or there are workouts based on particular goals such as improving balance. Workouts can also be made with favourite workouts.

Though Wii Fii Plus can be played without the Balance Board, with it attached there is obviously a lot of focus on balance and some exercises are rated on poise. Having only managed three out of the six repetitions in the push-ups section, our leotard-clad player was still awarded three out of four stars - presumably because he maintained good balance while prone on the floor, gasping for breath. Other games make use of a Wii Remote motion-senstive controller in a pocket or strap, so it's surprising that this one didn't.

One initial worry was that, with only a Balance Board on which to exercise, it would be hard to work up a sweat while exercising. In fact, we clearly overestimated our fitness level as all the Wii Fit Plus games presented a challenge. Some of the cardio exercises, such as riding a bike, were not as good as the real thing - but they're the exceptions that prove the rule. Rhythm Boxing and Rhythm Kung Foo, in particular, are both good fun.

The Wii Fit Plus is not a magic exercise solution but it has many attractive traits. The scoring system with obtainable goals (it won't let you strive to lose weight too quickly) should appeal to gamers' competitive streaks, while the multiplayer options are also great fun -especially with children.
At £80 it's not cheap (though the Wii Fit Plus game on its own can be found for £15 on Amazon) but compares well with gym-membership costs. We think it's a real fitness tool that also happens to be good fun.