Measuring....Measuring....

Yes, that's the reaction of the Wii Balance Board when you start your balance test on Wii Fit. I bought this about five years ago when it was new, and with theoriginal Wii Fit game, it cost me about $90 (before taxes). Initially I was reluctant to try the game, as I intentionally bought the balance board for a different reason altogether (see "This Console Comes With a Tablet?!") but it's not a completely horrible device.

Now, granted, the last time I used this thing, I still had the 480p Wii and I was doing an in-home physical exam for an insurance provider, but that's beside the point. In all honesty, I actually have a love-hate relationship with the device. This will probably change when I get a Wii U Fit Meter (another post for another time), but in all honesty, it's really annoying how it monitors your progress and chastises a perfectly healthy person just because they're a pound overweight and throwing off their goal of "maintaining" the weight number that they had when they made the goal.

Also, the thing eats through 4 "AA" batteries at a time, and ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, but "AA" seems to be the most commonly used household battery type in America, so my strong recommendation is to buy one of those special rechargeable battery packs that comes with a USB-based charging cable. For the original Wii, you will just be able to plug it into the console thanks to WiiConnect24's standby mode. However, if you are using the Wii U, I would strongly advise either a wall surge protector with USB ports (generally made by American Power Company or "APC") or dedicating a USB port on your PC for the task (especially if you have a TV tuner set up with your computer already).

Now, the original Wii Fit has two main options when you start the game and log in: "Body Test" and "Training". The first one is pretty straight forward. It will check your weight and Body Mass Index (or BMI) and then chastise or compliment you accordingly based on what your ideal goal and timeline are. If you choose to go on from there, you will be presented with two balance games (always chosen at random) and then it will tell you how fit you are by doing an age comparison with your current age. The second option is more complex, and this is because there are more options. There are different types of excercises, such as Yoga and Strength Training, and there are also other activities, called "Balance Games".

So, you might look at this and say, "Gee, that's all fine and dandy, but why would a pay around $100+ for a device that only works with one game (or series of games)?" --Well, that's because it DOES work with other games, and my favorite one (and the reason I bought it in the first place) is Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party (see "This Console Comes With a Tablet?!" for a brief synopsis of the game). If you get a chance, go out and buy it and read the manual, and you will see what I mean. Plus, since the device is manufactured by Nintendo, it's pretty sturdy, and can take a beating. I've actually dropped it once or twice by accident and the thing still works as long as it has batteries to power it.

Bottom line: Don't knock it until you've tried it. The device as a whole is very solid and durable and if you use it enough, worth every penny spent on it. One of these days, I'll go out and buy a Fit Meter, but that's another review entirely.

Side view of the Balance Board, with battery compartment and power button.

Top view of Balance board. My hand is covering the power button in this shot.

Rechargeable battery pack. This one is made by Memorex, but there are several manufacturers that have these available. This one is also USB powered, as shown by the cable next to it.