Trying To Escape the WiiFit Plus.

Like many self-described hardcore gamers, I remained rather uninterested in last year’s launch of the original Wii Fit title.  While the game featured some interesting mini-games involving Mii avatars, most of that seemed overshadowed by the game’s focus on aerobics and Yoga.  So while I was at first hesitant to give Wii Fit Plus a try, I can honestly say in hindsight that the bargained-for entertainment was worth the subsequent caloric loss.

When I think of Wii Fit, I think of a bunch of balance activities and a digital trainer who tries to get you to conform to a bunch of pretzel-like poses as if you were a real-life Gumby.  Well, that and the game’s slightly off-kilter scale which happened to label a few otherwise ordinary people as morbidly obese.

But when (literally) stepping up to Wii Fit Plus I felt the same level of wonder and intrigue as when I played Wii Sports for the first time.  Gone was any appearance of a personal trainer or Yoga instructor (they might have very well been in there – I just didn’t see any), and in their place were some enjoyable mini-games that almost felt more appropriately placed in the upcoming Wii Sports: Resort.

With a selection of what appeared to be around a dozen activities, I jumped head-first into the most familiar and comfortable setting: a Super Mario Bros.-style platformer requiring timed sprints and jumps while dodging oncoming obstacles.  Digital Ninja Warrior here I come.

The level started from a third-person view showing my Mii avatar in a tunnel-vision-type perspective.  By jogging in place on the Wii Balance Board I caused my Mii to run forward, and by ceasing all real-world movements I caused him to stop immediately.  As I ran in place while on the rather hard surface of the Balance Board, I quickly got the hang of stop-and-go action, easily dodging swinging cannon balls and crossing moving platforms.

But my first true challenge, a mediocre gap, sent me plummeting to my death.  This would not be the last time I succumbed to an 8-bit staple that I say I supposedly overcame before I reached the double-digit age.

It seems that by quickly squatting down as if I’m about to pounce on a nearby reporter (don’t give the competition any slack), the game registers a jump on screen without me actually needing to leap off the Balance Board.  LG can thank me later for not damaging those lovely HDTVs.

With my newfound knowledge in hand (or foot, rather), I tackled the level once more, timing sprints and jumps over moving gaps while dodging incoming fodder.  Then I barely pass the first section before my time runs out.  Too bad.