Serve Virtual Cupcakes in Wii Fit U - Preview
by Daniel Share-Strom , posted on 09 June 2012 / 2,539 Views
Before we start, say the name of this game slowly. Wii Fit U. Wii. Fit. U. We fit you. Sounds more like a tailor than a serious fitness game. Alas, based on my hands-on time, the latest entry in the fitness craze didn't fit me.
As far as features go, the game uses the Wii U GamePad to help you get fit in new ways. The first of the two minigames I got to try out had me standing on the Balance Board while holding the GamePad like a tray in front of me. Food was placed on the tray in-game (visible on the touchscreen), and I was tasked with physically running around a restaurant full of Miis to serve. Tilting the pad turned my character, but it also tilted the tray, forcing a delicate (and literal) balancing act between keeping the food steady and avoiding obstacles while arriving at my destination in a timely manner. It was difficult, but unfortunately this was due to the fact that turning your character and tilting the tray are accomplished the same way. I have never seen a real-life waiter who tilted his tray to the right when he had to turn in that direction, and this caused me to drop more orders than I care to admit. For my performance, I received one star out of five. “Well,” the rep said, “it’s a good thing you’re a writer and not a waiter.”
Thanks, nonspecific Nintendo booth babe. I needed that.
I fared slightly better when I attempted the luge event. This one had me sitting on the Balance Board with my legs out in front of me and hands at my sides. By making quick pulling motions with my hands, I pushed my character down the snowy hill and sent him on a fast-paced race down the track. The further back I leaned, the faster I moved. I made good time by nearly touching the floor behind me, with the trade-off being that my back absolutely hated me after about 30 seconds. Still, I stuck it out, leaning to one side or the other to turn where necessary, and managed to come in with a time that didn’t make me feel complete contempt for myself.
Outside of specific applications for the minigames, the GamePad also lets you transfer the full game to the touchscreen, which is handy for flipping the TV to a ball game while you work out.
I was definitely sweating after the complete thrashing these two workouts gave me, although from a gameplay perspective they could certainly use some more tweaking before launch. I can certainly see people losing a fair bit of weight if they really put their all into these strenuous activities, so maybe ‘we fit you’ is an apt description after all.
