EA Sports Active for Wii

Release date is May 19th!
This game promises something between the disappointing Gillian Micheals Fitness Ultimatum 2009 for the Wii where it promised true 1 to 1 motion during the exercises but failed horribly to deliver (read my review on it for more on that) and the My Fitness Coach for Wii that doesn't utilize the Wii controllers at all except for entering data. In my review for My Fitness Coach I commented that the game had great potential to utilize the Wii controllers to sense your movements and form but didn't even try to utilize them. At least that was better than the Gillian Michaels game that promised but failed to deliver. I also wrote that I hoped someone would come out with a game similar to My Fitness Coach that would include the great personal training options, goal setting options, customized workouts, and deliver on the 1 to 1 motion promise of the Gillian Micheals game. Could EA Sports Active for the Wii be that game?
Well, if you believe all of the pre-release videos and reviews, then it very well might be! It shows your calories burned IN REAL TIME as you are actively working out! (how customizable and accurate this feature is, we will have to wait and see) It also includes a special Nunchuk leg holster to better sense your movements during some of the exercises. It includes resistance bands also. The workouts are 20 minutes but they can be customized and the difficulty level increases as you workout over time. Again, we will have to wait to see how they do this. I could see it being a great feature if, it is done in a similar way to the My Fitness Coach where it asks you to rate your level of exertion after each workout instead of automatically presuming you are ready to move up a level. If the Wii controllers are able to accurately sense your form and speed at which you are preforming the exercises, then I guess the game could accurately tell if you are ready to move up to a more challenging workout that way too, but again, we will have wait and see.
This game also has cardio boxing and squats that the Gillian Michaels game had but failed to sense your movements so badly it was more frustrating and down right dangerous as I finally figured out that with over exaggerated moves (that certainly would be considered poor body mechanics by any personal trainer), it would sometimes sense your movements. I am hoping this game is different. I am hoping that I won't find my Mii (yes, this game utilizes the Mii you create for yourself on the Wii console instead of a limited pre programed Avatar) bobbing back and forth mocking me while I try desperately to get it to punch and kick till the urge to punch and kick my television finally becomes so strong, that I gave up on the boxing feature of the Gillian Micheals game all together. Can you tell by now what a bad review I gave that game?
The EA Sports Active game also includes tennis which looks like it would not only be fun but a great upper body workout. The game also promises to allow customization of your workout. You can choose to work on specific areas, (upper body, lower body, abs, etc) and it will choose exercises that will target those areas. You can also customise your workout by picking from 20 different exercises, level of intensity, length of workout, and type of workout (strength, cardio, etc). It also has a 30 day challenge feature that has its own versions of goal setting and workouts. This has the potential to be a great game if the controls and the game works the way it promises too. I will be reviewing it soon but in the mean time you can view a video of it a couple of post down from this one and you can pre order your copy your copy by following the link at the bottom of this post!
The official description from the developer;
Revolutionize your workout regimen with EA SPORTS Active, the ultimate interactive fitness program that's designed for you. Get fit with a holistic approach to fitness that combines nutrition and lifestyle factors, with a variety of activities, all from the convenience of your living room. From customized routines that target upper body, lower body, and cardio to a guided 30-day challenge that tests muscle endurance, coordination and agility, stay in shape with fitness made fun and easy.
Active Fitness Made Fun & Easy - 20 minute circuits feature a variety of familiar activities that target upper body, lower body as well as cardio
Benefit of a Virtual Personal Trainer - Your trainer will be the focal point of the experience guiding you towards your own version of personal achievement. Feedback will be given throughout your workout, keeping you on track to reach your fitness goals.
30 Day Challenge and experience tailor made 20 minute workouts to your level of fitness. Circuits will change as you progress each day, and EA SPORTS Active will track calories, intensity and progress throughout your journey.
Slip the Nunchuk into the specially designed leg strap and hold the Wii Remote in your hand to track your movements from both your upper and lower body. A resistance band is also included to increase the intensity of exercises.
Wii Balance Board Compatible.
Pre order your copy here!