Snowboarding
If we needed any more convincing about the balance board’s potential, Snowboarding did the trick. Rotating the board 90 degrees and mounted in true boarding fashion, we weaved down a speed-slalom, altering speed with gentle forward or back positioning, just as it should be. The speed of this straighter run (compared to Skiing) showed off some exhilarating moves. 1080° Snowboarding, here we come.
Fun Factor: 4/5
Bubble maze
Hmmm, seems like someone took a cheeky peek in team Mario Galaxy’s recycling bins: directing this bubble through a top down maze is alarmingly similar to navigating Bubble Blast Galaxy’s birdseye labyrinth. Still, the lean to steer controls work well, though once solved we don’t see much incentive to return. As with Wii Play, many of these games could do with fattening up.
Fun Factor: 2/5
Hula Hoop
As with ol’ fatty’s gyrating antics in WarioWare, there’s hours of cruel enjoyment in the sight of a panicked games journo trying to keep an invisible hoop around their waist. Factor in directional body thrusts to grab extra hoops for a fun, if simple, game.
Fun Factor: 3/5
Boxercise
Like step aerobics with added thumping, this time you step forwards off the board and thrust with the remote or Nunchuk to replicate stepping into a powerful fist swing. Nice to see a bit of remote and Nunchuk action, but the game is just a bit shallow.
Fun Factor: 2/5
Candle stare
After 11 games of intense bodily flip-flopping, you’re going to want to rescue your brain from your right thigh. As means of downtime, Nintendo offer this odd sitting challenge. Perched cross-legged on the board you simply have to sit as still as possible, watching a candle slowly burn down, listening to the soothing night-time ambiance. Shuffle, and the candle will burn quicker, but it’s probably for the best - your workout has to end sometime.
Fun Factor: 2/5
