NewU: Fitness First Personal Trainer (Nintendo Wii)

NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer is a fitness game for the Wii compatible with the Wii Balance Board. It features both structured exercise programs and nutrition programs.

Unlike other fitness products for the Wii it uses real trainers and real video rather than animated characters. The fitness programs are designed by the Fitness First gym chain, the nutrition programs are in association with the You Are What You Eat television series.

The game features a choice of four Fitness First personal trainers, two female and two male. When you create a profile in the game you select a primary goal and a secondary one from a choice of 25. These include things such as “Detox”, “Lower Body” and “Busy Parent”, there are also more sports related goals such as “Ski Fit” and “Tennis Fit”. While setting up the profile you are also asked many more personal questions such as exercise level, dietary preferences and so on so that the game can tailor it’s programs to you.

The fitness programs are selected from a set of 80+ exercises tailored to your preferences. Unlike other games however you are expected to follow the program, there isn’t choice in this other than opting for “Express” versions of the workouts if you’re pressed for time. In this respect the game is more like having a strict personal trainer than other games. The workouts start fairly easily but the game monitors your progress through the Wii controllers and as you proceed they get steadily harder and harder to match how well you’re doing. There is also a challenge mode where you can attempt prolonged challenges such as “Dance” and “Army”.

The Nutrition Section is also controlled from your preferences. You can select what foods you do and don’t eat such as meat, fish, dairy, gluten and nuts. Then for each day you will be given meal suggestions for 5 meals a day, two choices for each meal. When you select a meal you will be taken to the recipe sheet, including pictures, preparation instructions and health tips. The game will even generate an entire weeks shopping list for you if you want.

An exercise program lasts from 20 mins to 45 mins depending on how advanced you are. A program consists of a set of exercises that you are shown before you start the workout. The exercises themselves are presented using real video footage of the trainer doing the exercise from a number of camera angles; a bit like an exercise DVD but with interactive feedback from the Wiimote and Balance Board. The exercises are fairly strict about you doing them correctly unlike other exercise games. You will lose points for not keeping up, not using your arms correctly or having bad posture.

The game works with either Wiimote plus Balance Board or just Wiimote.