Nintendo Wii Review Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout

This very affordable Wii workout game gives you a personal trainer right in your own home. You get a calendar to follow and can choose from a set workout or choose your own lesson, exam or exercise. The instructions include clear visuals and text, so your pace doesn’t get interrupted.

Settings include the standard gym and exterior places like the beach or forest and you choose from six possible instructors, beginning with Alex or Nina, (others with outfit changes are unlockable). You’re under the honor system to put in your current weight to begin your workout journey.

The simple controls offer options like two Wii remotes or remote and Nunchuk while incorporating the Wii balance board. Besides making responsive movements, knowing your right hand from your left hand become the biggest challenges here. Exercise difficulty can be set initially and increases as you progress. Boxing movements like dodging while punching can be especially challenging.

Exercises actions involve back strengthening, dodges, ducks, leg raises, push-ups, reverse sit-ups, squats and upper cuts. The unlockable exercise modes add more variety (log chopping) and comedy (check out “Roadwork”). Overall, the exercises focus more on the upper body especially on the arms and shoulders. Some exercises encourage lower body motion, but don’t require it.

Statistical information includes your physical age, BMI (body mass index), calories burned and body weight progression. This performance-based information can discourage in the short term, but fun compilers like the punch count and the calendar can be very rewarding over time. You can even set a goal for a specific weight you want to achieve.

As you progress, your accrued “gold” becomes your currency for shopping for clothes and other accessories. Music motivation comes from a huge tune cache to preview and play. Other instrumental song versions like “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (yes, for the boxing – big surprise) are included during exercise sessions.

The graphics are minimal and could use improvement. Incentives are there as long as you’re accountable to yourself because a virtual trainer is pretty easy to avoid. This game includes a coupon for a 7-day VIP membership to Gold's Gym if you feel like trying out the real thing. A solid gaming experience you can do conveniently at home.

Gold's Gym Cardio Workout is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB for Comic Mischief.