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Comment on Wii Fit Master Exercise Kit by lovehitzalot

lovehitzalot — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:56:05 +0000

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

First impression-AMAZING!!!!, July 26, 2009

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This review is from: So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit: Cardio Funk (DVD)

I just received the So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit Cardio Funk and Tone & Groove dvds yesterday (I tried CF yesterday and T&G today), so my reviews will be based on my first impressions, and then I'll edit them again later regarding the long term results.

First thought-I LOVE these dvds! Because the routines were explained well and taught in a progression, I was able to pick up the choreography for each dance the first time through, though I felt all of the routines were definitely challenging and VERY effective as workouts! After just finishing the second dvd today; my muscles are sore, I'm sweating, and I feel fantastic (and like I worked really hard)! The dancers were all very energetic, encouraging, and none of them ever missed a beat/step on the routines. It was exciting to see all of these great personalities from the show (definitely 5 of my many favorites) choreographing, dancing, and having such a blast out there-and it's even more fun to dance along with them!

Getting down to business, the menu screen has a 'Play All' option which takes you through the warm-up, all 3 routines (with instructions), and the cool down. In the 'Workouts' section, you can choose between the 3 routines (with or without instructions) and the bonus workout that combines the three styles with some extra steps (also with our without instructions). The Warm-Up and Cool Down sections are taught by the whole group of dancers, switching off. They're the same combination of dance-infused stretches on both dvds and they've got a funky flavor going on the Warm-Up and more of a bluesy tone on the Cool Down. I found them to be fully effective in preparing me for the workouts and cooling me down afterward, as well as enjoyable ways to begin and end the session. For extra entertainment value, the dvd also includes interviews with the three dancers featured on the front cover, as well as with Nigel Lithgoe. The dancers' interviews include behind the scenes clips from their workout rehearsals, taping, and photo shoot, as well as them just goofing off with each other and having fun. I expect that all fans of the show would really enjoy these parts as much as I did. :) Anyway, I chose to 'Play All' and then perform the Bonus dance with instruction and my total workout time for each day was about 1 hour and 40 minutes! That will be reduced without the instructions, though I think it's always good to get the extra benefit of performing the moves slowly and isolating the muscles whenever there's time. Seriously, for only $11?-What a tremendous value for the money!

On this dvd:
-Lauren-Hip Hop: This had a very nice groove to it and you can tell that she really focused on making sure that we got a tremendous cardio workout in her routine (especially at full speed). It's fast, it hits, and it's very fun!
-Travis-Contemporary: I loved this one! Beautiful, flowing movements and stops that if done correctly will give your back, arms, waistline, calves, and abs a great stretch and workout!
-Courtney-Disco: This was so cute! Fairly simple moves strung together into a FAST and extremely fun little number. I found this to be an especially effective on my legs. There's lots of comedy in this one too, "check you out, check you out!" :)

The video clip at the top of the screen will give you a nice preview into how the steps are taught and the types of moves you'll be doing. I'm so excited to have added this fitness dvd into my collection and hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did! ***** Difficulty: Intermediate/Challenging (At least a little dance training recommended, if not required).

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Comment on Wii Fit Master Exercise Kit by lunasera

lunasera — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:53:16 +0000

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

Fun!!! Great workout as well., July 23, 2009

lunasera (CT, USA) -

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This review is from: So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit: Cardio Funk (DVD)

Especially while the show is airing, who doesn't want to feel like they can be part of So you think you can dance! Totally fun to dance with a bunch of dancers from past seasons, and get a great workout at the same time.

Three different styles of dance routines (hip hop, contemporary, and disco), you can pick one or do all three, and there are separate chapters for the instructions to learn the routines that you can skip and go straight to the workouts after you get them down. Learning the steps is nice and slow, and easy to follow or repeat if you get lost. Then in the workouts they start with doing the routine counting, and get faster, add music, until it's more like a performance at the end - just music no counting at full speed. There is also a bonus dance that mixes the styles together. The dancers on the video are Travis, Katee, Dmitry, Twitch, Lauren, and Courtney.

My only slight complaint is the music is a bit generic, so you aren't going to feel like you are telling any kind of story in the routine like from the show, but after all it is an exercise dvd, so this isn't that big of a deal. It would be cool if they came out with a couple that were focused more on just dance so you feel more like a real routine though. But for now I'm pretty happy they did this at all, and I'm looking forward to trying the other one, Tone and Groove!

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Comment on Wii Fit Master Exercise Kit by kbskbstango

kbskbstango — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:02:24 +0000

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

improved wrokout, August 27, 2011

kbskbstango -

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This review is from: Wii Fit Master Exercise Kit (Accessory)

Bought mainly for the risers for the balance board. Previous reviews suggesting coins in the cups were right on target - weight doesn't register right without them, but all is fine once they are added. I would like to see a way to secure the cups to the board so it could be stored with them on it, or at least be easier to line up. But, they are secure once you start stepping. I like the strap, but don't like the way one side has a smaller holder. It's designed for remote and nunchuk, but I have Exerbeat which lets you use two remotes and the smaller holder isn't big enough to hold a remote instead of a nunchuk. Overall, this accessory set still adds a lot to the workout and was a good addition considering the low cost.

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Comment on Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games by 3 dogs 3 cats 3 people "LUV2TRVL"

3 dogs 3 cats 3 people "LUV2TRVL" — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:55:57 +0000

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Great game, April 7, 2010

3 dogs 3 cats 3 people "LUV2TRVL" (Clayton, NC) -

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This review is from: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Video Game)

My 5 year old was captivated by the 2010 Winter Olympics! Just after the games he was interested in buying this game with money he had saved. He has been very happy with his purchase. In fact, he loves it so much that I have to limit the time he spends playing it. He has only had a DS four months, but seemed to pick up on how to play this game quickly by running the demo features.

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Comment on ExerBeat Reviews by Mercedes L. Johnmeyer "The Most Happy"

Mercedes L. Johnmeyer "The Most Happy" — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:52:02 +0000

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

Definitely gets you moving!!..., May 19, 2011

Mercedes L. Johnmeyer "The Most Happy" (Summerville, SC) -

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This review is from: ExerBeat (Video Game)

As a 30 year old SAHM mom who's looking to tone up some 'soft' areas, I always keep my eyes out for Wii games that incorporate exercise. As soon as I saw this, I pre-ordered it (I've been waiting over a month for it!). I love the Wii Fit Plus games as well as the dance games, and ExerBeat seems to be a hybrid of those two games. You've got party games, dancing, karate, yoga, pilates and stretching. There's really something for everyone here. I will say though, this game is pretty much ALL ABOUT exercise, so your kids probably won't like it very much (unless they're looking to get fit). The games are more about moving around than really trying to achieve some goal.

Getting started is quick and easy and if you have a Mii already set up, then you're half-way there. Just put in weight and what hand is your dominant and you're finished. You can play this game with one controller, two controllers, or none. I played using 2, so that's all I can comment on. There are some exercises that utilize the Wii balance board, but you don't HAVE to have one to do those sections. It will ask you before you start if you want to use the board or not.

The only thing about this game that I'm not too crazy is the 'Around-the-World' section. I think it's a cute feature, but I wish you had the option to turn it off. I also don't like how some of the trainers can get a bit chatty at the end of your workout. I found this most noticeable in the Stretching section. After each segment there was about 30 seconds of her saying things like 'Great job, you doing really well', then she'd go on about the benefits of stretching. I didn't mind at first, but by the third or fourth segment, I just wanted to get on with the game. Especially since I knew the 'Around-the-World' still followed (that pops up after each segment you complete).

Once you spend about 15-20 minutes playing the game, you start to unlock more and more things. After about 10 minutes I unlocked the 'Daily Challenge'. Each day you get a new challenge that you need to complete at least 70% of. Today it was 3 different dance warm-ups. There's a personal calender that is VERY much like the calendar on Wii Fit Plus (there's even a stamp for each day), and the score board of each game is almost identical to WFP as well.

Overall, I really like this game! I spent about 45 minutes playing it today, and I think it's something I'll turn on at least 4 days a week. I'm not sweating too much now since I'm still in the beginner stages of most things, but some of those dance sections (like Latin) really get you moving! Once you unlock the personal trainer (took me about 15 minutes) you can skip the little individual segments and do a full, uninterrupted workout. If you click the trainer button it will ask you to set the length of time you want to workout. I did 10 minutes just to see how it works, and I really liked it. It incorporated some aerobics, karate, and dancing in my workout (I chose Random, you can choose to work on specific areas of your body, or specific exercises). I really think this is a great mix of exercises and dancing, and if you're looking to get your butt off the couch and get moving, then this is as good a place as any to start as far as Wii exercise games go!

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Comment on Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games by Sandy - Mom of 3 Boys

Sandy - Mom of 3 Boys — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:33 +0000

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Great game! Hours of fun!, March 4, 2010

Sandy - Mom of 3 Boys (Melbourne, FL) -

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This review is from: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Video Game)

My 10 year old has had this for 2 months now & still LOVES this game. It provides hours of enjoyment with the different sports & skill levels. Unlike other games which he beats within a week, this one has been worth the money!

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Comment on ExerBeat Reviews by NeuroSplicer

NeuroSplicer — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:54:06 +0000

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

GET FIT TO THE BEAT!, May 20, 2011

NeuroSplicer (Freeside, in geosynchronous orbit) -

= Fun:

This review is from: ExerBeat (Video Game)

After more than a year of using the Wii Fit Plus, my wife was looking for a new Wii exergame. Zumba Fitness is a nice fun diversion but it offers little in the area of structured aerobics and calorie control. In contrast, ExerBeat seems to be the perfect blend of new activities and a fitness program.

A PERFECT COMBINATION
More than 150 exergames, including yoga/pilates, karate forms, boxercising and dance-exercise (aerobics, hip-hop & latin). Only some of them are unlocked from the very beginning, the others become available as you progress, as is your personal trainer So, not only you get having fun with dancing aerobics (something missing from Wii FIT PLUS) but you also get to monitor your progress, intensity of workout and calories burned (something ZUMBA FITNESS is lacking). Your routines are customizable and can be focused on problem areas. What is more, to keep things interesting, you are presented with daily and weekly exercise challenges that are not considered successfully completed unless you score 70% or better.
Moreover, whereas in the Wii FIT PLUS you had to set your own stretching through yoga exercises, ExerBeat comes with its own stretching routines to keep your joints and muscles safe from stains.

CONTROL(LER) ISSUES
The game can be played in its entirety with a single controller (Wiimote), the game will be asking you which hand you are favoring. Although two controllers are recommended for more precise results, they are not required. Similarly, up to two persons can join simultaneously, each with either one or two controllers. Just remember to setup the game accordingly.
The WiiMotion Plus and the Balance Board accessories are required for a number (but not all of the exergames). Moreover, there is a non-competitive video mode where you try to match what is on the screen without having to carry the controller.

AT THE HEART OF IT ALL
Before actually starting a cartoon music note, named Rhythm, asks about your age, weight and dominant hand. Later on you will be asked whether you will be using one or two controllers. Since one needs to monitor his or her heart rate in order to reap the most benefits out of aerobic exercises, the game reminds you of this - but offers no way of actually measuring or calculating it. You can use an electronic heart-rate monitor or can measure and calculate it using a stopwatch. For some of the yoga/pilates exercises you may also need an exercise mat.

WALK THE EARTH
I appreciated the game developers' retro humor, because this motivational gimmick reminded me of a childhood TV-series, Kung Fu, where David Carradine did exactly that: he walked the earth enforcing his morality code with his martial arts skills. No morality code enforcing here but your cumulative efforts (workout time + rhythm points) are translated in distance covered ...walking the earth. Whenever landmarks are reached new exercises are unlocked, to give you a visual sense of accomplishment.

PARTY GAMES THAT BURN
My favorite is the Pirate Attack, where you get to swing your sword (...Wiimote) in the correct angle and direction in order to fend off pirate attacks. You get so into it you forget you are playing until your shoulder muscles burn. As will with Swimming and Pizza Toss. There is also Wall Smasher (a boxing game) and Dance fever (dancing face off).

The Nintendo Wii is the gaming system that was designed from start to finish keeping in mind that the person using it should be having fun. Otherwise, why bother? Sure, getting fit for the beach or loosing those extra pounds, leftover from the winter indulgences, should be equally important motivation - but who are we kidding right? It is so much easier to get into your workout outfit and sweat yourself to better fitness when you know you will be having fun.

And EXERBEAT excels in this.

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Comment on ExerBeat Reviews by PT Cruiser "PT Cruiser"

PT Cruiser "PT Cruiser" — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:13:03 +0000

118 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

Get up off the couch and lose some inches!, May 19, 2011

PT Cruiser "PT Cruiser" (CA USA) -

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This review is from: ExerBeat (Video Game)

I have to admit, when I saw this game at such a reasonable price (not that I'm complaining!), I wondered, "Just how good can it be?" Thank goodness I didn't put off buying it. It's a wonderful exercise game and a huge bargain! Namco has done it again. I've been their biggest fan of their We Cheer and We Cheer 2 games and now they've added a game with some of the same features, like the circles and other shapes showing arm or body movements, with that familiar little "Bling!" when you get it right and earn points. This is a high energy set of workouts and games with something for everyone. I love the dance aerobics which includes Latin Dance and Hip Hop and aerobics. And this game includes the best yoga instruction that I've seen so far on any Wii game. The instructors and clear and easy to follow and the graphics show exactly how to do the exercises. It's like being in an actual yoga class. And the Wiimote lets you know if you're doing the poses correctly.

You can use one or two Wiimotes although I highly recommend using two. If you've played We Cheer or We Cheer 2, you'll know what I mean. There are also exercises that use the balance board, although not as many as I might have wished for.

So, here are the details:

When you launch the game the first thing it asks is to create a new avatar or use your existing Mii. I chose my Mii and then you see a little musical note avatar, very reminiscent of the Wii Balance board that you see in Wii Fit. He talks to you, calling you by name (Don't you just love that?) and he asks for all your info like birth date, weight, and dominant hand for playing the games. Then he asks if you'd like to see a short tutorial on how to play the game. It's not too long and I recommend watching it. You can skip any parts you might already know by pressing the + button and holding it down. There's a short practice aerobics exercise in the tutorial to give you the feel of how it works. You can see on the screen the current workout time, points and the remaining time of the workout. (I love this feature!)

Now you're ready to go. Choose the one or two player mode and tell it if you're using one Wiimote or two. It also asks again for your dominant hand. The next thing you see is the main menu so you can choose what type of workout you want to do. Here are the categories:

Dance Exercises - When you click this you have a choice of 3 different categories: Aerobics, Hip Hop and Latin Dance. Each of those categories has 20 different exercises. There are 5 open to start and more open as you play and gain points. The only ones that use the balance board are 10 of the Latin Dance exercises. All of these that I tried so far are high energy and fun. It's like a dancercise class with great instruction and the graphics are clear and easy to follow.

Martial Arts Exercises - You have your choice of Boxing, Karate and Karate Forms. There are 5 open under each to start and more open as you gain points. Boxing and Karate each have 20 exercises and Karate Forms has 10. Great instruction and a good workout.

Body Conditioning - The categories are Yoga/Pilates which has 20 exercises and Stretching which has 10. This is the best Yoga instruction that I've seen on any Wii game. 6 exercises are open to start on the yoga and 5 on the stretching.

After you finish your workouts the results screen appears showing your Rhythm Points, Success Rates and other stats. You can press the A button to see your workout time, calories an history so far. Players with a high number of points make it onto the ranking board where you can win bronze, silver or gold medals. After seeing your ranking, you go to an Around the World screen which shows your progress based on your workouts and weekly challenges. Any Mii that completes their journey around the world appears with a crown on their head and it displays the number of trips around the world. So there's always something new to strive for.

Party Games - There are 5 really fun games included which sort of remind me of the games on Wii Fit. They are: Swimming, Dance Fever, Pizza Toss, Wall Smasher and Pirate Attack. Pirate attack uses the Motion Plus and Balance Board for the Wii.

There is also a My Exercises tab where you can set up your own routine for a personalized workout program. Nice touch!

I love this game! The controls are very responsive, the menus move quickly and efficiently and it has so many nice features and exercises that I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. Namco has done it again... Read more

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Comment on Dreamgear DGWII-1128 7 In 1 Fitness Bundle for Nintendo Wii Fit by Daddy B Me

Daddy B Me — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:24:32 +0000

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

My 3 yr old daughter loves to get active and learn...., July 27, 2009

Daddy B Me (California) -

= Durability: = Fun: = Educational:

This review is from: LeapFrog Zippity High-Energy Learning System (Toy)

I got this for my daughter since she was too young for our wii. It is great to see something available for preschoolers that is designed for this age group. She has learned her colors, increased her coordination, and is getting better at decision making. She also loves playing with the "big bopper" while driving the spaceship on Little Einstiens and jumping on the matt. The learning and games are just the right speed for her growing mind (and body). Really great graphics and stereo sound..cool.

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Comment on Dreamgear DGWII-1128 7 In 1 Fitness Bundle for Nintendo Wii Fit by LVB "Myguys mom"

LVB "Myguys mom" — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:02:56 +0000

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

Unimpressed, August 3, 2009

LVB "Myguys mom" (Arlington VA) -

= Durability: = Fun: = Educational:

This review is from: LeapFrog Zippity High-Energy Learning System (Toy)

I bought this toy for my 3 year old because he is too young and not coordinated enough for the older games. HE enjoys playing with it but I am afraid it will get boring for him. The activities are extremly simple and don't seem to grow as the child's abilities grow. I also found that the level of interaction was low that he was not really in charge of making things happen. For example the characcters play instruments even if he just stands there and watches, likewise he can just stand and watch the car he selects win the race in the cars game. No cause and effect. I am hoping that the associated games will be more variety and challenges for higher developmental levels.

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