Playstation 2 Dance Pad Revolution 2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a total DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) Newbie.(For now.)And this is the pad I've chosen to start with.
This is the least expensive pad of reasonable quality I have found yet.
It is a soft pad and can be folded.But you really should remember to fold it in thirds so the stepping areas don't get creased.(I don't know what happens when the stepping buttons get creased, and I don't plan on finding out.)
I have a somewhat cushy carpet, but that combined with the softness of the pad, it does NOT seem to negatively affect the sensitivity of the controller.
There does tend to be a little bit of slippage during play.(They do include some sticky disks that are supposed to help with that, but I want to be able to put the pad away so I'm a little dubious.I can probably fix the problem with some self adhesive Velcro or something.)But the slippage is not enough to seriously hinder gameplay for a fair number of rounds.(At least, not the way I dance, your mileage may vary.)Even without sticky stuff or Velcro, it's not big deal to step off the pad between songs and nudge it back into place with your toe.
The bottom is a smooth neoprene, the top is vinyl, and the padding in between sounds like crunchy plastic type material.
No, this is not the best made pad in the world.
But it's a good pad at a good price.
If you're just starting out and you're not sure that this type of game is for you, or if you're just on a limited budget, you would do well with this dance pad.

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Product Description:
MODEL- 47051VENDOR- NAKI FEATURES- Dance Pad Revolution for PlayStation 2 The original Dance Pad Revolution! The original dance pad just got better now with a new Non-Slip Floor Grip to make sure you're the only thing moving.

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Yourself! Fitness Review

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(More customer reviews)Yourself fitness is probably the best purchase I've made in 2004.I have always had a problem with fitness and exercise (I get bored quickly) but Maya (the yourself fitness mascot) constantly keeps me motivated, and makes me want to push myself to become even better.This `game' is excellently done, and the graphics (especially the backgrounds) are superb.If you want something to push for, there are different workout locations and music you can unlock the more you workout.I find pro/con lists in Amazon.com reviews really help me, so I'll add one.

Pros:
1. Maya constantly keeps you motivated to do your best.She will ask you how you are feeling, and then adjust your workout accordingly.
2. The music is great, and really helps you to get in the `workout' mood.Only 3 are unlocked at the beginning (Latin, 80's, and hip-hop) - not my favorite choices, but 80's seems to be a good mix of fast dance and energy, and once I unlock the rest of them, I'll be a happy camper ;).
3. Workout schedule - you can program how much you want to work out any given day of the week - Maya will remember that and program your workout according to your internal computer clock, which saves you time.
4. You can focus on the workout you want to do.So, say Maya suggests upper body strength (from your fitness evaluation), but you want to do weight loss instead.You just chose weight loss and Maya will do that instead.
5. Meal plans - you can print off meal plans from the yourself fitness CD, benefiting your overall health.
6. Tutorials - If you have no idea how to do an exercise correctly, you can enter a tutorial mode, where a person made of muscles will show you how to do the exercise, and Maya will verbally walk you through it.You can zoom or rotate around the person to make sure you are doing it right.
7. The obvious feature of being able to do a workout with a personal trainer anytime anywhere (I suggest hooking a laptop, if you have one, up to your TV.It is much easier to do a workout on a larger screen)
8. Great graphics, especially the backgrounds.And I LOVE the opening movie!
9. Works on even old systems.My system is pretty old, but still meets the min requirements, and runs beautifully on my computer.

Cons.
1. The Meditation garden is pretty hard, especially if you've never done yoga before.Maya stops talking after a while, and just does the actions. (not a bug, the company said they didn't want to make her sound repetitive, so they made her stop after awhile).This is very hard when your doing `plank' (your face is on the floor) because you have no idea when Maya will change position.
2. You can't use your own music, which would be pretty hard to do, because Maya would have to sync up to the music.But if she could, it would be awesome!
3. No male trainer.Now, I'm a guy, and I still love this program, but it would be cool to have your choice of trainer (Maya or Maya's male counterpart).However, this program can be used by both males and females, so Maya will choose a workout specific to you.

In conclusion, if you want to make a commitment to yourself, and get in shape, you should buy this software or Xbox or PS2 game right away.You won't regret it one bit.I can't wait till tomorrow so I can do my next workout with Maya!
Good luck!
(also, check out the yourself fitness website for a workout preview)

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Product Description:
This Yourself!Fitness Program for Home PC software brings the expertise of a certified personal trainer and nutritionist into your home to guide you through a personalized health and fitness program. Maya, your interactive personal trainer, builds a program that is tailored to your lifestyle and gives you one-on-one training with over 500 unique exercises that never get boring. Choose your music, your mood and your focus and let Maya, through step-by-step coaching, do the rest. ESRB rating: E (Everyone). Genre is Heath and Fitness. Imported. 7.5Hx1.25Wx5.25L".

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Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm an enormous fan of Konami's Dance Dance Revolution series, and play the game almost every day of my life.The concept is so simpe - just hit the arrows once they're at the top of the screen, yet once you get going, it's a lot more addicting than you'd expect.What's incredible though, is that doing this for a long enough time can burn up some calories and tone up your calves.It was life-changing experience for me that out of nowhere got me from being lazy to athletic.It's getting bigger and bigger every day in the US, but too bad it still isn't as appreciated as it should be, thanks to monster franchises such as GTA and Halo.

DDR Extreme 2 is the sixth installment that Konami has released in the United States (seven if you count the Disney Mix), and it's by far the best one, and it proves to be a great comeback after the largely disappointing Extreme US (although that game is still the recommended one for beginners).

Hardcore fans of DDR will be most pleased to see not just the menu interface returned to normal (with the songwheel, groove radar, etc., that were removed for DDR Extreme US), but also a significantly better list of selectable songs.Such classics as "Cartoon Heroes", "Sakura", "Colors (For Extreme)", and a whole lot more, all made the cut and should not disappoint any true long-time lover of the series.By the way, instead of "Max Dot", the "boss song" in Extreme 2 is "PARANOiA Survivor Max" (which is acompanied by the original "PARANOiA Survivor").Also worth mentioning is that US players finally get a taste of the popular song "Butterfly" with the upswing remix as well as "Boom Boom Dollar (K.O.G. G3 Mix)", also an old favorite.The selection of songs that everyone will recognize is also chosen much more cleverly.Instead of a bunch of songs from like 25 years ago like "Kids in America" and "Like a Virgin", we get some recent electronica/dance hits from the likes of Sean Paul ("Get Busy"), Fatboy Slim ("Wonderful Night"), Delerium ("Silence"), and more, although I don't understand what a horrible cover of "Oops I Did it Again" (not the one from 5th Mix AC) is doing on here (it's not the year 2000, Konami, and almost nobody even cares about songs like that anymore).The choices for repeats from older DDR games is also great.One big problem that Extreme US had was that it overrepeated stuff that already made appearances, which hogged up a lot of room for better stuff.This time, there are less than ten repeats, and almost all of them are from PS1 editions, which gives a chance for old fans of those songs to play them with much better graphics and a much better scoring system.I must admit, playing songs like "Dive", "Dynamite Rave", and "PARANOiA" is much more enjoyable to do on Extreme 2 than it was on Konamix with that slow transmission and poor scoring system.

Also worth noting are a few new features.Instead of simply playing songs over and over again to unlock new ones, you need to clear different stages in the all-new Dance Master Mode.Replacing Extreme US's Mission Mode, Dance Master Mode is loaded with several different scenarios with certain songs and a certain task to clear in order to advance to new stages.Along the way, you'll discover some unfamiliar songs on areas and must clear them.If you do that, they'll appear in the shop for you to buy with your credits (received for clearing songs, DMM or not).This is a wise strategy that adds a plot to the game and allows players to choose which songs they want at the same time.

Another addition is the Online Mode.This will allow players from around the world to go head to head with one another online, and yes, I'm sure that the population of onliners almost entirely made up of the masters that can receive an AAA on "PARANOiA Survivor Max Oni" with relative ease, but this is still a great way for those people to go seriously competitive without having to enter a tournament.

There were only a few noticable flaws.One is that the Training Mode was made less intuitive, as it takes a longer time to set up your song, although I am pleased to see that Konami brought back the feature of slowing down difficult songs to practice.The Party Mode (a feature that was full of many different mini games) has been entirely removed from DDR, and while I won't cry about that, the usage of the Eye Toy Camera is much lower, as the only time you actually use it is when you are playing the Hands and Feet Mode.One more thing, "Love Love Shine", one of DDR Extreme AC's most frequently selected songs (also one of my favorites), did not make the cut, but the similar "Candy*Heart*" is on, which also symbols that "Love Love Shine" is practically guaranteed to be on next year's installment.

With all things said, DDR Extreme 2 is easilly the best overall home version that the US can get their hands on so far.With an excellent song list, great new features, and excellent graphics, this game is a true winner.If you were unhappy with DDR Extreme US from 2004, you won't be with this, so buy it now if you're interested at all and start dancing the night away!

Two more words of advice:

1. I know that I said that DDR Extreme US was a disappoint among many people, but I also said that it was great for hooking new players.I highly recommend you to buy that game first, and then get this.Trust me - the layout is much friendlier to beginners.

2. If you are a novice player, stick with the plastic pads available in the stores (since they're easy to use and don't cost much), but be sure to use the metal arcade-style mats that can be ordered online if you're an expert (they're harder to get used to, but are more sensitive than soft pads and don't slide around to heavy usage).I recommend the ones from Cobalt Flux because they've held together for months and work marvelously.

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Product Description:
DDR's newest best seller, Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2, has EyeToy USB Camera so you can compete head-to-head with others from around the world. Featuring popular artists, smash hit songs and more unique modes, DDR Extreme 2 pumps up the volume with over 100 minutes of energetic dance music.Get in shape with the popular Workout Mode Customize your own dance steps in the Edit Mode All movies and cutscenes are newly created adding fresh flair to the DDR universe

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Eye Toy Groove (No Camera) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you already have an Eye Toy and your favorite game on it is Beat Freak, then you have to get Eye Toy Groove.The 28 tracks on it cover 40 years of great dance music, from Elvis to Good Charlotte.As a 46 year old woman, I got this as an alternative of boring, repetitive workout tapes, with great success - the game even has a calorie counter built in. This is also a fun game for me to play with my three kids, ages from 8 to 16. Even the preschoolers I occasionally babysit enjoy the special effects in the chill out room, and the lyrics in all the songs are suitable for family listening, which is more than I can say for Dance Dance Revolution.

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Product Description:
EyeToy: Groove is an interactive dance game that doens't require a dance pad! Move your body in time to the music and see who can get the highest score!

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Wii Fit Review

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(More customer reviews)I own the Wii Fit since last week.I'm 32, 1.76m, ~82-84kg (fluctuates) and with my wedding coming up in a few months I wanted to lose some weight.I work all day and have little time in the evenings so the preparation and driving to and from the gym was too much.I wanted to use that 30-40 min to exercise, not prepare for exercise.I own a Wii since Xmas and decided to try this out after reading various reviews on the internet.Is this as good as going to the gym?No it does not replicate a gym.Will it get the job done?Will it keep you fit and help you lose weight?YES YES YES!I love it and highly recommend it.I get a great work out in 45 min.I feel great about myself, and have already lost a kilo.(note I have not changed my diet).Notice I get my work out in as much time as it takes to commute and prepare for gym.I also have more fun than going to the gym on my own.Perhaps going to a gym with a friend would be more fun.Depends.Anyway I love the Wii Fit!Note it takes a few times to get used to it and figure out how best to use it.Why?Well there is no prepared program for you.You have to decide on your own what you want to do and in what sequence.I start off by doing the aerobics (jogging, holla hoop) and then vary.Basically, the Wii Fit breaks its exercises into Muscle, Balance, Aerobics, and Yoga.I mainly doing the Aerobics and mix in some muscle and yoga.The muscle and yoga can be really tough.You wouldn't believe how much.You can really feel the muscles working.I do the balance exercises when I'm tired and want to relax a bit in between exercises.They may help with balance but are more of a game than anything else.The more you exercise, new exercises open up.In other words, you start of with a limited about of stuff to do and slowly you get more and more.Don't listen to the few negative reviews you may read on the internet.They were probably biased against the product before even trying it.This product costs a little more than going to the gym for a month (at least in my country).By the time I unlock all the exercises, I will have exercised more than a 1-month gym subscription, burnt more calories, and will have a fun game left too!Compared to nothing after a month at a gym.I highly recommend this.As I explained, you are getting more than your money's worth, having fun, and getting fit.

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Product Description:
The hit combination of Wii Sports and the Wii Remote brought golf swings and tennis serves into people's homes. Now Nintendo turns the living room into a fitness center for the whole family with Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board. Family members will have fun getting a "core" workout, and talking about and comparing their results and progress on a new channel on the Wii Menu. Lean to block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls or balance to hold the perfect yoga pose. As users stand on the Wii Balance Board, included with Wii Fit, their body's overall balance is tied to the game in a way they've never experienced before. Wii Fit also uses the Wii Balance Board for daily tests. These evaluate two key measures that a household can track via progress charts:

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We Cheer Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a game for kids who dream of being a cheerleader or for "old kids" who didn't make the final cut for cheerleader and never got over it.It's one to add to the "Get up off the couch and move" list of Wii games and it's a way to get some very good exercise while having some fun.

I just got this today and have been playing with it for the last couple of hours.That's as long as I could play because by arms and shoulders are ready to fall off!This game really gives your arms a great workout and once I get better at it and can follow along with the foot movements it should be an all around great exercise game.(Walking and chewing gum at the same time can be challenging)There is also a "Work out" section that's has a choice of quick or extended exercise routines which involves a lot of footwork as well as the arms.That, BTW is a good way to practice getting the cheer moves down.

There's a Campaign Mode where you can compete with another person for team captain or Party Mode where you can play with up to 4 people and have your own squad. I probably won't be playing in those modes since most of my friends would think this 50-something woman had totally lost it if I asked them to come join my Wii cheerleading squad. (Why didn't they name the game "Wii Cheer"?

I like the music and the cheerleader characters are all bubbly and enthusiastic (perky?) which is good motivation to get moving.They're also chatty with recommendations and small talk, which you can hit the A&B buttons to skip if it gets old after a while.

I barely made it past failing after a couple of hours and that was on the easy songs.It's fun even when you don't hit every beat.I did improve by doing the routines over and over. I've found that watching the cheerleaders is the best way to stay on the beat.A good sense of rhythm helps. It seems to have enough different songs to keep it interesting and challenging.

I'm glad I bought it.It's big, big fun and anything that keeps me exercising for over 2 hours is a good thing.

Update 10/18/08 - Well it's almost 1:00 in the morning and I've been playing with this game for almost 3 hours after the rest of the household has gone to bed.I've been trying to clear more stages in order to unlock that song in the trailer, "Walking on Sunshine".I finally did it!This game has become a major addiction.

Also, the points scored in this game are based completely on arm movements (although it makes it easier to stick with the rhythm if you move around a little) so if you're hesitating about this game thinking it involves a lot of jumping around, doing back flips or the splits, not to worry.You could pretty much stand in one place and play this game.It's all in the wild flailing (and precision movements) of the arms.That said, you might want to keepyour drapes closed when playing so as not to confirm the suspicions of the neighbors that you are totally out of control.

Update 11/5/08 - If you're having trouble hitting some of the movements when it seems like you're doing everything right, and you're using an HD LCD TV, try going into the options menu and adjusting the timing.I ended up setting it a couple points down and this seemed to make all the difference.I think there might be a slight delay between the music and the display with some TV's and this seems to solve the problem, although I'm not really sure how this works.(Still loving this game!)

Update 11/4/09 - I just got the new We Cheer 2 and it's just as much fun as this one with some nice additional features.

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Product Description:
Prepare to clap your hands, stomp your feet and bring it on!

Putting players at the center of a nationwide cheerleading competition, We Cheer utilizes two Wii Remotes* as virtual pom-poms to create an authentic cheerleading experience. Players must move the wireless Wii Remotes as directed by the on-screen indicators to choreographed routines, utilizing a full range of arm and body movements such as spins and twists.

Ready, and!
Character & squad customization.
Viewlarger.
Follow the prompts in singleplayer.
Viewlarger.
Bring it on against a friend.
Viewlarger.
Line up for four-player action.
Viewlarger. As each routine is successfully performed, the player will be able to recruitnew team members to their squad, adding new cheerleading abilities and choreographedroutines. The first cheerleading video game to offer licensed music, We Cheerfeatures 30 smash-hit master recordings for players to perform to, including tracksfrom Hilary Duff, Aly & AJ, The Plain White T's and Natasha Bedingfield. Lettingfriends and family participate in the cheerleading fun, We Cheer featurescooperative and competitive multiplayer modes for up to four players to determinewho deserves to stand at the top of the pyramid. The game also features a workoutmode that lets players keep track of approximately how many calories they haveburned while cheering. Each character in the game is fully customizable, witha variety of uniforms, shoes and accessories to choose from for added personalization.

Key Game Features:

Hit Songs - Dance and cheer to 30 smash hits from the hottest artists of the past, present and future. With an endless variety of music genres to choose from - rock, hip hop, dance or even disco, there is something for everyone to groove to.
Endless Character Customization - Create your ultimate cheerleader by customizing her with the perfect competition outfit. Choose from a variety of tops, bottoms, shoes and more that will make your cheerleader look super cute and ready to perform her best on stage.
Engaging Modes - Choose a mode that suits your mood. Burn some calories in Exercise Mode, compete for the Captain position in 2-player Campaign Mode, or play with up to 4 players in Party Mode and show everyone who is #1 on the team.
Real, Active Gameplay - Get totally immersed in the competition, using your entire body. to spin, kick, jump and dance to various choreographed routines. Not only can you cheer and dance, you can also recruit new squad members, unlock new teammates, outfits, songs and more.

The Complete Tracklist:

"Walking On Sunshine" – Aly & AJ "It Takes Two" – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock "If You're Gonna Jump" (Paul OakenfoldRemix) – Natasha Bedingfield "Push It To The Limit" – Corbin Bleu "I Want Candy" – Bow Wow Wow "On Top Of The World" – Boys Like Girls "The Great Escape" – Boys Like Girls "Godspeed" – BT "Gonna Make You Sweat" (Everybody Dance Now) – C+C Music Factory "Eye Of The Tiger" (Sunset Crew Radio Mix) – Crew 7 "Come Clean" – Hilary Duff "Unbelievable" – EMF "Calabria 2008" – Enur feat. Natasja "Star" – Erasure "Perfect Day" – Hoku "That's The Way" (I Like It) – KC & The Sunshine Band "I Say Hey" – Kinky "Footloose" – Kenny Loggins "Bodyrock" – Moby "Born For This" – Paramore "Our Time Now" – Plain White T's "C'mon N' Ride It" (The Train) – Quad City DJ's "I'd Do Anything" – Simple Plan "Groovy Train" – The Farm "Jump" – Simple Plan "Stamp Your Feet" – Donna Summer "Whoomp!" (There It Is) – Tag Team "In This Diary" – The Ataris "The Power Is On" – The Go! Team "The Huddle Formation" – The Go! Team
* Gameplay requires each player top have two remotes each (not nunchucks), except in four-player where each player only uses one.

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Shaun White Snowboarding Review

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(More customer reviews)When you go flying down the slopes on your snowboard (aka balance board), I swear you can almost feel the rush it in the pit of your stomach, it's that much of a total immersion.This game makes great use of the balance board and is very sensitive to your movements.You can actually set the sensitivity to low, medium or high.When you lean forward, you move faster.Lean back and you slow down or stop. When you lean to the side, you go in that direction.When you lower yourself and then quickly straighten your legs, shifting your weight to the balls of your feet, your character jumps.You're in constant motion, using the board and the wiimote to help with some of the more complex movements and tricks.Using the balance board you can just get onboard and play right away, without a big learning curve.(We won't mention that tree that came out of nowhere and smacked me on one of my first tries.) It gets more difficult and there are tricks to be learned as you progress through the slopes, but you can have fun right from the start. You can also play it using just the Wiimote, but why would you want to?

These are some of the best graphics I've seen on a Wii game.You can tell that it was well thought out. There are slopes in five places to explore:Switzerland, Japan, Chile and Park City, and you start out in Canada where you learn the basics, some of which are speed, balance and doing different spins and tricks, such as jumping up on these rails and maintaining your balance til the end which is a way of accumulating points.When you clear the required slopes in one location, the next is unlocked. You really feel the sense of speed as you race down a slope with the different camera angles. and when you fall down, your character gets covered with snow and your camera man's lens gets snow on it which adds to the realism.The vistas are beautiful.The sound effects are realistic and the music is fun and energizing.You can switch through the different music selections using the "1" key on the Wiimote.

Then there's the whole storyline of traveling with Shaun White and other characters that join you on your snowboarding trip around the world.It adds another fun aspect to the game.

The exercise aspect of this game goes almost unnoticed while you're playing it because it's so much fun.But after a few hours "on the slopes" I can feel that a lot of leg, thigh and abdominal muscles are going to be sore tomorrow from all the leaning, twisting and turning. My ankles feel like they did after I ice skated for the first time.It has to be great for balance and flexibility as well as strengthening muscles.

I'm in my 50's, and I absolutely love this game so far and I think it's great for "older kids" who've never tried snowboarding as well as foryounger ones.And I just started playing it today so I'm sure there's lots to discover.It will definitely be one of the classics in my Wii collection.Two thumbs up!

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Product Description:
Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for Nintendo Wii introduces a whole new way of playing snowboarding games. Developed by Ubisoft, Shaun White Snowboarding was developed from the ground up to take advantage of the Wii Balance Board, giving you an experience that is more intuitive, realistic, and fun.


Land your favorite tricks in combination for the ultimate score. View larger.

You can ride on mountains all over the world, including in Japan. View larger. Hop Onto the Wii Balance Board for a Realistic Experience
The Wii Balance Board is an accessory from Nintendo that works and is shaped like an elongated scale, with sensors that can tell how much and where pressure is applied when you stand on it. This works perfectly with Shaun White Snowboarding, as it can detect whether you are leaning forward, back, left, or right, and it reacts like a real snowboard would.


The Wii Balance Board gives you an unprecedented, realistic experience. View larger. To jump, you quickly shift your weight to the balls of your feet, and while in the air, you tap the A or B buttons and lean left and right to grab the board and spin, respectively. A multitude of tricks are available for you to learn, and chaining them together lets you amass more points. As you do tricks, a small little icon shows up on the screen to let you know what you did. For example, if you do a 720-degree turn called a "melon," a little watermelon slice will show up on screen.
If you would rather forego the Balance Board, you can play with just the Wii Remote as well.
Beautiful Graphics with Unique Camera System
Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip features a unique camera system, where you can choose different cameramen and camerawomen to follow you around. Some are better for tricks and others for speed, so be sure to pick the right one, as they'll give you abilities during your ride.
As the cameraperson follows you on your ride, you'll notice different effects, such as image blurs around the edges of the screen to give a sense of speed. The camera will collect snow when you fall, and sometimes the camera will white out after completing a big jump, as the cameraperson has to follow you and do the same moves as well. This unique system adds another element of strategy and fun to the game.
Tour the World with Shaun White
Road Trip begins with you as a newcomer to the snowboarding scene. Shaun White serves as your mentor, and together you travel the world, tackling mountains and making friends as you work your way up to becoming the world's best snowboarder.
As you win competitions and meet new people, they'll show you new tricks and special abilities that will help you against the competition. You'll have to learn different snowboarding skills as you compete in races down a mountain, half-pipe events, slaloms, rail jams, and more. You can also take a breather and just free ride in the back country at your own pace.
Play With or Against Your Friends
Road Trip doesn't have online multiplayer options, but you can play both competitively and cooperatively with a friend on a split screen. In competitive mode, you and a friend can race to the bottom or try to out-trick each other for the highest score. In cooperative mode, both of you ride down the same slope, and the scores are added together. The entire game can be played cooperatively, so you and a friend can tour the world together and unlock new extras.

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Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat Review

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(More customer reviews)There is no question about the Nintendo Wii, and the appeal it has brought to so many gamers everywhere. With the success of Wii smashes like Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports and Excitebots: Trick Racing, gamers are finding new ways to have fun. But, Nintendo has also brought that into play with the Gamecube games as well. Many gamers have either easily forgotten how great these titles were then and didn't get that chance, or just chhose other game systems like the Playstation 2 or original Xbox or Xbox 360 titles. Surprisingly, many Wii owners have also forgotten that the Wii does play Gamecube titles as well like Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker and Luigi's Mansion too. But, Nintendo has decided recently to re-release some of these Gamecube greats' with new play controls. They've done that with Mario Power Tennis recently, and now with another Gamecube classic that simply says the DK beat is back.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, one of Nintendo's most classic and entertaining classic from the Nintendo Gamecube era, has returned for the Wii. The classic platformer really was a huge winner with the use of the classic DK bongo controllers from the Gamecube that came with the Gamecube edition, which were not just fun, they brought more of a rhythm to Donkey Kong's audiences. The platforming game has been beautifully remastered, as you control Donkey Kong across many different kingdoms, collecting bunches of bananas, and trying to battle foes like furious mastadons, who shot laser shots through their trunks, and Kong bosses that you'd have to box for the title like the Sumo Kong, and killer buzzards shooting bombs at you from the sky.

The control here however takes a whole lot to get used to this time. If you've mastered the beat of the game with the DK Bongos from the Gamecube, you'd have a whole lot to get used too all over again with the new control. The DK bongo controllers aren't compatable in this edition. While the control is different here, it takes a whole lot more to get used to with simple movements, with the Wii-mote and nunchuck, because it brings more of the simple platform movement, but you honestly don't have the fun of beating the drums sadly, because they won't work with the Wii version. Nevertheless, the gameplay is absolutely still is entertaining and worth the while for gamers young and old alike.

All in all if you still have Donkey Kong Jungle Beat from the Gamecube and the classic DK bongo controllers, there really won't be any need to get the game for the Wii, because the game will still play on the Wii, because it is Gamecube compatable. But honestly, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is still one of the best Gamecube titles ever, and if you haven't yet played to the beat of D.K.'s heart, then you'll absolutely love this game a whole lot.

Graphics: B+

Sound: B

Control: B-

Fun & Enjoyment: B 1/2-

Overall: B 1/2-

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Product Description:
Swing through the jungle in DK's craziest adventure ever! You'll run, jump, backflip, and punch your way to greatness-now with new controls on Wii. You'll use the buttons and Control Stick on the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to move DK, and you'll swing the Wii Remote controller to grab objects and clap with devastating power. When it comes time to box, you'll punch with both hands! Explore one of the most imaginative worlds ever seen in a game, now with many areas partially redesigned to take full advantage of the new Wii controls. Newcomers will enjoy its fantastic jungles, dazzling caverns and wondrous seas for the first time, and fans of the original will discover new thrills along the way!

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Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)INTRO:
After years of wanting a Wii, we finally got one! And, of course, like any overly-excited newbie, I couldn't wait to get the new WiiFit (WiiFit Plus). I picked it up at midnight, with the Balance Board. (TIP: if ur buying from brick-and-mortar stores, call ahead, it took me an hour to convince them that it was ok to sell it to me, and it was already 12:30a!) I got home, set it up (took just a few minutes, mostly unwrapping) and played until 5am! I was nearly falling asleep between games, but it was so much fun, I couldn't stop! Now, THAT's a motivator to work out! It even asked if I was a 'NIGHT OWL' and I had the option to keep my "day" 'open' until 3am, for those late-night workout sessions!

THE GAMES, & WHY I LOVE THEM:
Without leaving my 12'x12' living room, I can do: Circus Juggling, Skateboarding, Island Cycling, HulaHooping, Rhythm Parade, Segwaying, & Perfect 10 - these are the ones I like the most right now. My current favorite is the Bulls-Eye game (you flap your arms to 'fly' over water and reach platforms!) It's just awesome! And, it's cool that most of the activities are all on the same island - so you can bike it, run it, walk it, fly it, segway it, float it, bounce it, etc.! I also like that, in most games (not the Bubble one, tho), you don't 'die' if you do it 'wrong'. Nothing's worse than almost getting to the end of a cycling game, and then running into a tree and having to start over - ugh! But, with WiiFit, it's so pleasant, you just maneuver your way back on track! No stress! Yet, I like that u still do collect points - I already have a competition to 'beat' my BF's scores - I even left him a 'note' on the wii to try to beat mine in a couple of games, when he woke up! We haven't tried the 'multiplayer' mode yet.

STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY, & KEEPING TRACK:
I LOVE the 'make your own' routine - you pick as many activities as you want, from dozens of Yoga Postures, and Strength Training choices (they even tell you how long the total 'workout' will take, as you make your selections) and then you hit 'start'; and it cycles thru them, one-after-the-other, checking off each one, as you go; and, saving the 'routine' for the future. If you don't need to have that much customization, or if you need more guidance, you can choose from 5 options for a pre-made routine (Lifestyle, Health, Youth, Form, & Combine), or you can click the cute balance board graphic and it creates one for you! The tracking capability is nice, complete with graphs, and a visual calendar which I 'stamp' every day I use the WiiFit. You can even add your daily step count AND activities you do outside of the WiiFit! This appeals to my analytical and visual side! Another option it gives you is that you can choose a food (from a selection of 20 or so), and then make a daily goal to burn as many calories as that food has - I didn't realize sticky rice had so many calories!

SHOW ME THE NUMBERS:
It calculates your BMI from your user-entered height and a balance board-measured weight. The weight measurement seemed a little off, as it made both me and my BF about 5-10 lbs lighter than we've been told, from other scales. But, that's A-OK with me! It seems like it's mostly set up to help you lose weight and burn calories (while improving your balance & posture), however my BF and I have different goals - I'm trying to lose 20 lbs, and he's trying to gain 20 lbs. The Wii did rightfully call him underweight and told him to do strength-training to build muscle. It just laughed at me and told me to 'strap in'! haha - jk!

WISHES & BENEFITS:
While it might not be 100% perfect (wish there was no 'dying' in the Balance Bubble or Tightrope game; and in the snowball fight, it'd be nice to have the option to physically move my arm to throw, instead of just pushing 'A' to throw; skateboarding goes thru a long 'training run' every time you play; it would be cool if Super Hula Hoop was more than just Left AND Right circles (like add arms or something); and oh, to be able to enter total calories eaten for the day; etc.), it sure is a LOT of fun and DEFINITELY motivates u to MOVE! The corny but pleasant music, scenery, and challenges are already helping me look forward to getting going in the morning and coming home at night. You earn fit credits, with activities, which then allow you to unlock more advanced activities, giving you a good bit of motivation to keep going - imagine if they gave you 'legal trade' currency coins for working out! Plus, it always fits into my schedule: I can do as little as a *minute* of activity or as much as I want! It's closer than a gym, there's no monthly dues, you can wear whatever you want, it's open at 3am, the smoothies are always organic, and (depending on where u play) there isn't that icky/smelly/sticky/germy/loud atmosphere of a typical gym! Team up with a friend, for a little extra motivation and competition!

SUMMARY:
For those who aren't familiar with video games, (or who see them as a 'waste' of time) this is a great one to 'start' with. The Wii is my first real game system (other than an old Intellivision, we've had Super Nintendo, Game Cube, & Playstations in the house, but with all those cryptic buttons and 'codes', and my busy schedule, I never bothered with them). However, the Wii was up and running in no time and the 'controls' are very intuitive. I've even had a lot of 'older' people playing and having fun, in short order! The Balance Board was easy to set up, easy to figure out, and is SUPER fun to play with, oh, and I burned a boatload of calories - woo-hoo! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Wii Balance Board AND the WiiFit Plus!

UPDATE:
Did another 30 mins this afternoon: tried the Penguin Game and the Flame and the Tightrope - all were lots of fun (keeping the flame still was a little stressful with noisy neighbors!)

UPDATE 2:
My parents just came over and I had them try it out, using the "Trial" mode, so they didn't have to go through the in-depth setup process - my mom really liked the HulaHoop activity and my dad really liked the Bull's Eye activity (where you flap your wings to fly and land on targets!) We had such a great time - it was hilarious to watch each other!! The trial mode is a great feature - it lets you share your WiiFit Plus experience with guests who are not looking to set up a whole profile and get weighed and do balance tests, etc. Of course, there are those 'measurement' options in the Trial mode, if a guest user so chooses, they just won't be able to save their profile.I rely on reviews here at Amazon, to help me make informed buying choices. I hope this review has helped you in the same manner. If you voted this as helpful, I Thank You!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board

Product Description:
Wii Fit attracted millions of new players to the world of video games. Now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements to help players reinvigorate their workouts, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep them fun. Players will find a new dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized workout routines, or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available.

6 new yoga & strength activities.
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The 'Perfect 10' balance game.
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Personalization options.
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'Obstacle Course' game
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Target specific body areas.
View larger. Users will also be able to choose from specialized workout routines that focus on all-around individual personal fitness goals or certain target areas. And with the addition of activities like Skateboarding and Rhythm Kung Fu, players will be using the Wii Balance Board accessory in a variety of new and fun ways.

Gameplay
As with the original Wii Fit release, Wii Fit Plus is designed, as its name implies, to improve the user's fitness. The game contains a large number of activities that fall into a variety of categories, including: yoga, aerobics, strength training and balance games. With all but a few exceptions, which utilize variations on a standard Wii Remote configuration, all activities utilize the Wii Balance Board (included with this bundle), either alone or configured with either a Wii Remote alone or the Wii Remote and nunchuck. The Balance Board, like any other Wii controller acts as a motion/pressure sensing device wirelessly synched to your Wii and replicating your body's movements. Each controller employed occupies one of the Wii's four wireless inputs, together mapping the reference points needed to recreate most full body motions on screen. Although this limits the majority of the activities to a single player orientation, various activities throughout the game support up to eight players in alternating play.

To use Wii Fit Plus players import their Miis from their Wii system, set up profiles, establish a current physical baseline, set fitness goals, and embark on a routine to reach them. Wii Fit Plus tracks your usage, weight and progress towards your goal over time, giving you a status report as you start each session. At any time players can choose whatever activity they want, whether exercise or balance game, and as they progress in these they will level up in each, gaining points, setting high scores and unlocking more activities.

Personalization Option Via 'The Locker Room'
The original Wii Fit was designed to have something for everyone. Now Wii Fit Plus raises the bar by providing users with personalization options that allow them to find/create a specific workout routine that is exactly right for them, their family and their lifestyle. One example of this is "The Locker Room." Easily accessible throughout the game, here players can choose from a number customizable options that allow them to maximize their time with Wii Fit Plus without having to navigate through the game menu while in the middle of a workout. In essence this allows players to become their own personal trainer. Customization options available within The Locker Room include: preprogrammed and timed Wii Fit Plus Routines; My Routine, where you choose your own set of activities, optimizing their length and area of the body to be focused on; and Favorites, a notation of activities you frequent, which provides fast access to exercises you enjoy doing the most.

Addition Yoga and Strength Exercises
Designed as an addition to the already substantial list of focused, physical exercises available in Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus contains six new and challenging strength and yoga activities. But continuing with the game's commitment to personalization, the key to these additions is not in their volume, but in how the player chooses to mix and match them. Do them in the order they are presented, or combine them in whatever order you want. The choice is yours. The player even has the ability to repeat the ones that he/she prefers, maximizing attention and effort where it is needed most. In addition, for those to whom time is a commodity, you can now omit unnecessary interludes between exercises, making for a continuous, timesaving routine.

A Wealth of New Balance Games
Regardless of the considerable fitness factor packed into Wii Fit Plus, the Nintendo brand is and will always be all about having fun. With that in mind Wii Fit Plus also comes packed with 15 new, entertaining balance games suitable for every member of the family. Just a few of those that players can expect to see are: Juggling; Skateboarding; Snowball Fight; Obstacle Course, a log-leaping, cannonball-evading event reminiscent of what Nintendo icon Mario must go through; and Perfect 10, a balance game designed to promote a combination of physical and mental health. In this final example the player's Mii is situated between multiple color-coated balls, each showing specific numbers, with the goal to swing your hips, hula style, in different directions to tap out a total of ten as many times as possible before time runs out.

Key Game Features

The Wii Fit Plus Bundle includes the game software and the Wii Balance Board.
Users can input the amount of time they want to spend on their workouts or select an area for personal improvement, and Wii Fit Plus will suggest a number of diverse activities for them.
For the first time, users can mix and match which strength and yoga activities they prefer on a given day. The seamless exercise flows make it easier than ever for users to maintain their daily workout routines.
Users might be asked to run an obstacle course across a series of platforms, zoom across a beach on a Segway x2 Personal Transporter or flap their arms to help their hilarious chicken-suited characters aim for targets.
The range of games and customization options will make players want to play every day. They'll be having so much fun that their workouts will seem to fly by in no time at all.
Players also can see estimates of calories burned and can even activate a feature that lets them weigh their dogs or cats.

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