Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge
Nintendo Wii hosts another fun-filled workout this September, but one that requires just as much jumping around as thumping the air.
Still got something left in the tank for more physical shenanigans on your Wii? If you have, we seriously suggest Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge as your next priority. This latest compendium of get-up-and-do-it games has so much fun with the idea of exercise-based activities that it’ll make you feel like a five-year-old, even if you’re already 10 times that age. It’s literally sensational and so full of zest that it makes Wii Sports Resort seem kind of vanilla by comparison.
The only downside we can think of is that you’ll need the specially designed mat-style controller released with last year’s original Family Trainer. If you don’t already have one of these, the new game will be sold with or without a mat. Problem solved and not too expensively either – about £40, depending where you shop.
There are 15 events altogether, including at least nine new ones. Whereas the original Family Trainer boasts only a handful of entertaining though unsurprising events such as whack-a-mole and rope skipping, this year’s Extreme Challenge invites players to live their dreams: rock climbing, kite surfing, Base Jumping and so on. It’s such a refreshing idea and brilliantly realised by Namco Bandai Games.
It’s exhausting too, so consider yourself forewarned! Stomping around to perform multiple twists and turns in Base Jumping gets frantic even on the easy setting. Similar stunts are required while kite surfing that has you simultaneously guiding your over-sized kite to catch the wind in your sail and guide you onto ramps. If you’d rather go rock climbing be prepared to humiliate yourself on your hands and knees, padding away furiously with your hands to ascend the rock face within a time limit. Occasionally your climber loses their grip and you’ll need to hammer even harder!
To draw a comparison between Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge and Wii Sports Resort, it’s easiest to look at the bike riding section. In WSR you’re required to wiggle your arms to build up speed, in Extreme Challenge you need to march rapidly on the spot. Sure, Nintendo worked in some clever ideas to keep things more interesting such as drafting and stamina of the rider to contend with. However if you’re looking for a workout there’s no question about Extreme Challenge pushing you harder.
Don’t feel too scared about all this. The ‘Extreme’ in the name refers to the Extreme Sports theme of the events… it doesn’t mean that the game wants to kill you! But do please consider, especially for older relatives, that because this is a full body (well, arms and legs) experience it’ll have you breaking a sweat almost without knowing.
Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge is released 25 September for Nintendo Wii, and is published in the UK by Atari. We’re all going to be so much healthier this Christmas aren't we.
