One drawback of Wii Fit is that, while it covers a wide range of exercises, it doesn't bring any of them into a higher level. The game offers aerobics activities, but if after several weeks of use, the need for higher level activity has likely outpaced the offerings of the game.
At this point, a game devoted to different individual types of exercise can provide a more intense workout that will take your exercise program to the next level.
Gold's Gym aerobics workout
Gold's Gym is in many ways a good choice to take this next step. Focused largely on aerobic cardio boxing, Gold's Gym provides increasingly intense sequences of cardio activity.
Players who've enjoyed the cardio boxing segment of the Wii Fit will likely enjoy a transition to Gold's Gym's more intensive boxing routines. The boxing workouts can be used either in preset workouts or custom designed sequences. Choices include easy, normal and hardcore workouts, as well as music choice and whether or not to use the Wii Balance Board along with the workout.
The strength of Gold's Gym is the boxing. Boxing workouts include jabs, hooks and uppercuts in various combinations that increase in difficulty. Ducking is also included, and is easier to master than the "dodge" action on Wii Fit. Footwork helps keep the player moving constantly, increasing the level of aerobic activity and also helping work up a sweat. Preset workouts run about twenty minutes, making them perfect for early morning, pre-work exercise or a quick routine to fit in during a lunch break.
Drawbacks to Gold's Gym
The biggest weakness of Gold's Gym is everything that isn't boxing. Workouts include exercises performed on the Wii Balance Board, as well as less structured boxing drills and aerobic activity like jump rope. The boxing drills work well.
Everything else is below par. Integration with the balance board is poor, making the exercises difficult and frustrating, since often the Wii doesn't recognize repetitions, leaving the player left with sore muscles and a terrible score. Exercises like the jump rope sequences don't supply enough instruction to make it possible to perform the exercise correctly on the first try--again a frustrating situation.
These difficulties can be avoided by skipping exercises that require the balance board, and by making custom workouts. However, the pre-made workouts are quite good in the boxing sections, and progress nicely in intensity and difficulty.
Gold's Gym also offers the ability to buy different clothes and accessories as the game progresses, which may or may not be motivating to the typical player.
Overall, Gold's Gym offers a solid workout. While the game does have a number of drawbacks, they're easily avoided. With a little effort, it's fairly easy put together a workout that will break a good sweat in a reasonable amount of time.
