Review by: Danielle Riendeau

Dear Wii Fit,

It was nice (and really, revolutionary) of you to create a new genre and all, and introduce half of the world to the idea of exercising with a videogame. It was also pretty cool that you’re getting a little bit of a reboot this fall, with a few new exercises. That’s cute.

But there’s – quite literally – a new game in town. No, it’s not Jillian Michaels (not by a long shot) or any of the half-dozen fitness knock-offs that your success has spawned. No, this newcomer is ambitious, with a few fun accessories of its own and the blessing of actual athletic trainers. It’s called EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer, and while it doesn’t have a snazzy, twee name like yours, it’s totally ready to steal your thunder.

EA calls it “A Trainer in a Box”, which is totally pretentious, but they’re fairly close. This puppy has serious cardio, strength and agility activities, a comprehensive fitness plan for all training levels, and a completely customizable experience. It comes with a resistance band and a heavy-duty leg strap that looks like something a Navy Seal would wear to sheath his hunting knife, assuring that men won’t feel completely emasculated while playing.

Let’s be honest, Wii Fit, no one has ever lost an ounce playing with you. Maybe a few folks took an interest in Yoga, and perhaps you inspired a few trial memberships at Bally’s, but lets not fool anyone, you weren’t much for weight loss.

Not so here. Personal Trainer encourages players to take the “30 Day Challenge” offering wannabe gym junkies the chance to select an appropriate intensity and engage in a full-on training program. Like any good itinerary, there’s plenty of variety, so you’re never in danger of overworking (or neglecting) any major muscle groups. My virtual trainer picked a very nice mix of cardio and strength exercises for me – and there are games (tennis, baseball, etc.) to keep workouts fresh and fun.