Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

We purchased a Wii for our kids as a way to help them get physical activity when outdoor play is unfeasible. Therefore, I did a lot of research and purchased two games, Nickelodeon Fit and Active Life Explorer, as each seemed to require significant physical movement, while also being age-appropriate for my 3 and 5 year olds. After observing(and on many occasions, joining in on the fun)for about 2 weeks, I began considering which was the ultimate success based on a variety of factors. Activity Level: Nickelodeon Fit: All games require some physical activity, though not super strenuous. This makes it ideal for very young children who are still developing their coordination and might get more frustrated with fast-paced games. However, an older child (6+) will probably not find it as exciting and may quickly become bored with the simplicity of the activities. Active Life Explorer: The majority of the games are very fast paced and most require quick footwork, to include running, jumping, ducking, etc. My 3 year old and 5 year old both love participating in the high energy games and get an unparalleled amount of exercise in the process. Furthermore, because the mat is required for all games, it is not possible to fake the movements by simply holding a Wii remote and flicking your wrist. Simplicity of Instructions: Nickelodeon Fit: Moose provides verbal instructions before each game, and visual prompts are available throughout. Aside from the requirement to hold the remote sideways and use the 2 button instead of A, the instructions are fairly intuitive. My kids learned and remembered the instuctions very quickly. Active Life Explorer: Written instructions are provided before each game, in addition to visual prompts during gameplay. The instructions are straightforward and my kids were able to remember and begin predicting the necessary actions following a couple of attempts. Fun Factor: Nickelodeon Fit: Although some of the games put a unique spin on traditional games (i.e. in bowling, the Backyardigans must push a giant ball up a hill and then steer it down toward the pins while avoiding obstacles), a lot of them feel more like exercise games--much like it's big brother, Wii Fit. However, the fun and well-recognized characters keep it from feeling too much like a workout game. Active Life Explorer: Every game on this title has an exciting adventure theme that keeps kids completely oblivious to the fact that they are exercising. Furthermore, kids can use their miis to become further immersed in the games. Instead of the traditional jumping rope exercise, kids are avoiding hungry sharks, stomping on crocodiles' heads, riding on horseback to catch a bandit, jumping broken tracks in a collapsing mine, swinging from vine to vine, and repelling down steep cliffs. Rather than running down the street in a marathon, "explorers" are running at top speed to bust through doors and swim through the water into a sunken ship. Play Modes: Nickelodeon Fit: While the game allows for more than one player, it is striclty on a one player at a time basis. Therefore, activity level is halted while waiting for the other player to complete tasks. However, this is a good way to help preschoolers develop patience and foster turn-taking behaviors. Although there are no alternate modes of play, players are able to unlock increasingly difficult activities upon mastering introductory levels. Active Life Explorer: Most games allow for 2 players at a time, and a few even allow 4 players simultaneously. Increasing difficulty levels are unlocked upon completion of tasks in the easy mode. In addition, there are 3 play modes. Free play allows the player to select any game and difficulty level at will. The Treasure Adventure option requires players to solve clues and use a treasure map to navigate through various worlds. As games are successfully completed, players earn keys to unlock more areas of the map. Finally, there is a party mode. This randomly selects games that are good for multiple players. Games that only allow one at a time play are alternated with games that allow multiple players to compete simultaneously. In conclusion, both games are an excellent way to introduce physical activity to the indoors. While Nickelodeon Fit may appeal to the younger crowd (3+) due to familiar characters and less intense gameplay, Active Life Explorer provides a greater level of activity and can be enjoyed by a wider range of age groups. For both games, movements are simple and intutive, and instructions are prominantly displayed. Although I feel that Active Life Explorer has an edge on Wii Fit in nearly all categories, I highly recommend both for families with young children.