Customer Reviews

Biggest Loser

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I was skeptical about this game at first...there was always something missing from all the other exercising games on the wii. Although wii fit plus is sooo much fun...They REALLY packed this game with everything that I thought was missing from all the others. You can customize a routine...(by the way there are tons of exercises to choose from) or choose a daily workout they prepare for you. The balance board option is sooo responsive...you don't need the balance board...but it does enhance the game quite a bit. I was so impressed with it...and the pacing is great. They don't OVER explain everything...You don't have to tool with gadgets as in ea active...it's really just so fast paced, like a real work out should be.
Added extras...you can weigh yourself daily pitting yourself against the other losers...,
There's a cookbook...everything is all ready for you...don't need to waste time unlocking things that should be there...because your main purpose is to work out!
There's even cool down and stretching options, yoga as well...
It counts your caloric intake and daily burns!
Now I'm just being nit picky now...but the only gripe I have about this game is that you can't put your scores online, pitting yourself against friends.
They do however, have multiplayer...

Fantastic job with this game...

Positives -
1) If you like the show it's fun to play along with the trainers.
2) You get to choose the length of time you want your "challenge" to last
3) There is a menu where you can choose if you want to do the program (a guided series of exercises, a calendar, a weight graph, diet suggestions, a weekly challenge and weigh in) or you can choose individual types of exercises. (Yoga, upper body, full body, lower body)
4) There is a place where you can kind-of make up your own series of exercises. Although I like this, it is also a negative because once you pick out a series of exercises and start your "routine" there is a lot of dead time between the different ones you picked; time where your just standing there waiting for it to load the next one you pick.
5) You can choose to use your fit board or not.
6) I really like the weekly weigh in and challenges.
7) It has a nice calendar feature so you can change your scheduled training.

Negatives - I'm disappointed because they could have done a much better job, some of this stuff is really obvious and it seems like they were kind of lazy with the game. The game is not very personalized, at all.
1) On the game you do not have a personal character, or even a mini, instead you pick a former biggest loser contestant.., and there is not very many to pick from. You don't even get to use your own name.
2) One of my biggest complaints.., there are a lot of floor exercises where you are looking at the ground and the trainer changes exercises on the screen, with no warning.., no count down or anything, so you're constantly trying to look up.., it interrupts the exercise as you have to change positions just to see what he is doing.
3) It often tells you to put the remote "in your pocket". a) Most of my work out clothes don't have pockets. b) When it's in your pocket it doesn't read your movements very well and just tonight I lost in a "challenge" because the wii was not reading my movements while I worked my butt off.
4) Last week I lost 2 lb.s.., it put me below the yellow line and my player looked all disappointed. I thought "hey, 2 lb.s at home is good.," but that was not a big deal.. but then.., At this week's challenge I gained 2 lb.s (what can I say, it was Thanksgiving week).., so my contestant should have looked all disappointed and it should have showed negative weight loss. But instead it showed my player "Michelle" as having an 8 lb loss and my contestant was the 1st place player.
5) Overall the game is not personal enough, it often feels like your watching a workout video and not like your playing a game.
6) When you are in a routine it has a little clock thing that spins as you continue the individual exercise so you know how long you've got left for that exercise (that's good)., but it doesn't have any sort of timer so you know how far along you've progressed in that training routine. Am I half way done? Only 25%? Who knows. It's annoying.
7) The graphics are boring, boring, boring. You are in the gym or by the pool. (Unless something more happens at a different level, but I've been doing this for a few weeks and the graphics are boing).
8) The exercises are very repetitive.., I was so surprised there is no step routine, no crunches.., a lot of basics that could have been added. You get tired of doing the same things.., plank on knees, plank, jumping jacks, boxing, low step.., boring. The program mixes up the different exercises but it's just the same ones in different sequences.
9) Where's the good music? Just the same boring background tune over and over..,
10) Bob and/or Jillian say the same few phrases over and over.., again.., boring!

Honestly, The Wii fit has way more interesting stuff to do and look at.

I've been doing it for a few weeks and I am glad I bought it because I do it almost daily.., but mostly because I love the show and it's fun to play along on this version. However, they were really lazy with this game and it could have been done much better. I am already getting tired of it and I've been playing on my Wii fit to warm up and on the days there is no "scheduled training" The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because it's fun to play with the game. I think after my current 4 week challeng is over I'm going to only log on for the weekly challenges and weigh ins. I'm very disappointed at what they did with this.., they've done a few other training games with Jillian that I know of and I'm sure they got enough feedback to make a better game.., this game feels rushed or like they were very lazy with it.

The core of this game is its very comprehensive list of dozens and dozens of "Single Exercises", which are essentially old-school calisthenic exercises (i.e. exercises that don't use weights or equipment). Every exercise imaginable is included, including exercises for cardio, upper and lower body, core, and even yoga poses. Each is clearly identified by an icon and color-coded by intensity (light, moderate, challenging, hard, and intense). As you select each exercise, there's even a diagram telling you exactly what muscle groups you're working out.

During each exercise, an on-screen figure will demonstrate to you very clearly how to do it, including the correct posture, moves, and timing. The exercises typically use the Wii-mote and/or the Balance Board to passively "check" your progress in different ways. For example, when you choose the jump rope exercise, you hold the Wii-mote like a jump rope and make small circles with it. With "tire drills", you put your Wii-mote in your pocket and the system registers the vibrations as you run in place rapidly. There are a number of exercises which use the balance board such as the "plank" (where you press both hands against the balance board) and the "T-raise" (where one hand is on the balance board and the other is stretched out). Some exercises will be very familiar (jumping jacks, push ups), but even the ones that aren't familiar are very intuitive once you watch the on-screen character doing them.

You can do each of the exercises a la carte, but more likely you'll want to choose "Exercise Routines", which combine multiple single exercises into comprehensive pre-designed programs. You can also create custom routines.

You can also choose the full "Fitness Program". You enter your vital information (conveniently, you can use your Balance Board to measure your weight, both your initial weight and in your very own "weigh ins"). Then, you pick your favorite real-life Biggest Loser contestant to play as from a list of eight past contestants. You can pick whether you want Bob Harper or Jillian Michaels as "your trainer". From there, you can pick a personal goal: whether you want to simply maintain your current weight and improve your health, lose a little weight, or lose a lot of weight. You'll also pick a skill level and a program length.

Based on what you enter, the system will calculate a specific exercise regimen for you, complete with dates. If you're really committed, you can also input the number of calories you eat every day, as well as log any additional training you do outside of the program (such as walking, running or biking outside), and the program will adjust itself accordingly.

An interesting part of this title is a menu option called "Health and Lifestyle". Here, you'll find a large number of recipes straight out of The Biggest Loser Cookbooks. Under this menu option you'll also find a large number of "quick tips" from past Biggest Loser participants, including short video clips from Bob and Jillian themselves. Finally, there's an extremely useful feature called the "Calorie Counter", which calculates the daily calorie intake recommend specifically for you based on your weight, age, and goals.

The most interesting part of The Biggest Loser for Wii are what they call "Challenge Events". Here, your on-screen character will compete in a number of interesting events, the types of which you'd see on the show. As on the show, you start out competing with 7 personalities from the show, and after each round one is eliminated. You don't actually simulate the movements of the character on screen, but instead you perform "single exercises", and your character does his task only if you do the exercises precisely and timed correctly. I found this by far the most effective part of the game, because my instincts to compete far exceeded any resistance to exercise.

There are a couple minor annoyances. If your balance board power goes out, the game is completely hung up until you turn it back on. The controllers are passive, meaning that instead of actively tracking your movements accurately, it'll just check whether you come close to making the on-screen movements. Sometimes the controllers will not register properly, and in many cases, you're on the "honor system" as to how closely you follow the on-screen examples (even if you get a little sloppy in your form or don't do the exercise properly, Bob or Jillian may continue to shout out praise and encouragement). One thing to keep in mind is that you need a LOT of room to move around. And I admit I was a little disappointed that most of the activities didn't take advantage of the unique capabilities of the Wii and its controllers in the same innovative ways that Wii Fit Plus does--at the end of the day it's really not much more than a glorified exercise video.

But still the bottom line is, they have an impressive number of fundamental exercises to work out all different areas of your body. When I choose "intense" level in particular, it really does make my heart pound and gives me a great workout that rivaled any kind of workout I'd get at the gym, for a fraction of the price. And fans of the TV show will appreciate the details like the voice talent, the familiar settings, Bob and Jillian's coaching, and the recipes and tips.

Bottom line, if you're looking for something along the lines of a more traditional exercise video, or you're a die-hard fan of the show, you won't be disappointed. If you're looking for something that's a game first and exercise second, try something else like Wii Fit Plus or Dance Dance Revolution.

Want a workout like you see on the Biggest Loser show? Bob and Jillian are at the Biggest Loser Ranch just waiting to whip you into shape. I've always been a fan of the show, especially seeing the results. This game is probably the closest you're going to get, in the privacy of your own home, of actually being there. Actually, this is even better because, honestly, would you want to be standing on a scale in those skimpy workout clothes, in front of 50 million viewers, when you have all those little rolls of fat hanging out on your thighs and midsection?

The balance board is optional, but it can be used in 66 or the 88 exercises and I found it to be very responsive and it gives great feedback. So if you have a balance board, definitely use it. The only other exercise equipment you'll need are your wiimote and nunchuk. It's great not having to worry about strapping contraptions onto your thighs or anything like that.

When you first arrive at the ranch you have the choice when you start of starting up a new game or challenge. You can also choose the Quick Play to just get an idea of the routines and to do a workout. You can try the different challenge events, there are 4, each with 2 different versions. You can also try doing just exercises of your choice. If you choose to do a fitness program you'll see the other 8 contestants from previous seasons on the show and although you put in your stats, you'll choose one of the 8 to be your contestant that represents you and that you see doing the exercises along with your trainer. You enter your birth date, weight, height and decide whether you want to do a light, intermediate or intense program. I have only about 14 pounds left to lose and I haven't been very good about anything other than walking, so I chose light. You pick a 4, 8 or 12 week program and the Biggest Loser game will build a program to help you reach your goals for both diet and exercise. I chose the 8 week program. You also get to choose between Bob or Jillian as your trainer. I chose Jillian. I found that so far, Bob does most of the explaining of the exercises and Jillian does mostly encouragement and comments while you're working out. I was a little disappointed that she didn't use any of the blanked-out expletives but I guess they had to go for a family rating on the game. I did notice a little sarcasm here and there in her remarks like you see on the show.

There is a daily log that keeps track of your weight (If you use the balance board it weighs you) and your calories, day's training and challenge events. You can also log in additional exercise that you do on your own or with other Wii games by the minutes involved and the intensity. Once you've set your goal it can't be changed so you have to work hard to achieve it. One thing I noticed is that even though I have only 14 pounds to lose, my contestant looks much heavier. Apparently the contestants get thinner as the game goes on.

The graphics are beautiful! It's just like being there right down to the motivational posters on the gym wall. Some of the exercises are done around the pool and some in the gym. The wiimote and balance board were VERY responsive. You can see a little meter while you do the exercises showing how much time is left, another what the following exercise will be and another that shows how well you're doing the exercise, from feedback from the wiimote and balance board. The first workout didn't involve the nunchuk. It also shows how many calories you're burning. The feedback on this thing is great!

The first workout in the beginner's was 20 minutes long with the warmup and an 8 minute cool down workout which involved a lot of stretches. The regular workout included a lot of lunges and lower body exercise. You can watch Jillian and your contestant do the exercises. The explanations of how to do them are excellent and not too long so you aren't standing there waiting for the exercise to start, you just keep moving. There was a break for a sip of water about halfway through and you can always pause if you want to when it tells you to go from the balance board to the floor and push the A button. I just kept pushing it through and kept moving throughout the workout at a good pace. I bet my legs are going to be sore tomorrow from all those lunges! I can't even imagine what the Intense workout must be like.

I just got this game today so I haven't gone through all the features but from what I've seen so far I'm finding it soooo motivating! I've been disappointed in the past with many other Wii exercise games that either didn't track movement very well, were cumbersome to use, having to go through a lot of menus to actually get to any action and some that were just plain lame. This one is different. This is the real thing, especially if you're a big fan of the show like I am. You'll work hard but the challenges are fun and you have that camaraderie and competition of the other contestants. And just "being at the ranch" is very cool. They did a great job with the graphics so it looks like you're really there. I'll be posting updates as the weeks go on to let you know my progress and other features of the game that only become evident as you play them through, like the eliminations. (You can't get eliminated from your own game, can you? Yikes! I better get moving!)

I was counting down the days until this game came out. I own EA Sports Active and many of the other titles but this one is really cool. If you like the show than you really will love this game. The game incorporates all the features you see on the show. It gives you a schedule to follow and of course you have the weekly weigh in and challenge day. There are many ways to make the workouts easy or super hard. Its just so fun to work out with Bob in the Biggest Loser gym.

I want to add this point though so no one gets discouraged. The calorie counter is WAY off. I own the BodyBugg that is featured on the Biggest Loser and it is 90% accurate. I've used this for a year and it never fails me. After my workout, the BodyBugg stated that I burned 288 calories and the game said I only burned 105. If people only see that they are burning 100 calories, I see how this can be discouraging so just know...you are burning more than what it says!!

I hope they come out with a sequel. It would be nice to see a feature that would allow us to compete with others online. I also bought the new Jillian Michaels game, the 2010 version. It is really good as well BUT, if you are deciding between the both of these, get the Biggest Loser game....you wont be disappointed!!

Summary:
Although the game has some minor glitches with graphics and options, it's a complete workout "game" that can work for someone who is just starting or even a seasoned athlete. Different choices of full body, upper, lower, yoga, etc. plus length and intensity make every workout customized to your mood for the day. My wife started a light diet and has done the game regularly for the last week - and dropped 5 lbs already! I'm not dieting, and I usually play indoor soccer or go to the gym 2-4 times a week. But when I finish a workout in this game my shirt is definitely soaked in sweat - it's no joke (which is surprising given it's a TV show based game). And pass on the Wii board - it just becomes annoying during the circuit training. All you need is a standard Wii remote.

Background:
My wife and I (late 20s) are avid tennis players, but with the snow falling and Wii tennis games being fun but not a very real workout, we've become quite sluggish recently. I used to be a collegiate athlete (soccer), and she has regularly done workout videos from Tae Bo to Power 90. She has always dropped pounds doing the workout videos, but they obviously become repetitive after a month or two. With all the hype of Wii's fitness games, I did a little research and chose "The Biggest Loser".

Intensity:
My main skepticism is the level of intensity - while Wii Sports Boxing does make me sweat after a few fights, it's not an authentic workout - and the other Wii fitness games have a reputation for being relatively weak for a trained athlete. This game reminds me of Rock Band in a sense - you can be a totally clueless person, put it on beginner mode, and you'll be fine getting started. But at the same time, a hardcore player can step up, but it on the harder or expert level, and still be sweating bullets at the end of the workout. It really covers the whole range of fitness levels exceptionally well. My wife has done the intermediate regularly for a week and dropped 5 lbs. I usually join her every other day and we both need a shower by the end of every workout.

Fun Factor:
To be honest, at the end of the day you're doing a workout video here. It's the hosts running through different exercises and you follow along. However, the variation of cardio, yoga, strength, and core training do take it to the next level. It also senses your rate via the wii remote - so there's a rough estimation of how you're doing during the workout. Don't bother with the balance board - we started using it but it became a pain since it's a circuit based workout - and moving the board in and out of the way becomes annoying quickly. The games in it are pretty stupid, and the weigh in thing like the show doesn't do much for me. In the end, time doesn't fly by but it doesn't drag on either. I don't imagine kids enjoying the game though.

Tracking:
It's funny how just having a virtual calendar to track your progress and goals makes a huge difference. You can easily log in outside exercise if you don't feel like doing the game everyday, and the interface for logging calorie intake is very user friendly. The only annoyance is that I often don't do the assigned routine for the day - I just choose a different routine in the game I feel like doing - but it doesn't log it automatically. So most of my stuff goes in under the "outside exercise" category - no biggie, but takes an extra 2min.

Multiplayer:
Probably the biggest disappointment. There is a multiplayer feature under "quickplay" - but in the end it's just two people doing a single workout. You can't link it with your actual saved characters in the game, which sucks. Making the game more user friendly for couple or group workouts would be nice to see in the future.

Graphics & Sound:
If you have a Wii, you probably realize that at the end of the day, gameplay is all that matters. Graphics are about on par with Wii Sports, and sound gets a B+ for having calming music during the yoga and cool down parts, plus thumping drums during high energy sections. The male training did significantly more voice recordings than the girl - so definitely choose him if you don't want random comments the whole time. Yes, this could be a more polished game - but really the workouts are the only thing I really care about. Perhaps the one feature missing is a signal when exercises are changing. Sometimes the trainer says switch, sometimes not - so you have to keep your eyes on the screen.

After working out with EA Sports for some time, I thought I was ready for Jillian and Bob to rough me up a bit. They haven't let me down. This software is filled with fitness tips, calorie counters for foods (along with suggestions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) and also comes with one month of free Biggest Loser Club. You can choose a Beginner workout, Intermediate or Expert. Knowing Jillian's tactics like I do (I've seen every single episode of The Biggest Loser), I chose Intermediate. You *will* sweat. You get a nice warm up,, great workout and a cool down with all the extras I mentioned and more. You can choose a quick exercise or set up a workout plan to lose a little weight, lose a lot of weight, or tone up and work out certain areas. You can choose between a 4 week, 8 week or 12 week plan -- but once you set it up, you're committed to it, so choose wisely. Your "character" is one of the past contestants (you choose one), but you set the game up with your own stats. It tells you that you will compete with past contestants and weigh in just like the show, but obviously I haven't gotten that far yet. I just bought the software this morning, so I'm sure I will uncover more features as time goes by, but I know some of you would like a review before you purchase -- and I don't blame you. So far I think it is worth the money for this complete workout plan.

I just received the game from Amazon today. I popped it in, and decided to start with a 4 week fitness plan. My first workout was classified as light (19 minutes), and then an 8 minute cool-down. I really liked it a lot. I felt like it was challenging enough to get started and I was sweating by the end of my workout. (Even though it was "light", it still makes you sweat.) I did a full body circuit workout and it included the following: jogging in place, mountain climbers, jump rope, lateral side lunges, punches, plank twists, backwards lunges, more jump rope, and then it repeated everything over again. Just for fun I did a quick 12 minute yoga session with Bob and that was cool too. He takes you through Warrior 1, Warrior 2, plank pose, side planks (on each side), deep breathing, downward facing dog, and some lateral side stretches. It's not as "flowy" as I like my yoga workouts to be because there is some pauses between moves, but overall it was a nice way to end my session.
If you like this show, and like this game, it's a great combination, and a definite plus to have in your workout collection!

I have had the balance board and Wii Fit for almost a year. I was not using the Wii Fit program because it was so cumbersome, going to menu to select each exercise was a pain. The Biggest Loser game sets you up with a workout routine, choose from full body, upper body, lower body, core or yoga. It is so smooth and natural, it is like being in a class. I worked up quite a sweat from my routine and was surprised at how sensitive the balance board and wii remote were. You get instant feedback on how you are doing. I love this game!!!
Enter in your exercise for the day and it gives you a calorie goal for your specific body. Search recipes and find healthly living tips. You can enter in exercise done away from the game also. I found the challeges really challenging, I was swearing at Jillian on the game :) I look forward to the weigh in.

I just bought the game a couple of days ago and have used it each day since its purchase. Thus far, the pros and cons: I have bought several of the Wii fitness type of games and this one is the first game that has provided a tough, contiguous workout that does not require numerous lengthy stops to change equipment or to navigate to a different section for a new exercise (such as in the Wii Fit game). There are pauses for transitions in between the exercises, but none of the pauses were long enough to let my heart rate get below 65%. What I have not yet figured out is how to weigh in on a daily basis if I choose to do so. It is possible the game allows a weigh-in only once a week. It is probably a case of user error. Overall, the game has already been a great workout challenge (you can choose from Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels), and for once, I am really happy with the level of difficulty (many games have not been challenging enough for me) and the fact that the workout goes for non-stop for 30+ minutes. Definitely a good buy for those who are looking for a workout challenge to get you through the cold winter months and the fattening holiday season.