Update: Want to see the entire game before buying? On the product page it shows every single move on this wii game via video links under the picture of the game. Click play. No need to buy the game. That's all you'll see on the game anyway! Just view the moves there...Just those ten moves!
Well this is quite the diappointment. There is no question that, as the years and games continue, the Wii is progressing in all it's bringing to both gamers and fitness fans. Sadly, Daisy Fuentes Pilates has actually taken a step backwards in game AND fitness progression and misses the mark by a mile in pilates instrustion and fun for both the beginners and those advanced.
For those unfamiliar, Pilates is a form of strength training, not meant to provide high caloric burn like a cardio routine, but instead to work and strengthen and lengthen your muscles which has additional benefits that a cardio routine does not...so I had hoped for a great addition to my other Wii fitness "games" as well as my regular daily fitness routine.
Daisy Fuentes Pilates (not sure why it's even called that since there is no resemblence, whatsoever, in the avatar to Daisy Fuentes...but that's not why I bought it so we'll not pass judgement there...) features only 10 excersises (yes, only 10. Perhaps Daisy herself wrote the reviews saying there are more? I kid.) These are the excercises: Bicycle, Toe Taps, Double Leg Circle, Side Leg Work, Pelvic Bridge, Hundred, Neck Pull, Mermaid, Saw, and Roll Up.
yes. On the ENTIRE DVD those are the ONLY moves. I kid you not. You do 5 reps of each to workout. Every. Single. Time. But, fear not! They change the order sometimes. yawn.
Granted, as you progress a few of them can become "harder" but they are still the same moves and odds are you aren't going to want to spend too much time with a dvd that only does 10 moves because you'll likely be bored with it after a good 3 days of doing the same things over and over and, consequently, getting little results in comparison to all the moves you COULD be doing and all the muscles you COULD be toning spending the same amount of time with a Pilates workout dvd on your tv that has a real instructor showing you how to do the moves rather than a cartoon avatar and a game that becomes frustrating...but more on that later.
Those with Attention Deficit Disorder, to not enter here. Even if you have a strong attention span you'll grow so tired of the repetition of just 10 excercises and no Wii "fun" spliced in that you'll start doing algebra equations in your head just for "fun".
Now then, what about the warm up? Surely that has gotta pack a mean punch in order to make up for the number of moves you can count on two hands contained in the rest of the game/routine? Ah, my friend. Think again.
You get two choices of how to warm up. Run in place for five minutes straight (oh! how I wish I was kidding!) or do a sitting stretch series for five minutes straight.
Wow, who was in charge of thinking through such game genius?
Sure you can "customize" five of your own sets. Using the same moves...but if you are new to Pilates you'd be better off sticking to how they have the 10 moves varied because, odds are, you'll be working out more muscles.
You can also go into Daisy's office to change clothes. Interesting because the attire you can choose from pretty much lends one to think Daisy is on her way to make some one dollar bill tips somewhere...if ya know what I mean. Who chose the poor girl's outfits you can change her into? Good Lawd, girl! I believe this could be the marketing department's way to create a larger buyer demographic so husbands enjoy the game as well as their wives. But I'm just guessin'.
Alrighty then, so lets say all you are LOOKING FOR is a Wii game with 10 moves on it and you believe you have found your Nirvana...Ah, my friend. Don't click that "buy now" button just yet. If your dvd player is broken and you just HAVE to have a Wii Pilates game with 10 moves, know that the Wii remote and balance board that are supposed to track your form will frustrate the pilates out of ya. You have to point the wii remote a certain way or tap a certain way that I can't figure out(because it never works right even though I know, very well, how to do pilates) on the balance board so you don't get a red dot and you are left hardly concentrating on your form and breathing in order to keep your tracking progress smooth. But it's also difficult to concentrate on form when it's rarely discussed during play.
It simply did NOT track my movements properly...so much so that i became convinced my balance board was broken and borrowed a neighbor's. Seriously. Nopers! It's the game!
Did they test market this baby?
And, if so, did those who test it speak the same language as those asking them for feedback or did they simply utilize hand signals and misread the player's anger and frustrated hand movements for clapping and enthusiasm? Just sayin'.
Form is VERY important in Pilates in order to get any gain and, although this "game" is marketed for beginners, it doesn't serve them properly in creating the form needed to produce results...or the interest needed to even wish to proceed with it as a routine, in my opinion.
Nor is it fun. And typically that is the beauty of a wii fitness game above a workout dvd...it usually splices in some element of FUN or learning while doing.
Back to my pilates dvds...waiting patiently for the next Wii fitness game, while I gently repackage this one and save it for some enemy in my future who frustrates me enough that I wish to punish them with double the frustration return.
I kid.
But it would be far too cruel to give it to Goodwill in the event that someone would pay hard earned-money for it and be a kind soul. I just couldn't live with myself.