Sweatin' Bullets

Well, yesterday I recieved the NES Power Pad I order a couple of weeks ago. It's kinda like the DDR Dance Pad, but it's for the NES, and there are various different games to play. One of those games is called Short Order. It's a take on the old Simon-type of game. A customer comes into a burger shop wanting a burger with a certain number of layers. Your job is to build it layer by layer, as the computer instructs you. So, you start with 3 layers consisting of random ingredients such as tomatoes, lettuce, hamburger patties, or cheese. If you step on the corresponding numbers according to the computer's demands, it adds another layer, and so on until you get to the goal number.

So, the point of that story is that I am extremely out of shape. I have been for quite a while, and after building a simple 10-layer burger, I was worn out. But it gaveme a great idea! Today I shall inform you all about the larger-than-you-might-realize number of video games that let you exercise while you play.

Wii Fit (Wii): This may seem like the obvious answer, simply because it was made for exercise. The game comes with a hybrid scale/balance board that lets you do many exercises right in your living room. Either way, the game seems to work pretty well. If you play several of the 30-some-odd activities every day, you're sure to start feeling a little healthier. I haven't played it in a while, but my belly says I need to sometime soon.

My favorite activity is probably the snowboarding. You turn the balance board sideways, and depending on how you move and sway, your character does likewise. It takes a lot of practice to get any good, but it has one of the key factors many exercises lack: fun.

Dance Dance Revolution (GCN/Wii): Those who haven't played this fantastic series of games is seriously missing out. The games involve you stepping on a certain direction of the dance pad in time with the music. The better score you get, the more tracks and modes you can unlock. To be honest, the only one I have ever played is Mario DDR, but it's a great big piece of fun. It's worth it just to hear all the crazy remixes of classical music and Nintendo game soundtracks.

Short Order (NES): To the untrained player, stepping on numbered pads in a certain order may not seem like a hard job. But, to add an ingredient to the burger, you actually have to step on 2 pads, which means you have to hop front to back and side to side. It makes for some serious exercise really quickly. I would suggest getting comfortable with something like DDR first, which, strangely, isn't nearly as tiring.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (and other motion-intensive Wii games): The Wii has sure made a name for itself, letting kids play and get a little movement in at the same time. One of the most strenuous is Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which lets you participate in the many and varied events from the world tournament. Some of the more difficult include the 100 meter dash and the 4x100 swimming. Interestingly enough, if you play by yourself, you actually get to run all 4 legs of the swimming and running relays, which will make for some serious pulled back and arm muscles after the first day. But even though the game will make you sweat harder than Rosie O'Donnell at the equator, it's also a lot of fun. Plus, not all the games are hard-core. Some other great events include Archery, Skeet Shooting, and my personal favorite, Trampoline.

World Class Track Meet (NES): Sometimes, the first is simply the greatest. Or in this case, the most strenuous. Nintendo's Power Pad often came bundled with the World Class Track Meet/Duck Hunt/Super Mario Bros. cartridge. Obviously, there is no running required in the latter two. But the Track Meet game can require some serious hustle. Take the 100m Dash, for example. Players must run in place and be fast enough to beat the computer characters (which, as we all know, are very good at cheating). It starts out easy enough, but wait until you get to the harder opponents, such as the aptly-named 'Cheetah.' Then try moving on to the 100m Hurdles. So not only do you have to run fast, you have to jump at the right time, too. Good luck with that one.

Well, there you go, biased fans! Now let's get out there and sweat to the oldies!

-benjamines

Currently Enjoying: The new games included with the new Zune update