Hands-On Previews: Wii Fit U and Pikmin 3
Since Roland was the only one who had a chance to check out both Wii Fit U and Pikmin 3, we decided to combine both previews into one preview-stravaganza.
Wii Fit U Preview:
“The latest iteration of Wii Fit looks like it’s going to be a fun one. As usual, it’s going to include most of the yoga and stretch routines previously available, but it’s going to be the new minigames that really stand out. There were only five (of 20+ games) available to test out, but I was having quite a bit of fun despite myself: Rowing Crew required you to sit on the board and lean back and forth to varying rhymical speeds, propelling your row-boat through the water; Core Luge required you to sit on the board as you speed through and icy tube, leaning back to pick up speed, and to the sides to steer; Hosedown has you performing lunges while aiming the Wii U GamePad in order to spray down muddy Miis; in Trampoline Target, you perform squats to achieve massive air off of a giant trampoline; and Dessert Course has you serving desserts to a roomful of Miis, all while keeping your balance to keep the food from falling off the tray.
The Rowing Crew and Core Luge games worked surprisingly well to get your blood pumping. As my character glided down the icy tube, my abs were feeling the burn! The rest are more game-like, not providing much of a physical challenge but forcing the player to move around nonetheless. Hosedown, Trampoline Target, and Dessert Course had me performing a number of low impact activities.
Unfortunately, we were unable to get much information about the new Wii Fit Meter. Really, all we found out was that it was portable and it would track your movements during the day to then be later uploaded to Wii Fit U. Presumably, that means it’s going to be some sort of pedometer-esque device. We were told to expect more details before the game’s launch date.”
Pikmin 3 Preview:
“Confession time: I’ve never played a Pikmin game before. I’ve seen friends play it, I know what it’s like. I’m aware of the characters and lore of the universe (I’m a big fan of using Olimar in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in order to annoy friends). I’ve just never actually sat down and played the game myself. I’m happy to report that it’s as fun as it’s always looked–simple, yet with a lot of depth. It looks pretty much like any other Pikmin game, only with HD graphics, the ability to use the Wii U GamePad as a minimap, and a post-mission replay mode. Oh, and there’s been a new rock-type Pokémon Pikmin added to the mix that you can use to knock down hard walls or break thick enemy armour (though there may be a few other types that have yet to be revealed). I don’t think you can expect this title to reinvent the series. It looks like it’s going to be more of the same. I’m sure this game is going to provide long-time fans with more of what they crave, but as a newcomer to the series, I’m looking forward to using this game as an entry point.
