When Nintendo first revealed that an upcoming Wii workout game called Wii Fit  would be controlled by a large, white board that sits in the middle of your living room, many were intrigued. "How does it work?" "Can it possibly replace a controller?" and "Will I break it?" were just some of the many questions that swirled around the announcement. Thankfully, there were also some quality game developers who took it upon themselves to ask: "What else can we do with it?". And, while the Balance Board is still truly in its infancy as a control scheme, some solid titles have already jumped on the bandwagon.

 

Wii Fit

Ok, we'd like to get the obvious one out of the way first and there's nothing more obvious than the game that comes along with the board itself. Yes, it's an exercise program more than it is a game, but that doesn't keep it from being any less enjoyable. Complete with balance games, rhythm games, and even its own take on skiing, Wii Fit is definitely a worthy pack-in for Nintendo's new peripheral. Not to mention it could potentially help you squeeze into that pair of jeans you haven't worn since high school.

Other notable things about WiiFit; it turns the Balance Board into a handy digital weight scale, it can tell you how to improve you posture, and it also just might be the first game in history to make you feel guilty when you haven't booted it up in awhile. Seriously, the dejected Balance Board character is just too much to bear. Wii Fit comes as a pack-in with the Wii Balance Board which will make your wallet $90 lighter.

We Ski

Taking the balance-skiing mini-game from Wii Fit and fleshing it out into a full game, We Ski is an enjoyable experience that will hopefully get your blood pumping. The game offers 14 tracks that can be raced either during the day or at night, and also includes a host of additional ski modes such as Search & Rescue and Centipede.

Where We Ski really takes off is in the multiplayer modes. Up to four players can have their run of the mountain and attempt cool tricks while cruising past their buddies.

We Ski retails for $30, but those who are looking to add the snowboarding element to their skiing fix can wait until March when its sequel We Ski and Snowboard hits the slopes for $40. 

Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip

 

 

Those looking to get their snowboarding fix without waiting until March will definitely want to check out Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip. While it appeared on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in addition to the Wii, the game was designed from the start with Nintendo's console in mind. The game can be played using just the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, but the real fun lies in syncing up your Balance Board for a nice shredding session.

Road Trip features a variety of single player missions that will have you touring the country and racing a variety of slopes that get more complicated as the game goes on. However, keeping your friends in mind, the best part about the single player storyline is that it can be played with a friend in split-screen mode. Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip will set you back a cool $50.
 

Skate it

 

Wii owners haven't had much in the way of skateboarding titles in the years since the console's release. This is brought to an end with the release of Skate It, the Wii companion to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 franchise Skate.

Skate It takes advantage of the Wii Remote and Balance Board's motion capabilities to pull off tricks while replacing complicated button combos with well-timed flicks of the Wii Remote and weight shifts on the board. The title features a rather lengthy story mode as well as a variety of multiplayer offerings that will leave you either triumphant in victory or frustrated in defeat, depending on how quickly you are able to pick up on the Wii Remote + Balance Board control scheme. Skate It goes for $50.

Rayman TV Party

One of the less-obvious inclusions into the 'Balance Board Support' category is Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party. The first two Rayman Raving Rabbids games were big hits for the Wii, but you couldn't escape the feeling that maybe the developers were running out of ideas for mini-games using just the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. This is remedied by the inclusion of the Balance Board and allows the game to boast (which is does quite often) that it is the first game you can play using just your butt!

Each of the Rabbids titles is a collection of mini-games that loosely follow the story of Rayman as he tries to keep from being captured by the Rabbids, a crew of cartoonishly-deformed bunnies. The mini-games can range anywhere from balancing a plate of ever-growing sandwiches to riding a crazed hog through a barnyard, and everywhere in between.

Using the Balance Board to detect shifts in weight and generating on-screen movements accordingly, the game lives up to its tagline. However, there are definitely some mini-games where you'll want to rely on the Wii Remote for in place of the Balance Board as they require just that little extra bit of precision. TV Party retails for $50.

A Promising Future

As more and more developers get a handle on using the Balance Board as a valid input method, more quality games are sure to appear. Even now, the outlook is good for additional Balance Board support in the upcoming months. Titles such as Vertigo (a futurisitc racing title), Koropina 2 (think 3D pinball meets anti-gravity mazes), and Don King Boxing (you get the picture) will hopefully further cement the Wii Balance Board as a common control option.

Now that you've got a whole list of games for your Balance Board shopping list, we recommend you hit the mall and pick up some sweatbands and maybe a workout towel, as some of these games can provide a good workout. However, we hold no responsibility for any embarassing moments that may occur should someone walk in on you playing a game with you butt.