Wii Fit

The Balance exercises are the most fun, because they're the most like proper games. Table Tilt is Marble Madness except you control the tilt using your weight, and the balls bear the faces of your friends. It's addictive. There's a great game involving flying penguins, and the ski slalom and jump exercises are excellent for party play.

In fact it's surprising how well Wii Fit works with a group of friends. You can't perform any of the exercises simultaneously, but they're short and entertaining enough to ensure that taking turns isn't a pain. The only real problem is having to quit out to the Wii Fit Plaza (or main menu screen, in old money) each time you want to select a different Mii. A party mode enabling you to quickly pick your own character between turns would have been useful here.

The question, as with so many Wii titles, is whether the novelty will wear off. Everyone wants to come round and have a go at Wii Fit right now, but will they get bored in a few weeks like they did with Wii Sports tennis? There is the added bonus of being able to track your progress, but regular play is required to make it a real incentive.

Which is probably why Wii Fit is being presented as a solo experience more than a party game. You can compare your results with others, but really it's about setting your own targets and seeing how your performance improves. So far I've found this provides enough motivation to play Wii Fit every day - sometimes for ten minutes, sometimes for an hour. I don't know how long I'll keep this up for, but I do know switching on the Wii is a lot easier than going to the gym. Wii Fit is not as beneficial, undoubtedly, but a lot more fun.

Which just about sums it up. With Wii Fit, Nintendo has made exercising enjoyable. Not as enjoyable as eating a giant burger obviously, but it's a good effort. It's produced a superbly made peripheral and a piece of software that offers both entertainment and a sense of achievement. It's all very slick and lifestyle, with plenty of white everywhere, but there are the bold shapes, bright colours and moments of sheer charm you'd expect from Nintendo.

In a similar vein, Grand Theft Auto IV looks set to feature the unique visuals, innovative gameplay and superb humour you'd expect from Rockstar. There will be plenty of gamers who want what's on offer there, and who have any desire to spend GBP 70 on what they perceive as a pair of scales that can tell how good you are at standing on one leg.