EA Sports Active - I Love This Thing!
Customer Rating: 
If you told me five years ago that I'd be working out in front of a video game, I'd have said you were crazy. The gym was the only place to get a real workout, duh.
Yeah. Well. Now I find myself with two very young children and a full-time job. There is literally not enough time for me to go to the gym. And trust me, I have tried. But with driving there and parking and getting changed and sometimes waiting for a machine, never mind the workout itself, the gym is a 2 hour process. No matter my intentions, it just was not happening often enough.
Frustrated, I started brainstorming for solutions. I figured that some exercise would be better than no exercise, and that even on my busiest days I could squeeze in a half hour in my own living room. So I started by buying some exercise DVDs. They were okay, but I'm a pretty clumsy person, and I've always had a lot of trouble following the perfect-flexible instructors you see in those videos. After injuring my knee trying to follow one routine, I figured there had to be a better way.
Enter the Wii.
I dithered for a while, trying to decide between EA Active and Wii Fit Plus. I think I read every single review on both products, which didn't really help at all, since both programs have such fierce defenders and detractors. In the end, I went with EA Active simply to save forty dollars over Wii Fit Plus.
I don't know how I would've liked the Wii Fit Plus, but I do know that I LOVE EA Active, and do not regret the decision for a minute. I was in moderately decent shape when I purchased this game, but from the first time I used it I could feel the difference in some muscle groups. I work up a mid sweat on the "medium" setting, and a serious sweat on the "hard" setting. Is it a complete gym workout? Probably not. But it does burn calories, it does challenge your muscles, and it's fun and convenient. This is then longest I've been able to stick to a routine since my children were born, and in the end that is what matters most. I'm moving, I'm enjoying it, I'm coming back for more. EA Active has met and surpassed my expectations for Wii exercise, overall.
Of course, like anyone, I have quibbles:
. As others have mentioned, the resistance band is wholly inadequate and you'll want to buy a new one.
. The nun chuck wire is annoying. 99% of the time, I don't notice it, but when I do notice it, it's because I'm tripping over it or it's preventing me from doing the exercise properly. This is not EA Active's fault, but it is the single biggest flaw of the game.
. The program does not always register my movements properly. This is a problem with any Wii game - the technology just isn't perfect - but it's annoying to have the personal trainer correct me on something I'm not actually doing wrong.
. There is not an adequate cool down built in to the 30 Day Challenge. A 2 minute walk doesn't cut it, they should really include stretches to reduce the possibility of injuries. This is why I did not give the game 5 stars. The designers of this game can't help that the nun chuck has a cord, but there is no excuse for neglecting the cool down phase.
All in all, those real are minor quibbles. This game is so much more engaging than trying to follow a DVD that is the same over and over and over again. And more effective, in my opinion, because this game gives you feedback on your form and helps you out. Sure, it's not perfect, but at least it's some feedback based on how your biddy is actually moving. As I learned the hard way, you can do a DVD with improper form for weeks, and never know it until you're injured. Add a good cool down and a few other tweaks, and it will be hard to beat this game.
Wonderful Program, Shoddy Acessories
Customer Rating: I just got the game today and tried it out. I'm very pleased with my purchase, but the elastic band is very flimsy and I find myself handling it very carefully when exercising. I half expected it to break with each curl.
The leg strap slipped loose and finally left my leg during the boxing and kicking game. I strapped it back on as tightly as I could, and it stayed after that, but I could still feel it threatening to loosen with each kick.
I plan to make my own leg strap for the nunchuck out of lycra or a similar elastic material that will hug my thigh, but replacing the elastic strap will take a little more research.
Overall though, I love the game and regret nothing!
