There’s an increasing number of exercise peripherals being released for the Wii and the Jog is easily one of my favorites. I’ve taken note of this device since it was first announced, mostly because it wasn’t tied to a specific exercise game, the way most of the other fitness-geared peripherals for the console are. Instead, it’s supposed to integrate into regular games, requiring you to walk (and run and stride) along with your characters.
It’s been pitched as a cheaper alternative to the WiiFit. Since it’s not a dedicated exercise accessory, I’ll have to disagree. However, I find it even more useful since gamers can enjoy their regular games, while getting a decent sweat in the process.
The Jog is, essentially, an interactive, belt-clipping pedometer that detects and records your every step. It attaches to the WiiMote and Nunchuck to send back the signals to the game. For every step you take, your on-screen character will do the same.
Actual usability of the control is hit or miss, depending on the game you’re playing. For some titles, like SvR 2008, it really changes the gaming experience, making it more fun. For others, like Resident Evil, it can be a pain in the butt. For some reason, the Jog affects the action controls in some game – in Resident Evil, for instance, you’ll have to turn it off every time you need to fire a gun. Since it only currently supports 86 titles, that number dwindles even lower when you limit it to the games that don’t require that extra Turn On/Turn Off move.
At $25 retail, though, I don’t regret getting it. For the few titles it works well on, you can get a decent workout while enjoying the game – you don’t exactly get that anywhere else.
You can see the list of supported titles here: New Concept Gaming
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