It took a while, but physical Wii Fit U Bundles are finally available in retail outlets as of today.
There are two bundles available:
Wii Fit U w/Fit Meter
Wii Fit U w/Wii Balance Board and Fit Meter
One question a lot of folks have is: is the version of Wii Fit U I reviewed here (which you can download from the Nintendo eShop) different in any way from the version that’s available at retail? The good news is that the answer is no: the game is 100% identical provided you unlocked the full version of the game by purchasing a Wii Fit Meter and syncing it. This is still the most economical way to get the game if you already have a Wii U and a Balance Board, but hurry, the trial offer is only good until January 31.
Another question a lot of folks have is: has the Balance Board included in the second bundle above been updated or improved in any way? The quick answer is no: the Balance Board is essentially the same as what Nintendo released in 2007.
That of course brings up another question for anyone who has a Wii U but might not have a Balance Board yet: does it make sense to buy a used Balance Board and the first bundle above, or to buy the second bundle?
Amazon and Best Buy have made that decision easy with their launch date pricing of $65 for the second bundle–if you don’t have a Balance Board yet it’s a no-brainer for you to get one at that price, considering that the Fit Meter is $20, so you’re essentially getting a brand new Balance Board for $45, which is cheaper than used ones are going for on eBay.
But when the pricing goes back to its suggested retail pricing of $100 in a few days, you’ll need to decide whether it’s worth the risk of buying a used Balance Board–there are 32 million of them out there, so you’ll find plenty of used ones at Gamestop or Craig’s List. On the one hand, Balance Boards are notorious for breaking down so there’s a bit of risk in getting an old one, but on the other hand in many cases the solution to getting them working again is a simple fix.
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