Sep 19
Bandai Namco Returns With Wii Power Pad and Athletic World
Bandai Namco’s 1986 Power Pad has risen from the grave in the form of the brand-spanking new 2008 Family Trainer. Similar to Wii Fit from Nintendo and taking the same supporting game name as its 1986 predecessor Athletic World, Bandai Namco has developed another Athletic World game that is slated to be released sometime in 2008 in Japan.
The original Power Pad mat appeared in 1986 under the name Family Trainer for the Famicon in Japan. Nintendo bought the rights and brought the brand overseas under the name Power Pad for the NES in Europe and America. The dancing mat was played with a handful of aerobics and fitness games, including Athletic World, Dance Aerobics, Short Order & Eggsplode, Street Cop, Super Team Games and World Class Track Meet. Only these few games were created for use with the Power Pad due to its lack of success.
Since Nintendo’s upcoming Wii Fit and Wii Balance Board is its main competition, Bandai Namco’s trust in the Power Pad is a shaky proposition. Granted, the re-release of the Family Trainer for Wii has somewhat of a nostalgia factor, but gamers won’t be able to look past the original flop of Athletic World on the NES. Then again, most gamers will pass on Wii Fit all together as well. Makes you wonder why some developers don’t stop trying getting people to get up and move since most gamers enjoy a relaxing, lazy sit while playing video games.
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That looks a lot like the DDR pad