Game Revolution writes: "All in all, they try to make each mini-game have a realistic feel to it, even though the look is of a cartoon. But the music wasn't so extreme. It was more like elevator music with a couple of generic sounds thrown in. If anything, it was a challenge to listen to (haha get it?)".
Players can incorporate their Miis into game, but, without stronger graphics, this feature losses its luster. The appealing settings and large scope surrounding the player action needed stronger visual support. The missing balance board option is yet another missed opportunity in this entertaining, yet unpolished experience.
GreenPixels writes: "There are lots of Wii games that promote living a more active life. There's Wii Fit, My Fitness Coach, Jillian Miachaels' Fitness Ultimatum, EA Sports Active, and more. These are all family-friendly titles to be sure, but most of these are so overtly about getting fit that they're sure to entice the typical kid about as much as math homework and broccoli. And that's where this compilation of sports-based mini-games is different: Active Life: Extreme Challenge is a kids' game at its core. This isn't to say that adults wouldn't enjoy playing too, but from the Wii menu intro screen with an audio clip of a group of kids screaming "Active Life: Extreme Challenge," it's obvious that this title is for a short crowd."
Active Life: Extreme Challenge contains a variety of mini-game activities, most of which have different difficulty levels and variations. Activities include rock climbing, wake-boarding, in-line skating, kite surfing, jump roping, BMX biking, and more. The main mode is the Extreme Tournament, where players have to meet a certain objective in anywhere from three to five different activities to unlock a new or more difficult set. There's also a Challenge mode, which offers a variation on each activity, such as a longer course or different objective to meet. And finally there's Free Play, which is just as it sounds -- pick what you want to do. Kids can play alone or with friends: Extreme Tournament and Challenge mode have multiplayer options, and there's also a mode for friends to face off in activities designed specifically for multiple players.
