Games Cheats and Reviews

Developer: Ubisoft
Platform: Wii
Price: $49.99
Genre: Sports/Rec
Acquired: provided by developer
Verdict: Once you get the flow of the game down, it’s awesome.
Pros: Easy game play makes the progressing possible for even the worst snowboarder
Cons: Can’t face the other direction on the board; Campaign instructions are somewhat vague.

Shaun White. No, he is NOT a Carrot Top wannabe. He’s oh so much cuter than that. Oh, and did I mention that he’s an Olympic GOLD medalist? I’m sure you probably know far more about him than I do, but I can tell you with assurity that you do NOT have to know ANYTHING about Shaun or snowboarding to enjoy this game. There is a lot to cover with the game, so let’s just jump right in.

First things first: controls. You can play this game with a regular Wii remote, a MotionPlus remote, or the Wii Balance Board. I can’t tell you how the MotionPlus does, because I don’t have one. However, I can tell you that there is a part of the game that you can’t play without it. More on that later. the regular remote works well, and makes the game far less tiring, as well as making great moves and combos much easier to achieve. The directions for gameplay on the balance board are very clear and doable, even for the least balanced of people; my friend fell off a few times, but he landed safely on the couch. No nerds were hurt in the reviewing of this game! My only beef with the controls is that you cannot change the direction that the board faces. If you wish to face left while playing, you have to learn to play backwards. It was for this reason that I ended up playing more with the remote than the board, though again, I had a friend do it for me.

When you begin playing the game, you’ll receive instruction before each event. The nature of the instruction is based on what type of event you’re participating in. For example, if you’re about to race, you’ll be given the controls for tucking and steering while the event is loading. This is especially helpful when you’re about to begin performing tricks. Can’t keep all those tricks in your, err.. large brain? No worries! All of them are listed in the instruction booklet, and sorted into control type.

The game starts out in a van on the way to the airport. Shaun and his buddies (you included) are chatting away about the upcoming World Stage Championship. Shaun, of course, already has his spot; you have to earn yours. Do this in campaign mode, by upgrading your world ranking. You start in the Beginning Stage at Week 1. Each week, you are given 3 events to choose from. Each of those events, in turn, has a number of ranking points you can earn by finishing first in that event. You choose the character you will play before each event, and you have a friend who lends you their skills when your respect meter reaches critical mass. The respect meter is boosted by collecting the crowns placed throughout the events. There are 13 characters in all (some of them you obviously have to unlock). When you finish Beginning Stage with the required 75 in the world ranking (you start at 100 and move up whenever you earn ranking points), you move up to Intermediate Stage, and so on. When you are in the top 5, you can enter the World Stage Championship.

The instructions for Campaign Mode are fairly unclear in the game, so I found the instruction booklet very helpful in this case (and I tend to avoid reading instruction booklets like the plague). Within this Mode, you can play the events or free ride, as well as a multiplayer option. Multiplayer in campaign mode changes between split screen and one player at a time, based on the particular event. In either case, your scores combine to help you on your journey up the rankings. Not a lot to get competitive about here, unless you enjoy yelling at the TV.

Other game play modes include Arcade Machine Mode, Multiplayer Versus Mode, and Multiplayer Hot Seat Mode. Arcade Machine Mode is a Wii MotionPlus exclusive. If you were paying attention earlier, you’ll realize that I wasn’t able to play it. However, I can tell you that it allows you to create your own tricks. These tricks are then usable in other gaming modes, such as campaign. Multiplayer Versus and Hot Seat Modes differ in a few different ways. First, one is split screen, the other is one player at a time. With Versus, you can choose to play a Cup or Free play. Cup play allows you to play events AGAINST your friends. Hot Seat reminds me of the game HORSE. Everyone plays the same stage, with the same characters, and the best run is on the hot seat until that score is beaten. Countries and characters in this mode are locked until they become available in Campaign Mode.

The graphics in this game are great. No matter what you’re looking at, whether it’s the movie sequence, the airport lobby, or the actual events themselves, the details are crisp and undizzying. The characters, their gear, and clothing are all detailed and viewable during the rides. The markings in the snow, on the jumps, and the rails are clear as well. Colors are bright and plentiful, making this game a joy to not only play, but also watch others play. The movements between game play selections, or even tricks on a run are fluid and smooth: nothing jarring in this game.

When I was asked to do this review, I was a little worried that I would have a hard time getting through the campaign. I’m not accustomed to this type of game, and having had ZERO snowboarding experience, I wasn’t sure I was the right choice for the review. After playing it, however, I’ve come to realize I was the perfect person for the review. Not only have I gained a new respect for this gifted ginger-haired boarder superstar, but I was also able to expand my sporting horizons. Since the game is easy enough to play, I didn’t have to worry about frustration urging me to throw the Wii out the back door. The game is responsive, and that, my friends, is a good thing. Kids will enjoy this game, as will adults; you can even entertain your friends without picking up a fake guitar. Now that I have Shaun’s moves down on the game, maybe I should go buy a board and hit Alyeska in Alaska. Okay, maybe not. You, however, should pick this one up if you like snowboarding video games, Shaun White, or knocking your friends off the Wii board and onto the couch.