Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip Review for Nintendo Wii

Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip box art

System: Wii	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Ubisoft Montreal	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Ubisoft	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 16, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

In addition to the Road Trip, up to four players can participate in competitive multiplayer modes. Of course, the Wii only supports one Balance Board, so players will have to take turns using the controller during split-screen play. As such, it is a bit easier to instead participate in the Hotseat mode, which simply has players taking turns. Unfortunately, some of the multiplayer fun is diminished by doing so. Nevertheless, it’s still fun to share with friends regardless of which mode you choose.

Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip screenshot

Graphics in Road Trip really play to the Wii’s strengths. The realistic slopes and boarders found in the 360 and PS3 versions have been eschewed for a stylized, cartoon look. Still, the overall visuals are quite pleasing on the eye. I especially liked just how distinct each mountain environment looked and played out. Also, simple effects like glowing Respect skills, snow-covered riders after wipeouts, smooth animations, camera glitches, and bits of snow flying up to obscure the camera lens all complement the action nicely. I was also impressed by the lack of jaggies; this led to a smooth and rounded out look.

On the other hand, sound is somewhat of a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the set list throughout the game, including groups such as Blue Oyster Cult, Kasabian, the Draytones, and Audioslave. But, I felt that the rockin’ themes became very repetitive. However, a touch of the 1 button allows you to skip ahead through the available tracks. This is a great feature, but frequently I found myself tapping it inadvertently. That means I had to cycle back through and listen to the song from the beginning, while still trying to pull off combos and nail grinds. Additionally, the hoots and cheers from your inspired cameraman are nice, and Shaun White’s voice mails are humorous though a bit trite and clichéd. All in all, the aural presentation fits the package nicely.

If you’re looking for a sports title that captures the challenge of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater days, you’ll be disappointed with Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for Wii. This is a very forgiving title that makes cruising down virtual slopes with friends a joy. Fortunately, it emphasizes the strengths of the Wii without completely dumbing down the final product. As such, a wide range of players should enjoy this whimsical tour through the boarding world.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Editor / News Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.9

Graphics
The stylized, cartoon look and the varied environments were pleasing on the eye if not completely inspiring. Nevertheless, kudos goes to the dev team for playing to the Wii’s strengths.

4.1

Control
Both the Wii Remote and Remote and Balance Board combo are very intuitive and offer distinct challenges, and the Balance Board offers an unmatched level of immersion. However, the controls never attain Tony Hawk Pro Skater perfection.

3.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The set list is varied and enjoyable, though the songs do get repetitive. The voice over work, while appropriate, is clichéd.

3.9

Play Value
This game should appeal to wide range of Wii owners. The single-player is fun yet very short, but the local multiplayer features nicely round out the experience.

3.9

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Hit the Slopes with the Wii Balance Board: Get yourself into the game like never before by using the Balance Board to control your rider. Control your jumps and tricks with the intuitiveness and fun of having a snowboard in your own living room.

Exclusive World Tour: Everybody loves a road trip! You and your crew travel the world to participate in a variety of the fun and exciting events to become a world-renowned athlete. Hit the half-pipe competitions, race down the mountains, or just do some free-riding – there’s plenty of boarding action to satisfy all your needs.

Round the Globe with Shaun White: Ubisoft worked in close contact with Shaun White in order to infuse the experience with the most authentic elements of his riding style, personality and sense of humor. Shaun will act as a good-natured friend and mentor to the player, hooking him up with the right friends to conquer challenges together, introduce him to new locales, or simply be around to share in a laugh.

Play Together: Engage in a seamlessly integrated multiplayer experience for two to four players in both cooperative and competitive gameplay.

Get Your Own Crew: In the world of snowboarding, it pays to have friends on your side. Your crew of friends will always be there to help you by offering you unique abilities to improve both your riding and keeping you grounded with friendly pranks; filming all the antics along the way.

Dare to Be the Best: Undertaking Dares from your friends will lead you to snowboard in a variety of events such as Slopestyles, Big Airs, Half Pipes, Rail Jams, Slaloms, Bordercross and Downhill events. You can even chill in the backcountry with your friends and enjoy riding at your own pace.