The White stuff

As soon as the Wii Balance Board was unveiled - even before Wii Fit's winter sports minigames were shown - gamers worldwide saw the potential for a full-on snowboarding sim. Many thought Nintendo would get in there first with a Wii update to the brilliant 1080 series but, no... Ubisoft has beaten them to it, employing Olympic gold medalist Shaun White to oversee the development of a brand new style of 'boarding experience.

Perfect balance

Importantly, this isn't just a slightly modified version of the PS3 and Xbox 360 titles. Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip is a very different proposition, making the most of Wii's unique control possibilities. Those who don't own Wii Fit will be able to play along using the remote to steer their 'boarder, but to get the full physical experience you've really got step on a Balance Board and get those muscles working.

The idea is to stand at right-angles to the TV, then use body movements to control the onscreen character as he plunges down the slopes. Pressing down with your back foot steers, pushing forward with the front foot accelerates and jumping is achieved by bending your knees and then straightening them quickly. Finally, hitting the remote's A and B buttons in synchronisation with foot movements accesses those all-important tricks, flips and grabs. It's a shame the game still requires you to hold the remote for this purpose, but the board handles key elements such as turning and acceleration extremely well.

Don't expect to become an instant champion, though - this is a system that rewards patience. While the basic movements are fairly intuitive, pulling off the more awkward manoeuvres takes a bit of practice; attempting to place your feet correctly while hitting the right buttons AND watching the screen takes as much coordination as the real sport. Expect to get a faceful of snow or three during the learning process.

Peak to peak

Once you've got the hang of things, Shaun White Snowboarding feels amazingly natural to play. As you travel from peak to peak, taking in locations ranging from the Alps to Japan, the game offers a range of events including Big Airs, Half Pipes, Rail Jams, Slaloms and Downhill races. They're all fairly traditional but also well-designed and enjoyably challenging.

Completing an event unlocks new mountains to carve your way down and also adds extra riders to your crew. Every boarder boasts their own signature moves, and you can play as any of them, adding fresh tricks to your repertoire. Ubisoft has made a big deal of the game's social aspect - Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip is designed to make you feel like you're on a genuine snowboarding holiday with mates. In-game characters will send you emails and even film you as you complete challenges, providing authentically shaky footage of the action. It's not massively significant to the main action, but it nicely captures the unique camaraderie and culture of the boarding scene.

If you get tired of competing against the AI opponents, up to three other players can join in for some multiplayer mayhem. For those who don't own multiple Balance Boards there's an addictive Hot Seat mode where players can take it in turns to try out the game's various tasks. This lends itself really well to the racing challenges as you and your mates attempt to beat each others' times.

Winter wonderland

Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip cleverly plays to all the strengths of the Wii. It uses the Balance Board, it feels sociable and intuitive, and it's got just the right look, eschewing realistic visuals for a more cartoonish style, which should certainly appeal to the console's family audience. Factor in an engaging if throwaway storyline and a superb soundtrack hand-picked by the frizzy-haired champ himself and you've got the best winter sports title in ages.

GAME's Verdict

• Balance Board controls just feel right.
• Characterful art style with some nice effects.
• Hot Seat multiplayer is great fun.

• Tricky learning curve for more advanced moves.
• Road Trip elements don't add much to the gameplay experience.
• Events could do with more variety.

Review by: Keith 'Big Air' Stuart
Version Tested: Wii
Review Published: 14.11.08