Shaun White Snowboarding

"Expectations"

Shaun White Snowboarding is an acceptable update to its class of games from previous console generations. The beautiful scenery and surprisingly solid physics make it one players will want to play over and over again. If you have not had a chance to try it, then your life may just be incomplete.

The game has improved on former snowboarding titles in several ways. The mountains have opened up; players can ride lifts or take a helicopter back to the top once they have reached the bottom. The slopes are noticeably larger than previous games and players can even get off their board and walk around. With the exception of dropping in a ravine, going off course doesn't “replace” your character on the playfield. Finally, challenges and competitions in both single player and multi-player are available.

There are bugs in the 3D engine which the developers will most likely address in an update, but can be annoying nonetheless. The player can be stuck while performing a trick and hitting a tree, or have difficulty escaping from the entrance to a couple of the blocked caves. Also, at times it can feel like randomness has too much influence on things, but this improves dramatically as the character gains skill. Still, the feeling never quite goes away...

Players can buy new gear in the game, particularly boards to improve or change riding style. Better gear helps gain respect when doing tricks, but costs money in the game to purchase. Doing competitions such as racing, jibbing, and air tricking earns money for these upgrades. A “Freebie Pack” is even available from the Playstation Store which gives players access to high-level equipment at no charge, and another pay update which gives players a new mountain to ride.

I give this game an 8 because it lived up to my expectations. With a room full of people, it can be just as fun to watch someone play as it is to play it yourself. Alone, getting the best score in the challenges can comfortably occupy a game session. The music selection is not bad either, except after hearing the same songs over and over I finally turned it off. Hopefully the developers can implement some type of mp3 player someday. Even without background music though, this game was completely worth the $40 it cost me. A little tip though; pay close attention to the snowboard stats when selecting what to ride down the hill. The differences mean quite a lot.

See you on the mountain!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/05/09

Game Release: Shaun White Snowboarding (Target Edition) (US, 11/16/08)