Wii Review: Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip [Update]
by Demi Adejuyigbe on December 10, 2008 at 11:00 pm
[I'm sure by now you've realized the error I made, pointed out by GoNintendo, in which I reviewed the online portion of a game that doesn't actually have an online portion. I'd like to apologize for this error, but at the same time, I am just as confused as you all are as to how it occurred. Though many people have jumped to conclusions that the entire review is fraudulent, I'd like to assure you all that that's not the case, and that I did indeed review this game after playing it in it's entirety. The picture used in the review from one of the in-game emails was even taken by me. I'd like to think that you'd all realize that I wouldn't take the effort to write a review for a game I hadn't even bothered to play. As a commenter even pointed out, I wouldn't bother to lie about that part of the game if I admitted to not trying the game's largest selling point.
I don't know how this error occurred, since I distinctly remember playing an online version of the game, and haven't played any other versions of Shaun White Snowboarding, but as there's no explanation for what I can only describe as sheer stupidity on my part, I'd like to apologize to all of you that read the review, and used its lack of a good online component as a factor in your decision as to whether or not you should play the game. The mistake was on my part, and you shouldn't fault or discredit the great staff at Ripten for what was a grievous error on my part. The review has been edited to reflect the error, and once again, I'm sorry. - Demi]
Announced at the super lackluster E3 ‘08, Ubisoft’s Shaun White Snowboarding was held to a relatively high standard, being one of the few games Nintendo wanted to focus on at their press conference. If I remember correctly, the last snowboarding game that was received well was probably SSX 3 (give us SSX4, dammit!) so Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip has a lot to prove before it flies off of shelves.
With the current drought of good Wii games on the market and the large demand for a spiritual successor to the SSX series, could Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip be the game to finally bring Nintendo out of its slump? Could it be just as good as Nintendo hyped it up to be half a year ago?
No.
Now before I dive head first into the review, I’d like to point out that I didn’t actually review the game’s main selling point — the Balance Board support. Seeing as I don’t have a balance board (and I probably never will), I can’t review this to the full extent, but I’ll be damned if I won’t try.
To put it simply, Shaun White’s Snowboarding isn’t the worst game ever, but it’s not a very good one either. The game starts with a very small tutorial where you learn the basics — jumping, turning, basic tricks, speed boosts, and braking. For the most part, the controls are very, very simple. Flick the remote up to jump, tilt the remote left/right to turn, press A for speed boosts and tricks, press B for braking and more tricks.
When you first start, these instructions are more than enough to keep you going for the first few levels. As a matter of fact, I played a full level and cleared it without looking at the screen. I wish it were a testament to my skill, but no — the game is just that insanely simple.
One thing I really like about the game is the cutscene art style, which you can see in the header image. It’s sort of a blocky, hand-drawn, cel-shaded style, and I really like it. It goes well with the humor they try to use in the cutscenes, and rather than the cutscenes just being characters talking, the cutscene tries to add a story to the game and make the player feel like they’re actually watching a movie at times.
The game also employs the use of a ‘Respect meter’ to give you a short time period for you to jump higher and perform more tricks. It’s very easy to gain points on your Respect meter, as all you have to do is to perform tricks. About 5 tricks will fill your meter, and to activate your Respect boost, all you need to do is press on the D-pad. Sound familiar? Well, that’s because it’s the same system that’s been used in every SSX game since SSX Tricky. Unfortunately, this is where the SSX parity ends.
The soundtrack, though not configured into the score because of it’s banal nature, is very good. Full of great alternative and indie musicians, from MGMT to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to Living Colour, it’s great music for snowboarding, and it fits the game well.
Like with most sports/extreme sports games, different characters bring different things to the table. In the game, you can select a cameraman and a rider. The cameraman doesn’t do anything, but depending on who you choose, you can receive a boost in one of your rider skills — Speed, Jump, Trick, Grip, Landing, Mass, and Balance.
At the beginning of the game, you start out with only two characters, Gordon and Jasmine, and as you progress in the game, you get more people to join your entourage. Though it’s not an innovative system, it helps a bit when you’re trying to pull off more complicated tricks.
Though it plays no actual role in the game itself, you can save mementos from each ride, which is nothing more than a photo you get when you complete a level. You also get an email occasionally, but this is just as trivial. Most of the time, the emails are intended to be funny, depicting the various spam emails you most likely receive on a daily basis. Only one email really stuck out as funny to me, though. Do you the deny success when it demands your face?
I wish I had more good things to say about the game, but the soundtrack, simplicity of controls, and cameraman/rider system are about it.
Remember how I pointed out the exceptional ease with with you can control your rider? This system becomes a problem very quickly when you try to navigate certain time trial levels, and try to perform tricks as well. Without Wii MotionPlus™ support, the game is hindered by its inability to gauge jumps with 1:1 control, and there’s often a delay between the time you flick your remote and the time your rider actually jumps up.
Performing tricks is also a problem when the Wii doesn’t correctly measure what trick you’re trying to pull. It became so much of a problem that I eventually just gave up and decide to flick the remote around erratically. It helped much more than actually trying.
The game’s menu is so convoluted and cluttered that I started to get annoyed by turning on the game. In any other game, it would be enough to select the game type, select the level, maybe select the sublevel, select a character, and go… but not here. To get to your level, you first have to load the profile, select your game type, choose the riding controls, choose a mountain, choose a peak, choose an objective, accept the objective, select a rider, select a cameraman, and then you’re ready to go. Don’t forget that you should probably choose your options beforehand, but I’ll cover that in a second.
It doesn’t seem like Ubisoft put any thought at all into how grinding would work, because simply getting near a rail or any curvature of any kind and jumping, even when a yard away, will get you onto the rail to grind. And keeping your balance is simple, too, to a fault even. All you need to do is keep the remote straight.
Most of the time when I tried to jump off of the rail, I ended up right back on it, since you can’t jump too far away. Grinding also gives you more points than tricks, as a single trick can give you about 20-40 points, at most. Without a multiplier, you’re dead in the water, and trying to meet the ridiculous trick point demands the game gives you becomes increasingly difficult.
Speaking of which, the game makes large jumps in objectives, far too quickly. In the transition between the first and second mountains of the game, the game ends Mountain 1 with an objective requiring you to get 2000 points, which isn’t too bad. As soon as you jump into the second mountain, the objective becomes getting 5500 points in a limited amount of time. This jump in objective difficulties doesn’t get any better as the game goes on, and what was once simple at the beginning of the game turns into an excruciatingly difficult experience.
I mentioned previously that you might want to choose your options beforehand, and this is because Ubisoft didn’t think to add a pause menu to the game. That’s not to say that you can even pause the game, though. Oh no, Ubisoft completely neglected the fact that someone might want to pause the game at any time. As a matter of fact, the only reason you could ever take a break in the middle of a slope is because of the Wii’s Home button, which you’ll probably be using a lot more than normal if you ever pick up the game.
The UI in the game isn’t too bad… until you start moving. From the beginning, the game screen has nothing more than a score, countdown (occasionally), dare/respect objective, and respect meter on the screen. This becomes more and more cluttered with everything you do. For no reason whatsoever, the screen will practically fill with a Wii remote, trying to tell you how to turn, as if you didn’t learn it at the beginning of the game. Other times, when performing tricks, the multiplier icon appears, as well as the balance meter. I wish I were joking, but the trick icon takes up just as much space on the screen as your rider does.
Local multiplayer isn’t bad, however, as starting a multiplayer game is just as easy as starting a single player game. You can select between co-op mode, where you and up to three others play the campaign, allowing you to earn medals with others; versus mode, where you and three others can go head-to-head; and hot seat mode, where you face off against your opponent’s ghost times.
The Bottom Line: Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip isn’t absolutely horrible but I don’t think I could say it’s good either. When I first started, I had an enjoyable time with the game, but as soon as I got off the first mountain, it became a chore to even finish the game. There are a few good things about the game, but the large amount of bad things with the game outweigh them, and its problems become very evident.
I don’t think I could suggest someone to buy this game, but if you’re a really big fan of snowboarding games, you might want to at least rent it. For all I know, the balance board support is better than the Wiimote support.
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37 Comments » |
on December 10, 2008 11:14 pm
Hmmmm… this game seems interesting. I liked the SSXs of old, but I’m not sure how this one will rank up. I’ll probably rent it sometime, but wont buy until the price goes down. Nice review, insightful.
on December 11, 2008 1:50 am
I haven’t really been interested in snowboarding games recently. A very good, detailed review. :O)
on December 12, 2008 4:10 pm
You hit the big time here Demi Jubbajoobyigbee
on December 19, 2008 4:28 pm
It’s pretty good actually – but can’t stand up to SSX. Also, I thought this game didn’t have Online W-Fi? Does it?
on January 19, 2009 4:04 pm
You IDIOT! It doesn’t even have ONLINE! You obviously LIED your way thru the entire review!
on January 19, 2009 4:28 pm
“I wish I could put this nicely, but as with the majority of Wii games, the online multiplayer sucks. It’s horrible.”
…
The Wii version doesn’t have online, smart guy.
on January 19, 2009 4:42 pm
Reviewing Rules: No fabricated writing allowed. If you must criticize a game, please debate intelligently and comment on flaws actually within the game. Reviews containing made-up keywords or outbound writers will be put into moderation to help prevent trolling. The consumers reserve the right to not be lied to and mock anyone who doesn’t follow the rules. Thanks.
on January 19, 2009 4:50 pm
epic review is epic.
on January 19, 2009 4:59 pm
This review is a joke. Shame on you Demi Adejuyigbe!
For the sake of journalism, please stop reviewing games. Last thing the gaming community needs is a mythomaniac reviewer.
on January 19, 2009 5:00 pm
Totally I too had problems connecting to the internet. Man it’s hard to get on any internet play when it doesn’t exist doesn’t it?
Did you even play the game?
on January 19, 2009 5:19 pm
Mmm… You get money for making shi+ up or what?
How can you express an opinion if you have obviously no idea what you’re talking about?
I was expecting something a little more… Professional… You know.
on January 19, 2009 5:59 pm
“I wish I could put this nicely, but as with the majority of Wii games, the online multiplayer sucks. It’s horrible. I sat there for a straight 30 minutes trying to connect to a game, but I just couldn’t do it, and once I finally got into a game, the connection issues became a huge problem, dropping me from the game and somehow blacklisting that player from connecting with me again.”
Yeah, the Wii version HAS no online multiplayer. So much for credibility, huh?
The proper thing at this point would be an apology, if you want to have any hope of your readers trusting your reviews in the future.
on January 19, 2009 6:15 pm
Great review. Except, you lied. Epic fail.
on January 19, 2009 6:20 pm
If you’re going to admit to not trying the game’s biggest selling point, why don’t you just admit to not playing the game at all?
on January 19, 2009 6:46 pm
Did the reviewer even play this game? Shoddy journalism, I wont be reading this writers articles again, unless its about a game I made so I can defend it from false reviews.
on January 19, 2009 7:31 pm
You MUST be the worst reviewer EVER. How can you review a Wii game without using the Wii’s specially made controller. This game excels BECAUSE of the balance board. Next your can review Wii Sports without the Wii-mote.
I bet you’ll be pressing the buttons on your Wavebird for 30 minutes wondering why you haven’t bowled a single ball.
What an idiot. Sad. Did you write for EGM too?
on January 19, 2009 9:30 pm
Nice one, jackass. Atleast play the game next time.
on January 19, 2009 11:33 pm
WOW. This is one of the most half-ass reviews ripten has ever published. The author just phoned it in without really trying the game for more than 10 minutes.
Besides the aforementioned — and since removed — bizarre misstatement on online multiplayer (wtf??), there is another inaccuracy. The reviewer says:
“…This is because Ubisoft didn’t think to add a pause menu to the game. That’s not to say that you can even pause the game, though. Oh no, Ubisoft completely neglected the fact that someone might want to pause the game at any time.”
Huh? Press the “2″ button. You can restart the run, continue, or select other options. Anybody who has played for more than 10 minutes knows that.
Given how lame the reviewer’s journalism was on this review, I suggest that in the future he/she write reviews with a little softer tone. Since right now we don’t think he/she knows jack s***.
It kinda sucks when these games don’t fit the “edit/replace” template.
P.S. When you make up for this, you need to try it on the Balance Board. It is AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GAME and the old rules don’t apply.
on January 20, 2009 2:16 am
Fail review… Online hahahaha.
Ripten sucks.
on January 20, 2009 3:07 am
Holy….this is really bad. The reviewer just needs to admit it was completely fake. The excuse of there being an online component somewhere some how only embarrasses this site more. Awful
on January 20, 2009 4:17 am
Wow… what a hot mess. So much for the journalistic integrity. So is this article and apology going to be updated as people find new flaws with them?
on January 20, 2009 4:21 am
What is the hiring policy at Ripten? High school drop outs to the head of the class?
I hope you go out of business for this dismal effort, you suck and your employer sucks even more because of their ineptitude in hiring such a bell end.
on January 20, 2009 7:25 am
This game doesn’t have online in the first place douche
on January 20, 2009 7:28 am
OMG Reviewer FAILED and flopped like a fat boy!
Online??? No Pause??? Were u smoking crack? or were you playing Big Rigs? and decided to word replace?
on January 20, 2009 8:34 am
My review of this review:
rip 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ten
^
meh
on January 20, 2009 8:37 am
Wow and this is why you shouldnt always trust review sites.
on January 20, 2009 9:00 am
The Bottom Line: Demi Adejuyigbe, you’re not fit to be reviewing games. Just stop.
on January 20, 2009 9:15 am
You were also dead wrong about the game not having a pause menu there, buddy. The game has a pause menu, you just have to hit the 2 button instead of the + button. Here’s some advice for next time Demi: maybe you should actually play a game before you review it.
on January 20, 2009 10:01 am
Haha, epic. You reviewed a game but you not play the game. Shame on you.
on January 20, 2009 11:34 am
So there is a pause button in the game it the 2 button, I dont know why this kid dosent just admitt he never played the game.
on January 20, 2009 3:29 pm
post a picture of your Wii Calender.
on January 23, 2009 9:05 pm
I love the fact that he actually tried to photoshop a multiplayer screen, in this case, the one that has 4 different views of supposed different players playing, he even named the image, multiplayer.jpg. Right click and save on that image to see what I mean.
on January 24, 2009 5:04 pm
lilricky: the game has a multiplayer split-screen mode, but only local. So there’s no photoshopping involved and the picture is not faked. Just the review.
on February 1, 2009 3:12 pm
This guy (the reveiwer) didnt play the game or he is a complete idiot. The respsponse time on the controller and player movements is spot on. Tricks are hard sometimes, yes but you have to play the game, unlike this guy. There IS a pause button, you dont have to hit the wii menu button. The fact that he doesnt know this means he did not play the game or like a said is a complete idiot, no offense but it is basic knowledge. Is the game good or not that is for you to decide, just dont use this guys review, becuase he doesnt know what he is talking about.
on February 12, 2009 4:26 pm
Well I like it.
on February 22, 2009 4:21 am
I find it hard to believe the reviewer actually reviewed the game. Go and read all the other reviews from people that actually took the time to play it. Also, reviewing it without a balance board makes no sense as it is one of the biggest features of the game. And by the way on the “pause” thing, not only is there as another commenter pointed out, a pause menu, but as with any Wii game you can always press home and pause with the Wii menu.
on April 8, 2009 7:55 pm
You cannot give this game a fair review without using the balance board. The balance board controls are pretty much perfect with this game. I would give the game a 9/10, not because it has great level design or graphics (although both are fairly decent), but because of the insanely immersive balance board controls which allow you to pull off an insane number of tricks using only the board and 2 buttons. On the surface this appears to be a casual game because of its simple controls, but there is a hidden depth for those willing to be creative with their tricks.