GC 2008: Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip Updated Look

All too often, you know exactly what to expect in the Wii version of a sports game that's also found on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3: a dumbed-down, kiddy-fied version of the "big" game, with slapped on controls and subpar graphics. Not so with Ubisoft's upcoming Wii version of Shaun White Snowboarding. In fact, for some fans out there, this version of Shaun White might actually be the one to get, with a control scheme that feels about as close as you can come to real snowboarding, only without wiping out and getting snow down the back of your parka.

It's those controls that really set Shaun White for the Wii apart. You can play the game with just the Wii Remote, but if you've got a Wii Balance Board, you'll want to hook it up before you hit the slopes. We had a chance to attack the two events being shown on the GC show floor here in Leipzig--a big air challenge and a half-pipe event--and were consistently impressed with the controls.

Much like on a real snowboard, steering and performing tricks are controlled almost entirely by shifting your weight on the balance board. Before you head off down the slopes, you'll need to quickly calibrate the balance board by standing on it. After that, it's off to the mountain. Our first stop was the big air event; here, the goal is to get from the top to the bottom while racking up as many big air tricks as you can. The course was fairly steep, with plenty of opportunities for jumps, as well as some precarious-looking rocks that we got snagged on more than once.

When on the balance board, turning left or right is simply a matter of shifting your weight left or right on the board; you can speed up by learning forward and slow down (or stop completely) by leaning backward. For the most part, the big air event had gentle curves, and there was little need to slow down. Instead, we focused on the jumps--to catch the maximum amount of air, you simply lift up from the balance board at the lip of the jump. From there, your momentum carries you in whatever direction you want. Want to do a back flip? Lean backward as you're in midair? Want to spin 180 degrees to your right? Shift your weight in that direction, and your character will follow. It's surprisingly easy and natural-feeling, even if you've never actually been on a real-life board before.

While you can do a host of tricks simply by shifting your weight around the board, more advanced players will quickly want to involve the Wii Remote into their tricks. You can do basic and advanced grabs by pressing the A and B buttons, respectively. You can also perform special tricks by pressing the A and B buttons together. In our time with the game, we didn't have much luck with pulling off consistent grabs, but with more practice, it probably isn't that hard.

The second event we tried was a simple half-pipe event where the goal was to pick up as many tricks and points as possible on a basic half-pipe location. We would have liked to have mastered the grabs before tackling this one, as we wiped out more than once before getting to the bottom of the hill. Still, for those who simply want to focus on expanding their repertoire of stunts, half-pipe events look to be the ticket.

When you aren't blasting down the slopes in Shaun White for the Wii, you'll be earning respect and dare points, which will presumably be used to unlock new content in the game. As you make your way down the course, you'll always be followed by a friend who is filming your snowboarding exploits. Which friend you choose to tag along will be an important choice because if you earn enough respect on a run (or hit a respect bonus, which look like crowns on the course), you can earn bonuses to your attributes, such as grip, jump, and so on. As a result, you'll want to be choosey with whom you invite to accompany you on a run, as one friend might be able to help you more effectively than another depending on the conditions.

The developers behind Shaun White for the Wii made a smart decision to not try to compete with the frankly gorgeous visuals of the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game. That's not to say that the Wii version isn't appealing graphically; it's cartoonish approach and bright visuals have a charm all their own. Still, for us, it's the controls that look to make Shaun White a success on the Wii. Provided the development team can nail the feel of snowboarding while standing still--and it looks to be on its way toward doing just that--Shaun White just might be best experienced on the Wii. Look for more on the game in the near future.