It doesn't happen often, given the bigger budgets of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games -- but the best version of Shawn White Snowboarding is on the Nintendo Wii, thanks to its minimalist design, vibrant graphics and satisfying foot controls.

Less is more

Big air tricks come standard.

Shawn White Snowboarding: Road Trip, as the game is subtitled, doesn't have a lot of features to write home about. There's no online multiplayer, it's extremely linear, and there are only five locations to ski, each with a limited number of downhill runs. But the small scope also underscores what's most important here: screaming down a mountain, getting massive air, and performing gnarly tricks.

Unlike the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, Road Trip features an exclusive backdrop that has you and a gang of buddies chasing Shaun White around the globe in an effort to "catch up" with him (he's kind of a big deal). To do so, you unlock new resorts and playable characters by completing eight to 10 required objectives per area, including point challenges, races, half-pipe competitions, and collecting soda cans that are scattered along the side of a mountain. There's really no story here, but the setting justifies all the world travel you'll be doing.

Foot controls that work

I was impressed with the Wii Balance Board after playing with it for the first time in 2007. While I couldn't care less about Wii Fit, the software that ships with the peripheral, I was optimistic about the hardware's potential, however limited it might end up being.

One of the better-looking Wii games

Fortunately, Shaun White Snowboarding greatly benefits from the optional Board controls, which are responsive, accurate and more satisfying than futzing around with a controller. But not only are they fun, they make for a better game -- especially one that has players riding on a board.

With the Board turned sideways, you'll immediately be drawn to the enjoyment of pressing down with both feet to perform a jump (you don't actually jump on the board, but this feels just as good and is more controlled). Lean forward to tuck and increase your speed while riding; lean back to slow down or stop. You turn by depressing one of your two rear feet.

From there, you can perform a variety of advanced tricks like carving, manuals, 360s, flips, rail slides and varials when using A- and B-button modifiers with the Wii remote. The Nunchuk is not used, but I never missed it and actually preferred the limited use of the Wii remote so that I could focus on footwork.

Blurring effects add to the speed of the game.

There is a moderate learning curve in understanding how some of the Balance Board subtleties work. Initially, I inadvertently stopped when trying to turn at slower speeds, and I wasn't sure how to spin in mid-air. With practice, however, I've corrected both issues and now feel like a seasoned Balance Board rider who can string together some crazy good combos. The longer you play, the more you'll enjoy foot controls -- I promise. They just feel right.

In the event that you prefer hand controls or have no feet, Road Trip can be played with a single Wii remote. It's not as engaging as the board, but it adds a little accuracy, save for the half-pipe levels, which I could never figure out using the Wii remote setup.

Slick presentation

Another plus to Road Trip is that the graphics are much more stimulating than in the other versions of Shaun White Snowboarding, despite the Wii's lack of high-definition output. While the 360 and PS3 versions are boringly white, the highly stylized Road Trip is colorful, with cel-shaded-like objects that pop on the screen.

Half-pipe competitions can be tricky.

The five resorts (Park City, Canada, Chile, The Alps and Japan) feature a nice variety of backgrounds, including diverse-looking mountain ranges, glittering fireworks and low-flying helicopters. There are even some nice visual effects, such as lens flares, depth-of-field blurring and snow that splashes the television when crashing. On a side note, someone needs to tell those Ubisoft Frenchies that Park City is located in my native Utah, not the East Coast, as shown in the game.

In addition to its appealing visuals, Road Trip boasts a catchy soundtrack that's both fitting and eclectic. You'll find a healthy mix of classics, including Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper," Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend" and Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music," as well as modern favorites like Modest Mouse, Stabbing Westward, MGMT and Audioslave. I even discovered a new personal favorite: "Acceptable in the 80s" by Calvin Harris. Hot.

Chile: One of five diverse locations

A downside to Road Trip is that the course design is extremely linear. Even the PSP version of the game has more multiple paths on a single run that the Wii version. But I had too much fun pulling off combos to care, even going back to previous runs just to try out my newly learned tricks on fresh terrain. Plus, each run has an optional secondary objective that's sure to test your skill and increase replayability. There are also a two-player cooperative mode and four-person split-screen, which extend the fun.

The definitive version

Despite its limited content, Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip excels where the other versions fail -- in recreating the thrill and speed of being a superstar snowboarder. Put simply, Road Trip is the better version because it's more fun to play.

I was initially going to give the game a more reserved "Try It" rating. But after getting my doctorate in foot commands, and repeatedly coming back to the game thanks to its addicting nature, it's now officially a "Buy It" for me, particularly if you already own a Wii Balance Board.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.