Shaun White Snowboarding (Xbox 360)

All the components of a good HD game, save the most important one: fun
11/21/2008 4:46 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 2

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Shaun White Snowboarding are lifeless. It's not a bad game; it's playable. But like a fully loaded new Buick, the game isn't exciting, and it's also slow, clunky and aimless.

The first sign that things might be bland is that the game abruptly whirls you onto the mountain with little to no explanation as to what's going on. Sure, the game divulges that you're a budding snowboarder working with Shaun White as a mentor, and it's obvious you're playing a snowboarding game. But you're just dumped in the middle of an anonymous downhill run and encouraged to start riding while on-screen text quietly describes the basic controls.

The only other problems are, the riding is slow and the subdued tricks are underwhelming.

Is there an object to this game?

The gist of Shaun White Snowboarding is ... well, I'm not sure. After playing the game for several hours, I didn't know if I was supposed to overtake White as the number-one rider in the world, or just dork around. The game reminds me to "ride my way" in a "world of total freedom." But without explicit instructions as to what's available, the experience feels lost. The laid-back vibe seems well-intentioned, but isn't as focused and fun as it could have been with a little more direction.

You'll eventually learn that the main object is to explore the terrain, collect giant spinning coins which will unlock areas throughout a given resort, and compete in race and challenge competitions to earn money. But money will only buy you clothing and different boards that have little effect on how you ride. And unlike in the PlayStation Portable version of the game, you can't use money to level up your player's abilities for increased speed, better jumping and tighter control.

Since you have immediate access to all four resorts in there game, there's little incentive to engage in specific activities until you grow tired of doodling. Things do pick up as time wears on: You'll happen upon some unique terrain, like icy cavities that must be hurdled or a monstrous bridge that you can rail slide across. But with no map and a confusing radar screen, these areas are difficult to come by, not to mention revisit.

Of all the events, throwing snowballs (especially during races) and outrunning avalanches were two of my favorites. But the targeting controls for snowballs are unresponsive; and avalanches are short, sporadic and not as intense as I would have liked. This is a simulation game, so you'll get what you put into it. What you get just isn't that interesting.

You forgot my ragdoll physics, mister

Shaun White Snowboarding uses the Assassin's Creed graphics engine, but you wouldn't know it. Unlike Assassin's, this world is as bland as they come. The four resorts -- Park City, Japan, Europe and Alaska -- look and feel identical (really big rocks covered in snow). What's more, there are never any changes to the weather to mix things up -- it's always daytime and sunny. The mountain ranges in Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip on the Nintendo Wii, on the other hand, are bright, colorful and diverse, with lots of action going on in the background.