Shaun White Snowboarding Roadtrip - Wii Review

Shaun White is an Olympics Gold Medalist and won X Games Gold Medal eight times. Ubisoft's Shaun White Snowboarding Roadtrip for Wii is a wild, fun ride. Carve the snow using the Wii balance board and/or Wii Remote. As the title suggests, you will snowboard in many different countries in search of the ultimate location. The graphics are awesome with cartoon-stylized visuals. The music accompanying Roadtrip rocks a diverse selection.

Characters and Locations
Play Shaun White Snowboarding on Nintendo Wii with up to four players in Co-op and Versus Modes through split screen or Hot Seat modes. You get to choose which snowboarder to use as rider and a second character as cameraperson. There are 8 characters with different riding skills and camera abilities but you will need to complete challenges to unlock them all. You won't get to snowboard as Shaun White until you clear several locations, starting in Canada. The emails you receive along your journey to reach Shaun White are meant to add fun and humor but fall short of amusing.

Should you use the Remote Control or Wii Balance Board?
I found the Remote easier to control and do snowboarding tricks with than the Wii balance board. However, I like using the Wii balance board for Single Player and Hot Seat Mode to get exercise. Both controls definitely take getting used to due to sensitivity of controls. You will be using the Remote if you decide to snowboard using the Wii balance board. You can set the sensitivity of the Wii balance board. Roadtrip does not support Nunchuck use, which makes controls more simple.

Basic Remote Controls: Hold down the A button to gain speed; to slow down and carve press B. To jump and do tricks, give the remote a quick flick up and down straight or in different directions. To select different music press 1 on the Remote.

Basic Balance Board Controls: Turn the Wii board sideways to replicate snowboarding. Lean forward or back with the foot furthest from the TV to turn, similar to skateboarding. To jump shift your weight down then up. Spins are controlled by leaning and pressing A or B on the Remote. Do NOT jump on the Wii balance board!

Air and grinding tricks add to the fun of Shaun White's snowboarding game. Whether or not you choose to use the Wii balance board, the controls are much more sensitive than with a control pad. Shaun White Snowboarding Roadtrip for Wii is not an easy game to master the controls, it takes practice just like snowboarding for real.

Instruction Booklet
Most people do not take the time to read instructions. It will pay off if you do! Roadtrip's instruction booklet has diagrams for Wii balance board and Remote and a trick table. It could be somewhat more in depth but it gives good basics.

Summary
Shaun White Snowboarding Roadtrip for Wii is "totally rad" and better than the Xbox 360, PS3 or PC platforms. Once you learn to control your snowboarders movements and manuever killer tricks, you'll be blazing down diamonds and riding rails. Crashing is cool - your snowboarder and camera ends up covered in snow, but it doesn't help score points. The game ends too soon but is worth the ride, dude!

Roadtrip was released November 16, 2008,is rated E 10+ and available new for around $30. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage was released December 11, 2009 and will probably be less fun to play by yourself than Roadtrip.