Shaun White Snowboarding - PS3

Shaun White (aka The Flying Tomato) is a world-renowned snowboard/skateboard superstar, so it was only a matter of time before he finally got his own video game following in the footsteps of Tony Hawk.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Shaun White's Snowboarding is a fun, open-ended snowboarding simulation that allows you to ride different mountains, all the while catching big air and jibbing rails, trees and boxes.

Starting the game, my first run was the mandatory tutorial. You're introduced to your "friends" and they show you how to maneuver yourself on the mountain. After getting through the intro, you start participating in different challenges that teach you how to do various tricks or challenge, where you race against other riders for fame and cash. As you beat challenges and earn money, you can buy new boards or travel to other mountains.

As a big time player of the Amped series, I was anxious to play Shaun White Snowboarding. I thought after years of practice throwing down big airs, insane railslides/presses, and unrealistic combos, I would master the game within the first five minutes. Well, it seems like the game developers wanted to move to the analog stick style of tricking in the vein of EA's Skate titles. I saw this as a plus, as I love Skate and welcomed some reality into my snowboard video game play. However, this daring venture into reality in such an unbelievable setting never quite panned out for me. I found it hard to do the tricks I wanted, and instead was always met with a trick that I didn't expect on accident making it tough to link tricks together for crazy trick multipliers. The most annoying aspect of this was trying to throw down sick jibs/railslides/presses with such a steep learning curve. This was always my favorite part of any snowboarding game, from Amped to SSX: Spotting a big, downed tree in the middle of my run and railsliding it for days. When I tried it with this game, I almost always grabbed my board while trying to slide (causing my character to shriek in pain) and never stomped the trick the way I intended. I practiced this trick over and over, but rarely got my character to do a non-hand-shattering slide.

Shaun White Snowboarding

There were some high points to the game. First off was the graphics. The Assassin's Creed engine used in the game gives the player a realistic feel of their surroundings. This game doesn't leave you strapped into the board, helpless to walk back to a cliff/rail that you liked and try it again, as you can unstrap from your board at any time and freely walk around the mountain. Wit the ability to take lift rides to other parts of the vast mountains, you are also free to drop straight onto the snow from the chair (in mid-ride!) and start shredding all over again. This last ability is a major plus to the snowboarding games, and provides an unprecedented feeling of freedom that really helps Shaun White stand out. Many times, there's a particular run that you want to hit over and over either for big points or just because you have the run dialed in, and instead of going all the way to the top of the trail to hit it again, you can just drop in whenever you want and start it up all over again.

All in all, Shaun White's Snowboarding didn't leave me blown away. I liked the terrain they provided, the impressive visuals and the push towards new ways to perform tricks. I hope this title continues on and that all of the little glitches and feedback from fans help create an epic snowboarding game worthy of Shaun White's name.

PROS: Impressive environment; Open world play
CONS: Controls and tricks have a steep learning curve
Shaun White Snowboarding
Shaun White Snowboarding

Comments [10]

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oubird

1st, a day late eh gamepro? I've waited for this review for 3-4 weeks now, its ridiculous. For the record this is a terrible game. The controls are not tight and the tricking is difficult to do more than one grab on all but the biggest air. The rail slides are difficult to pull off since you don't stick to the rail like in ssx. This review also fails to mention the coin collecting that you must do to unlock new abilities and better overall fun. I'd wait for the next snowboarding game, this is a definate pass.

down2zero

I am a little dissapointed at the game. The locations dont offer enough variety and I havent got that sense of speed yet. Perhaps when I earn more money and upgrade my boards it will be better. As I've gotten more gameplay on the slopes I am enjoying it better than at first. The online play is fun.

EJStrat

Phebo, you didnt play this game, shut up. I've been waiting for this review for a long time too, gamepro. And I'm never one to bash you guys at all, never, but this review took too long.

snowfend

obviously you guys like gay arcade shit and do not appreciate the fact that in real like you can't just stick to a fucking rail or go super faster right away you have to practice and get BETTER key word you fucking arcade moron fucks get a grip and play a really game the physics are that of skate and i love those games i actually snowboard and this game is the closet game i have ever played to the real so suck my cock this game get 5/5 dick wades

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phebo

EJStrat wrote:

Phebo, you didnt play this game, shut up. I've been waiting for this review for a long time too, gamepro. And I'm never one to bash you guys at all, never, but this review took too long.

i wasnt bashing gamepro but this whole game is glichy laggy and not even fun

satch_420

This game take a little time to get use to, its by far the best snowboarding game out. 5 of 5 yah lol...

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isaac55339

this is a really fun game.If you have ever actually snowboard you know that this is true.SNOWBOARDING IS THE BEST.

Narikoroxz

this is an amazing game. it is difficult at first but it's not that bad. rent it unless your extremely un-patient and you expect to turnm on the game and be better than shaun white, then stay away. ill write a review when i get further into the game.

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