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105 of 109 found the following review helpful:
 Get up off the couch and hit the slopes! Nov 17, 2008
By PT Cruiser
"PT Cruiser"
When you go flying down the slopes on your snowboard (aka balance board), I swear you can almost feel the rush it in the pit of your stomach, it's that much of a total immersion. This game makes great use of the balance board and is very sensitive to your movements. You can actually set the sensitivity to low, medium or high. When you lean forward, you move faster. Lean back and you slow down or stop. When you lean to the side, you go in that direction. When you lower yourself and then quickly straighten your legs, shifting your weight to the balls of your feet, your character jumps. You're in constant motion, using the board and the wiimote to help with some of the more complex movements and tricks. Using the balance board you can just get onboard and play right away, without a big learning curve. (We won't mention that tree that came out of nowhere and smacked me on one of my first tries.) It gets more difficult and there are tricks to be learned as you progress through the slopes, but you can have fun right from the start. You can also play it using just the Wiimote, but why would you want to?
These are some of the best graphics I've seen on a Wii game. You can tell that it was well thought out. There are slopes in five places to explore: Switzerland, Japan, Chile and Park City, and you start out in Canada where you learn the basics, some of which are speed, balance and doing different spins and tricks, such as jumping up on these rails and maintaining your balance til the end which is a way of accumulating points. When you clear the required slopes in one location, the next is unlocked. You really feel the sense of speed as you race down a slope with the different camera angles. and when you fall down, your character gets covered with snow and your camera man's lens gets snow on it which adds to the realism. The vistas are beautiful. The sound effects are realistic and the music is fun and energizing. You can switch through the different music selections using the "1" key on the Wiimote.
Then there's the whole storyline of traveling with Shaun White and other characters that join you on your snowboarding trip around the world. It adds another fun aspect to the game.
The exercise aspect of this game goes almost unnoticed while you're playing it because it's so much fun. But after a few hours "on the slopes" I can feel that a lot of leg, thigh and abdominal muscles are going to be sore tomorrow from all the leaning, twisting and turning. My ankles feel like they did after I ice skated for the first time. It has to be great for balance and flexibility as well as strengthening muscles.
I'm in my 50's, and I absolutely love this game so far and I think it's great for "older kids" who've never tried snowboarding as well as for younger ones. And I just started playing it today so I'm sure there's lots to discover. It will definitely be one of the classics in my Wii collection. Two thumbs up!
46 of 49 found the following review helpful:
 Fun game that makes excellent use of balance board Nov 19, 2008
By mellowspaz
I've snowboarded for several years and with the balance board, Shaun White Road Trip feels surprisingly true to snowboarding. This isn't a simulation of snowboarding obviously, but for fitness fanatics, you're going to have a fun workout when playing. I can actually feel the same muscles burn, as I would from snowboarding, after a 3 minute run.
The controls are fairly straightforward with the exception that you will need to hold the wiimote while on the balance board. Also, I think it's important to note that unlike wii fit's snowboard minigame, Road Trip has quick and responsive controls in calculating the varying weight shifts and distributions; which makes the balance board a must buy with this game. However, I found it extremely difficult to do any spins in the air. And, if you're a snowboarder I recommending using the highest settings for better board control.
The graphics in the game are unique, but leave a lot to be desired. I feel that I must be playing a different game from other reviewers because this is definitely not one of the prettiest games on wii. There isn't really much going on during a run down the mountain. In fact after playing 1080 on my virtual console, I can't see too much of a difference on my hdtv. However, the game's artistic style and great sense of speed somewhat make up for this.
The gameplay is comprised of a linear run down a mountain where you collect items, ride in a time trial, or score a certain amount of points to advance to your next destination. After playing through several levels, I wish there was more emphasis on riding (mainly because the balance board controls so well). I must note that I've only played up to Switzerland (the 3rd level), so this may change.
Really though, what makes this game unique are the controls. If you've got that snowboarding itch or looking for a good work out, Shaun White Road Trip will be a nice addition to your library to pull out and play. (and have enough cash for the balance board or you won't have the full experience)
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Great game for the wii Nov 18, 2008
By S. Harris
I was really excited about getting the game because of the integration of the balance board, and it's definitely lived up to my expectations.
The wii remote and the board work great together and coupled with the onscreen control aids learning how to do different tricks is a snap. The graphics for the game are suprisingly good for the wii, because I have to admit I was half expecting a mii to go flying down the slopes with me.
Finally the best part of the game has to be the unexpected work out you get. I've been snowboarding before and while I'm nowhere near as sore as I was from doing that, my legs know they're not just walking to the fridge.
It's nice to see nintendo coming out with more games for the balance board and this one is a definite must.
18 of 20 found the following review helpful:
Snowboarding in your cozy living room Nov 16, 2008
By ice grizzly
"Grrrrrr"
This is one of the few games that uses both balance board and wiimote without a hitch. Both schemes provide true flawless experience. Ubisoft has also adapted aim assist to make the game very enjoyable. It is not in your face, very similar to Wii sports. Lots and lots of simple design additions has taken the gameplay to great heights. Every thing flows fast and natural. If you are near a rail, the game automatically moves it for grinding. There are lot of options to configure your controls. You will be able to find a sweet spot without any problems. Steering is handled by side to side tilt of wiimote. Steering is very very precise, far superior than any racing games out in the market for Wii. B and A buttons are only used for speed and snow carving. You can jump by flicking the Wiimote and you can do all the special moves in air just with simple directional swing. The controls are so easy to learn, there is absolutely no down time.
Visually I never knew Wii could pull off such a fantastic graphics. Texture work is stellar. Every thing looks beautiful. The audio and other elements tie in the game very well. It is absolutely not a PS3 port down. Looks they have built it up ground. The game plays very different. I rented both the PS3 and Wii version, fell in love with the Wii version so much; I bought it. The game feels very natural on Wii than the big boys. PS3 version sport a big open world and a messy system of moving from one objective to other, Wii version is very streamlined. There is absolutely no downtime in the game. You, the board and a inviting fresh powder. Just kickback and have fun.
You will be able to finish the challenges in first or second retry easily. It is not because the game is easy, it is mainly because controls are buttery smooth. Every thing works flawless. If you want some hardcore challenge you can go for "respect" target. It is a fun party game for all. You can play the game without the wiiboard too. Some times it is just fun to sit in the couch and kicback with the wiimote than standing on the wiiboard. I liked both versions of controls.
The game has lot of variety. You play as different riders for different skills. It is very similar to racing games, choosing different cars for different tracks. The game opens up very politely as you play more and more every thing opens up to be a fantastic experience. The levels become more elaborate as you unlock more and more.
The board controls are fantastic. You stand on the board sideways, it makes it for a realistic experience. With snow flying around and lighting effects gives; the sense of speed is awesome. All the trails are designed very well, this a very good size game. Perfect purchase for winter.
The game also provides one of the best co-op experence. There is enough rails and jumps for two players to play without running into each other. Tracks are wide and well designed to handle co-op play. Game engine can handle multiple users without any hitch or frame rate drops.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Awesome soundtrack, great gameplay with balance board Mar 28, 2009
By Gen of North Coast Gardening
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2DUCZH5YEBZHJ This game is a blast to play on the balance board - you turn the board sideways so it resembles a small snowboard and it's easy to imagine you are shredding down the slopes, doing tricks and having a blast. I love the soundtrack and often when I don't even feel like playing, I'll play just so I can listen to the tunes. Any exercise from this game is moderate - it seems good for the legs, but doesn't tire me out (but then I am a landscaper so I'm already reasonably fit). Recommended.
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