One of the best snowboarding games on any platform, 1080 Snowboarding faithfully recreates the mountain experience with beautiful graphics, realistic character and environment physics, atmospheric sound effects, and addictive gameplay. Players compete on a variety of unique tracks ranging from a half-pipe and long jump--both devoted to trick-happy boarders--to long descents that offer plenty of environmental obstacles, including jumps, deep powder, ice, and thick stands of trees. On several tracks, simply reaching the bottom of the hill is an accomplishment in itself. Much of the game's appeal lies in the finely tuned player controls. As in real life, learning the basics--turning, jumping, carving--is a snap. Honing one's skills to smoothly land a jump, pull off complex in- air tricks, and negotiate tight turns and steep descents, however, is very challenging. It's this appealing combination of skill learning and track mastering that promises to entice players back to the slopes season after season. Extra kudos to the designers for the beautifully realistic sound effects--scraping along icy sections of the track is, literally, a tooth-grinding experience. --Eric Twelker
Pros:
- One of the best snowboarding games on any platform
- Gorgeous graphics and environmental sound effects
- Realistic character and environment physics
Cons: - Game engine slows down in graphic-heavy sections
- Opening "locked" tracks requires advanced 'boarding skills, patience, and a love for the sport
