When Wii Fit and the balance board peripheral were released for the Wii last year, Namco’s We Ski was the first game third-party game on the market that was balance-board compatible. It was okay, but not great, and the awkward control scheme kept the game from being too much fun. I didn’t have high expectations when I stepped up to play the sequel, We Ski & Snowboard, at New York Comic Con this weekend, and maybe that’s why I was pleasantly surprised.


We Ski & Snowboard is very similar to its predecessor, with the biggest change being the obvious addition of snowboarding to the game. Again, the game takes place on a mountain with numerous trails of varying difficulty levels, and the player can often choose which way to go. You’ll also have to watch out for other skiers and snowboarders (or, if you’re like me, crash directly into them because it amuses you).

One of my biggest complaints about We Ski was that using the remote and nunchuk to simulate ski poles was very annoying, especially with the cord between them constantly whipping the player in the legs. With snowboarding, that problem is eliminated completely, leaving the player to focus on the game. We Ski & Snowboard does use motion controls; the remote can be twisted from side to side to direct the snowboarder onscreen, shaking the controllers helps a wobbly character find his balance, and moving the remote and nunchuk while you’re in midair allows you to pull off tricks. It takes a few minutes to get used to, but does feel more responsive than I remember We Ski being.

I didn’t get a chance to play as a skier, or use the balance board control scheme, so it’s too soon to tell whether or not the entire game will be an improvement over We Ski. However, I am fairly sure that the addition of snowboarding will make this title more accessible and fun for gamers of all ages. It might not be that next big extreme sports game we’ve been waiting for, but as long as it’s fun there won’t be many complaints.

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