SSX Blur

SSX Blur
EA Montreal (Wii)

Holy learning curve! SSX Blur, the newest game in the highly-praised snowboarding series, has ramped up its difficulty exponentially--but that doesn't mean it's not rewarding. Using the unique control scheme that only the Wii can provide, the game throws the rules of conventional gameplay out the window in favor of motion-sensored slope-sliding.

The Wiimote's nunchuk is used as the primary source of steering your boarder down the slope, while the actual Wiimote takes over the duty of tricks by way of "snapping" the controller in any which direction you want your player to perform his jump, flip, spin, etc. As intuitive as it is, the Wiimote-snap method takes some getting used to. But once you get the hang of it, it's smooth sailing.

While the graphics on the Wii version of SSX Blur can't go toe-to-toe with the PS3 and Xbox 360 ports, they are still sharp and vibrant, with little or no draw-in distance problems in the background. Also notable is the game's sound: The audible crunch of riding slick ice patches and the thump of your character landing an uber-trick are deeply satisfying.