The concept for the Wii was to make it feel like you’re in the game, hence why Wii Sports was a brilliant inclusion in the box. What developers are failing to do is build on this idea. That’s what happened with SSX Blur.
In the same mold as prior entries, Blur has the player taking control of a character, winning races and challenges to boost stats, and hopefully find everything hidden on the courses. Taking a cue from SSX 3, the menu has been replaced by a full mountain area in which the player snowboards down to find new challenges. Signs can be tough to read at times, though after a run or two down it’s not difficult to figure out where you need to be.
While tricks are a focus, SSX is more about racing. Mammoth mountainsides contain wildly fun course designs, crafted to keep players looking for another shortcut regardless of how many times they make a run. Trick opportunities, used to earn boost and work up the possibility of performing an Uber trick, are plentiful. They’re laid out in a way so dedicated players can piece together ridiculously high combo scores once adequate practice is completed.
It’s the controls that make this harder than it should be. Using the nunchuck, turning is now assigned to both the analog stick and motion controls. The analog stick only allows for a slight turn. Twisting the Nunchuk is supposed to provide an additional lean to carve a proper curve. Its inconsistent nature and frustratingly touchy nature when it does work make this the first adjustment you’ll make in the option menu.
The trick system is the second victim, this succumbing to the Wii Remote. Flailing the controller in the air is enough to produce results, eliminating the need to focus on what tricks you’re doing to keep things fresh. In its PS2 incarnations, the four shoulder buttons were combined in a manner that allowed for full control. Here, you just swing the Remote in conjunction with a button or two.
Article comments
1 - Hunter
I have to say I dissagree with your review. If you are using the steering right you mainly turn with chuck tilts minor turns with the stick and the combo of the two make for heavy turns. I have to say that after having done it for a while it becomes realy comforatable and feels good. The ubers do take some time I was having a hard time until I learned that the rider does not preform the trick until A is realesed. This means that if you make the circle and keep A held down it is waiting for more input and factoring any motions repeated into the initial shape. I have now mastered it and am glad that a three year old mashing buttions can't uber like someone who has played the game and practiced.
2 - Scoobie
Meh, I disagree.
Firstly, the ubertricks are not that hard, and I stink at drawing. The system is very forgiving, you eventually learn that you don't need to make a giant loop, instead... smaller movements suffice. If you go into the Menu > UberTricks. You can practice tracing, which is what I do.
Secondly, the controls take getting used to. Now, I can't grasp why people feel that they should innately know how to use the controller. This is a new game, on a new system, with a new control scheme. Its going to take time.
It took me about 20 minutes to figure out everything, and I had to tweak the turning from my nunchuck more twoards my analog controller to get rid of that handicap! (The slo's are just to much, really.)
All in all, this game takes practice. I think its a new concept for people to grasp that they need to actually practice in a video game.
3 - Ken Edwards
Yea take that Matt! I disagree too. Though it does take a little while to get into the game.
4 - Brian Szabelski
Nice to read another point of review on the game. I've gotten used to it and it's fun for me, but I know this game's been getting back and forth reviews. Matt only gave it a 2/5 and I gave it a 4/5, but I guess that's the beauty of Blogcritics. :)
5 - Ryan
This persons name should be changed to Matt Papacrappy. He is unable to grasp simple techniques such as controlling through the use of a nunchuck while simply flicking the Wii mote left or right to produce a trick, or fling it upwards or downwards to produce a flip. The game feels as if hundreds of hours has been put in place to try and create easy to accomplish basic moves (worth only a few points), that builds up skill meter, then eventually having an uber meter. With this Uber meter you create shapes simply by moving the controller quick enough in the air, (this requires player speed as well as accuracy) meanning this game will take many hours to master.
The graphics within this game are crisp and beautifull, and create a huge and immersive enviroment last seen within SSX tricky (and to some extent, bettered). The menu provides the user with a bright and colourful interface that can be easily manoeuvred through, and never get in the way of the users experience.
For the better players you can go to three locations, with various events that can be entered, then double this amount of events as you can use Ski's! The music changes as you move from your starting enviroment to one of the many other locations, and provides a very gratifying and humorous commentary.
Final comments
The Wii has reinvented what has been a fantasic series, topping the legendary SSX tricky with its wide and fantastic options. This game is definately worth a look in and receives 5/5 stars.
Matt, you obviously have a personal vendetta against the Wii, and for this reason you should stick to your 360 or PS3. Just dont bother giving commentary unless you are going to give a fair and unbiased oppinion.
6 - Matt Paprocki
"He is unable to grasp simple techniques such as controlling through the use of a nunchuck while simply flicking the Wii mote left or right to produce a trick, or fling it upwards or downwards to produce a flip."
I never said I had a problem or found it difficult. I said it's unintuitive and adds nothing to the game and in all honesty makes it too easy. You'll do more and gain more points by swinging the Wii Remote in the air. Why bother taking the time to master this when you can swing the thing like bolo and be successful?
"meanning this game will take many hours to master"
Didn't you complain that I ripped a game for being too complicated about a week ago saying the system is meant to be simple for everybody? On the PS2 or Xbox versions of the series, a few buttons pressed together and the uber trick was completed. Instant mastery. Here I need to spend "many hours" trying to match the timing the developers chose? How is that intuitive and fun?
"Matt, you obviously have a personal vendetta against the Wii"
Yeah, I know. Those nearly perfect scores to Excite Truck and Downhill Jam, two games passed over by other game critics, make me a total Wii hater. Oh, and don't forget the positive scores for Wii Sports, Madden, Call of Duty, Trauma Center, Monkey Ball, Cars, and Need for Speed too.
The system is going to have bad games. Really, it's okay for that to happen. A lot of those are hitting right now, much like the DS launch before the console found its niche.
7 - Ryan
The fact you gave 'cars', 'need for speed' high scores, only further indicates to me you have no idea what you are writing about.
You think Tony Hawk Downhill jam, is a better game than SSX Blur. Wow, really what are you on?
8 - Ken Edwards
Tony Hawk Downhill Jam *is* a better game.
9 - tony romano
I COMPLETLY dissagree with your review. I really don't think you gave the game a chance. It seems like you turned it on and then after 5 minutes you turned it off. The uber tricks arent hard once you get used to it and by using the uber shapes means that you cant accidently make a uber move. You have to really intend on pulling off the move. Saying that you flail the wii remote is the way to do tricks is also false. moving it left or right spins and down and up do flips meaninwhile you can also be doing different grabs using buttoins such as the b trigger and the a button. The game has additional concept art and extra characters the mountains are fairly big and the graphics are phenominal for a first generation title. The game is good. In fact the wii REMOTE MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE I WOULD NEVER PLAY SSX ON A PS2 EVER AGAIN. The Game is amazing,and dont even get me started with this games multiplayer advantages.
10 - joe
The reason that Blur is so bad is that they took the PS2 game and simply ported it to Wii. Instead of creating a game that uses the wii motes in an innovative way, they just mapped the key pad to the wii-mote and the analog controller to the numchuck.