Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam – WII – Review

While the
Tony Hawk license has popped up on a lot of different platforms, there is one
Tony Hawk title that is making an exclusive debut on the Wii console system, and
the formula is rooted in nothing but fun.

Downhill Jam
is from Toys for Bob and Activision and is a purely arcade-like in set-up and
overall design. You are racing downhill over varied courses. You can take
shortcuts, you can perform tricks to fill the Zone Bone – which in turn will
give you a power boost – and use a variety of attacks to take out the
competition and finish first in the race. This is no-holds-barred racing.

And to make
this even better, in regards to the Wii controller, you merely have to hold it
loosely in both hands, as though it was a standard console-controller, and tilt
it to turn. The axis sensors in the controller make steering an absolute breeze.
While the nunchuk control scheme does not exist in this game, what is here is
not only intuitive but adds to the entertainment value of the game. To activate
the Zone Bone (or to get back on your board after a spill), all you have to do
is shake the controller.

The game
sports 10 environments and 12 characters (yes, there is a customizable
character) to choose from as your in-game personality. There are also different
types of races, including the downhill runs and the slalom races. In the latter
you have to hit blue rings/gates to accrue more seconds in the timed event.

When it
comes to the characters – personality is just dripping from the game. Take Jynx,
for example. She takes nothing from nobody. She used to work in a store that
sold cookie dough, “but as I told Mr. Mooney, the manager, that cookie dough had
already exploded by the time I got there. And as for his grandmother … (she
clenches her fist) – well, she shouldn’t have mouthed off to me like that.”  Each
character is presented in an interview format, with Tony doing the interviews.
Tiffany, one of the playable characters, can’t seem to understand that his first
name is Tony, and refers to him as Bill.

There is a
progressive system to unlocking the environments and there are challenges set up
in terms of time. As you complete certain tasks, you can unlock a variety of
items – like locations and boards. The boards all have attributes that may prove
valuable in the downhill events.

There are a
total of 15 boards that you can unlock, each rated on a 10-point scale in five
categories: speed, turning, balance, jump and combat. Unlock a board and you are
treated to a short video.

The audio
portion of the game is entertaining, and you can unlock videos for the
accompanying soundtrack. While the cartoonish graphics are lush and bright.

*Sniff …
sniff* What’s that smell? It’s pure fun and that’s what Downhill Jam brings
to the forefront in virtually every aspect of the game.

There will
be a lot of launch titles for the Wii that will cross age barriers. Downhill Jam
is certainly in that group – it is easy to pick up and play and everyone, young
or old, and of any skill level will find challenge in the game. But Downhill Jam
may distinguish itself as a title that provides a reason to buy the Wii – it is
that much fun.

Gameplay:
9.0
The controller
plays on its side, like the old NES controller, but the control scheme,
especially when using the axis sensors of the Wii controller is simple and
delightful. The learning curve is small and even the tutorial is entertaining.

Graphics:
8.9
They absolutely
fit the mood and deliver exactly what is wanted from this title.

Sound:
8.7
Good tunes and
fun interviews. Sure there is some repetition, but the first time through will
have you laughing.

Difficulty: Medium
Easy to jump in
and play, but tough to emerge as the top dog. You will have to work hard to find
every shortcut and the pure line through the courses to finish with not only the
first-place award but also the top time.

Concept:
8.2
This is a
difficult area to rate. The idea itself is simple in design but therein lies
part of the charm.

Multiplayer: 8.7
Head-to-head fun.
So who cares if you try to pummel your gaming buddy on the way down the hill?

Overall:
9.0
This is a game
that provides challenge and entertainment. It looks different than other next-gen
Tony Hawk titles, but that fits the style and charm of the game.