Electronic Arts' Wii video game, SSX Blur, continues the publisher's tradition of delivering enjoyable snowboarding games. Developed by EA Montreal, Blur incorporates features from previous entries while offering gamers exclusive content. Combine that with gorgeous visuals and an innovative control scheme, and people will line up to plunge down the mountain.

Much like the previous games, SSX Blur discards snowboarding's realistic edge in favor of death defying stunts and crazy jumps. As players shred fresh powder, they dodge dinosaur statues, sail above trees and plunge off cliffs, performing a series of super human tricks before landing (safely) on the ground. However, instead of using analog sticks to steer their riders, players use the Wii nunchuk controller, twisting it left and right to make turns. To build speed, they tilt the analog stick forward, and to boost, they press Z, blurring the screen and quickly launching through chasms and off ramps. Meanwhile, the characters execute tricks depending on which direction gamers move the Wii remote. Flicking it upwards causes them to flip, while moving it left or right makes them spin. In addition, players gain an edge by pressing both A and B at the same time which, more often than not, causes their character to land successfully. It somewhat lessens the challenge, but people must also resist the temptation to use it.

Surprisingly, the controls work exceptionally well. Nunchuk sensitivity allows for varying degrees of turning, and quickly moving it from side to side produces responsive movement. In addition, trick controls require subtle movements, though spastic people may opt for theatrics, furiously shaking the remote.

Expanding on this concept, EA challenges players to master and pull off Uber Tricks after filling the Groove Meter, but not in the traditional sense. Rather than pressing a combination of buttons, gamers use both controllers to draw one of 12 shapes on the screen. For example, to draw a heart, they put both controllers together, then spread out their hands, tracing a heart shape. Doing this correctly results in a sparkly outline on the screen while the boarder gets nuts, twisting and contorting his or her body. People will enjoy this frantic sketching, though the more complex shapes demand multiple tries to master.

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