During the recent Namco Bandai Editors' Day event in San Francisco, we got our hands on a number of upcoming games destined to be big hits for the company. Amongst them is a new skiing simulator for the Nintendo Wii called We Ski, set to release next month for $30. Although it may not be as flashy a downhill experience as EA's more flamboyant SSX games, it still feels and looks quite satisfying.
The game places your virtual skier right in the middle of the Happy Ski Resort, letting you roam the mountain any way you see fit. You can participate in a number of events, ranging from freestyle runs to racing competitions. You can even enroll in the resort's ski school, where you can nail down the basics of gameplay and learn a few new tricks along the way. Namco has done a remarkable job at making the game feel like a natural ski experience. You use the Wii remote and Nunchuk as you would real ski poles, right down to the forwarding motion to gain speed and the "tuck" maneuver to keep it going. Numerous tricks are also available to perform, many of which are named after food items. Ever wonder what it's like pulling off a "sushi" and a "French fry" on a downhill run? Wonder no more – now you can find out and master them.
Along with the traditional Wii controls, the game also supports the Wii Fit Balance Board. This adds a dynamic new feeling to We Ski, as you can actually lean into your turns with the Board's support. It's still quite playable without it, but it's recommended to have it on hand to get the most out of the game. The road test we took with it turned out to be quite successful, even though leaning took a little getting used to.
Character customization is one of We Ski's finer strengths. You can either choose a pre-made character, create your own from scratch or import your own Miis into a pair of skis. No matter which option you take, though, there are other accessories available, over a hundred and eighty in all. Some are unlocked over the course of the game, including a few questionably wild fashion choices. Seriously, who doesn't want to go down the slopes in a super-deformed panda bear outfit?
Although the visuals aren't nearly as flashy as EA's SSX games, We Ski still looks like a solid offering. The courses were designed with great care, giving newcomers plenty of room to ride while still resembling something you'd find at your local ski resort. There are also some great lighting effects, especially when the in-game fireworks go off. Skiers animate smoothly, mimicking your actions with utmost precision. For instance, if you lean left on the Balance Board going into the turn, your on-screen skier copies you, right down to the arm movements.
The audio consists of mostly likable background tunes, although it could probably use more sound samples to go along with the eclectic personality of your customized skier. It's not completely necessary, however.
Time to get your downhill run on!
There are numerous events scattered throughout We Ski, including seventy freestyle events, five mogul sections (to earn the respect of other skiers on the mountain), twenty slalom events (where you have to race through pre-set flags on each course) and twenty versus races. You can also compete with up to three friends in multiplayer events, showing your stuff on the slopes. Unfortunately, online play won't be an option; you're stuck with local competition.
Probably the best thing about We Ski is its price. Namco Bandai is set to publish the game next month for a very attractive $30. That's a small price to pay for some fun skiing action. We'll let you know if it's worth forking the cash over in our review. Based on its quality, We Ski should be a fine addition to anyone's Wii library.
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