It's the trick system that is most disappointing. Tricks are easy enough to perform. The B, X and Y buttons are for doing grabs and the shoulders button allows you to perform spins, and this is linked to the control stick for direction. By performing tricks you charge up a power meter, and when this is full it means you can take a fall and recover quickly or knock your opponent down. There isn't really much to it, and exhibiting unnecessary flair once charged puts you in jeopardy so it is best avoided. A typical tactic, then, is to do a couple of tricks early on and then leave well alone.

Aside from there is a time trial mode, which oddly contains coins to be collected if you want to unlock new boards but there is no time limit on the task. Gate challenge is another variation on the theme, and success is largely determined by consistency rather than speed. These modes promote exploration of the different routes down the slopes and reward you with new boards and costumes. They are not very substantial though and so it falls to the trick attack mode to provide longevity.

For racing alone, the trick system is more than adequate: but when faced with the three trick attack courses the implemented combo system is very frustrating. The three courses are a simple ski jump, a half pipe section and an obstacle course. The problem stems not from the implementation of the individual tricks, but from the combo system. When you are in the air, you must perform a grab, release, and wait for your character to flash. Then you must perform another, different, grab to gain a x2 combo, and again for x3, x4 and so on. Performing spins doesn't add to the combo, only to the base points that are multiplied. If done right you end up with a very ungraceful trick but lots of points. Getting the timing right, however, is a nightmare. The trick system is simply not responsive enough.

Multiplayer isn't as good as it should be either. Only six of the courses are available and any more than two players equates to a rather bad frame rate. With two players though, the ease at which the game can be picked up means that a novice can challenge you with some really close and exciting games after a couple of attempts. Sadly, after a few more races you'll have played pretty much everything this game has to offer and will move on to more remarkable fare.

Nothing in 1080 suggests that it was rushed to completion, because while you are playing it can be tremendous fun. Touches of polish are evident, such as when you complete the last race the credits roll with your own replay playing in the background. The soundtrack isn't too bad either with finally licensing some actual rather than their own cutesy ditties, though amidst the punk rock and electric you'll probably only find a few tracks that you like. It's a good racing game, that's for sure, but bizarrely one that has little replay value and a mediocre option. Nintendo have all but finished rehashing their N64 franchises for the Gamecube; let's hope they have something better up their sleeve for the future.

70%

By Richard Clifford

Comments

You can use BBCode

No comments here yet. Be the first and use the form on the left!