Wii

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam

In total, Downhill Jam is an enjoyably moderate success. It’s not a typical Tony Hawk game, but it does offer a wide variety of tracks as well as sufficiently compelling, twitch-oriented gameplay. It’s disappointing that no online multiplayer support was included in the game (players looking for human competition will have to make do with ho-hum, split-screen gameplay), but the single-player experience is robust, if not extensive. Players fond of the control methods found in games like Excite Truck should take notice, especially if interested in something a little more quirky and demanding.

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam is a fun racing title that probably didn’t even need the Tony Hawk name to succeed, but it probably didn’t hurt. With the focus shifting from tricks to speed, Downhill Jam should capture a whole new demographic. Hopefully it won’t alienate the existing fan base in the process. For me, I loved the music, loved the visual style, and really got into the subtle nuances of balance and busting off tricks with my Wii-mote. The locations are unique, the tracks long and complex, and the fun factor and energy level is unparalleled with any other Wii title at this time.

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam bietet nicht nur eine neuartige Steuerung, sondern auch ein frisches Spielkonzept, welches keinesfalls mit dem der vorherigen Teilen zu vergleichen ist. Fans der Funsport-Art werden mit dem Titel sicherlich ihre Freude haben. Liebhaber der Tony Hawks-Serie sollten allerdings offen für Neues sein, denn das Spielprinzip bietet nicht mehr so viele Freiheiten, wie man es von früher gewohnt ist. Sieht man über diesen Punkt hinweg, ist Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam sicherlich kein Fehlkauf.

At first it was shocking to see that we would no longer be taking trips to skate parks all over the world, but Downhill Jam manages to bring new life to one of the best franchises to date. Even though it might not be of the same caliber as Project 8, this game carries a unique charm that demonstrates an entirely different style of skating. This title undoubtedly has a steep learning curve because it isn’t easy to grasp the control scheme and fast paced gameplay at the same time, but gamers willing to stick with it and progress past the initial frustration will find Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam to be a valuable asset to their Wii collection.

So fummelig ich mir vorher die Steuerung ausgemalt habe, so prima funktioniert das Ganze in der Praxis: Klar, es ist nicht so genau wie bei anderen TH-Games, aber praktischerweise wird hier auch nur Holzhack-Genauigkeit gefordert! Downhill Jam ist ein witziger Arcade-Spaß, in gewisser Weise das SSX der Skateboard-Spiele, der mit echtem Skaten natürlich genauso viel zu tun hat wie ein Waschbär mit Gehirnchirurgie - aber die Geschwindigkeitsbedürfnisse von Freunden unkomplizierter Unterhaltung mehr als befriedigen dürfte. Für Profis ist das Spiel, das sich spielerisch weit von seinen Serienbrüdern entfernt, sicherlich sehr naserümpfend. Tony Hawk-Neulinge hingegen finden hier eine prima Möglichkeit, unkompliziert in die Bretterwelt hineinzuschnuppern.

It could be argued with no small amount of merit that Jam is SSX on a skateboard. There is some truth to that, although in this case that should be taken as a compliment. The single player game is undoubtedly full of whimsy and excitement, but unfortunately lacks some long-term "oomph" in variety and depth. It's theoretically possible to spend 14 to 20 hours in the campaign, but much of that would be replaying races already run as different characters. This could be understandable if there was a compelling online mode. The lack of one is what makes Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam a good-but-not-great game instead of a must-have Wii title. There are certainly enough thrills and spills to satisfy you for awhile – and if you can deal with split screen, even playing against your friends will occupy some quality time. At the end of the day, Jam is an entertaining bit of Wii fare that will generate some laughs all around. It's just too bad it all has to be in one place.

Overall, Downhill Jam is a decent Nintendo Wii title that doesn’t control poorly enough to discredit, but isn’t deep or engaging enough to praise. Tony Hawk fans will most definitely want to check out Project 8 instead. Even the Nintendo DS version of Downhill Jam is a little better, but the Wii one isn’t awful. SSX fans might want to try a rental to hold them over until EA Big’s SSX Blur makes its Wii appearance this spring.

Downhill Jam tosses out the familiar Tony Hawk gameplay in favor of a fast and frenzied racing game, and because it is such a sharp turn in a different direction, fans of the franchise may want to consider giving this spin-off a rental before shelling out fifty bucks. As skeptical as I was before popping Downhill Jam into my Wii, I found myself immediately appreciating the change of pace, flipping over the breakneck speed and arcade-style gameplay. Very highly recommended as a rental; recommended as a purchase.

Concluant, Tony Hawk Downhill Jam réussit le transfert de la série vers la Wii. C'est une heureuse surprise, le titre est maniable et fun, à condition d'y mettre un peu du sien. On finit par devenir accro, malgré les bugs de collision, certains tracés assez nébuleux et le rajeunissement niaiseux de la série. Une suite serait tout à fait pertinente, Toys For Bob peut faire encore mieux que ça !

If you're expecting to show off your skills in Tony Hawk's standard fare, you're going to be disappointed. Downhill Jam puts everyone on equal footing, ignoring the countless and arguably convoluted changes the core Tony Hawk games have endured over the years. It's a nicely designed and welcome departure, at least until it's milked in what will undoubtedly years of sequels.

It could be argued with no small amount of merit that Jam is SSX on a skateboard. There is some truth to that, although in this case that should be taken as a compliment. The single player game is undoubtedly full of whimsy and excitement, but unfortunately lacks some long-term "oomph" in variety and depth. It's theoretically possible to spend 14 to 20 hours in the campaign, but much of that would be replaying races already run as different characters. This could be understandable if there was a compelling online mode. The lack of one is what makes Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam a good-but-not-great game instead of a must-have Wii title.

As a longtime fan of the series, I was intrigued at the idea of changing the fundamentals of the game engine. Unfortunately, Downhill Jam is in no way more entertaining than the standard series. For those looking for an immersive skateboarding experience, Project 8 is only a 360 or PS3 away.

Since Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam is tailored for the Saturday morning crowd, the appeal of this title is already weakened to an average Hawk fan. But with the older demographic went the intangible addictive nature of the series. It's not likely we'll see players months from now still trying to best their own scores or combos. Activision and Toys for Bob seem to have a good concept for a new Wii franchise, but didn't follow through with this edition. Downhill Jam ends up being a lot like its courses; a good time for a while, but the fun has a definite end.

Für altgediente Fans der Tony Hawk-Reihe, die das auf Tricks ausgelegte Gameplay lieben, könnte sich Downhill Jam als Enttäuschung erweisen. Das Spielgeschehen fokussiert sich meistens auf das rasante Abfahren der Kurse und weniger auf die Tricks. Die gibt es zwar auch, sind aber eigentlich nur Randfiguren und Mittel zum Zweck. Ansonsten bietet Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam solide Renn-Kost im Stile von SSX, kann aber nicht an dessen Rasanz und Abwechslungsreichtum heranreichen.

The thing is this, it’s an average game that really comes alive when playing with other friends and also has a decent single player campaign, but it does not have the qualities of standing head and shoulders above anything in the same genre.

Those of you who already own Excite Truck and SSX Blur have no need for Downhill Jam. And if you don't own those games, well... you've got some homework to do. This spin-off will in no way change the future for the Tony Hawk series, but it's still mildly amusing. It just doesn't fully satisfy as an extreme sports game, nor does it use the Wii remote in ways that trump traditional controllers. If anything, Downhill Jam is like an arcade racer: it's over-the-top, wonky, and even a bit of fun, but then you move on to something better and forget it.

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam is een vermakelijke game met een lage instapdrempel. Tegenover de toegankelijke en snelle gameplay, de lekker overdreven speelomgevingen en aardig wat uitdagingen voor de doorzetter, staan echter een aantal minpunten. De Wii-besturing, hoewel onderhouden, voegt niets toe, en de game weet niet lang te boeien door de simplistische uitwerking van het concept. Gamers die graag alle uitdagingen willen aangaan die een game te bieden heeft, kunnen met Downhill Jam hun lol op, maar voor de meerderheid van de mensen zal Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam te weinig diepgang en variatie bieden.

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam starts with a time-tested trick system and an interesting idea on how to reinvent it, but the concept doesn't come through clearly at all. There aren't enough different tracks to keep the action fun for long, and while tilting the Wii Remote to steer works well enough, the rest of the control isn't very good. If you're absolutely dying to check out a downhill take on Tony Hawk, you might want to try the DS version of the game instead, which offers multiple goals for each level and, yes, online play.

So was it right that this little punker was left all alone in the corner at E3? Well, it may not provide the most revolutionary take on the Wii controller, but it works well enough. I said it last year, “Every console launch will have a Tony Hawk game,” and while Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam isn’t the biggest or best, it’s still a decent ride.

Well then, it took lots of complaining to get here, didn't it? In the end (this is the end), Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam is a mild downhill racer with too many glitches, and beyond the grinding, nothing to do with its licence. The Wiimote controls don't ruin it, despite the madness of the button use, but they don't add anything a regular analogue stick couldn't have made easier. I'd say stick to Project 8 on the Xbox 360 if you can. If you can't, just know that this isn't the Wii equivalent, and it doesn't feel like a proper member of the franchise.

As I mentioned above, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam isn't an awful game; it's just a game that uses the Wii's new controller in completely the wrong way. Games that would work better on a standard controller have no reason to exist on the Wii, and when they're released with awkward controls and unimpressive presentation you have to wonder what the publisher and developer involved were thinking. Tony Hawk's Project 8 breathed new life into a franchise that had been stumbling for a while, but Downhill Jam tries something new and fails to be anything but mediocre.

On one hand, Nintendo’s Wii offers up a chance for developers to create new and innovative product. On the other hand, the Wii makes some of the old tried-and-true video game series nigh impossible to execute to the same level they are on other systems. The Tony Hawk franchise is an unfortunate victim of this conundrum. While Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam takes the franchise in an interesting direction by basically turning it into a racing game with tricks and grinds, it loses its roots and finds itself treading dangerous and unexplored waters.

Skulle jag rekommendera någon att köpa Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam? Tveksamt. Visst, spelet har sina goda sidor, kontrollen fungerar som den ska och det bjuder på lättsam underhållning. Det har en dock en farlig tendens att bli enformigt lite för snabbt, vilket tillsammans med det något bristande flerspelarläget och uteblivna möjligheten till onlinespel begränsar hållbarheten. Något dåligt spel är det inte, men har du någon annan plattform hemma kan du utan några större problem hitta ett bättre alternativ till den.

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam isn't a sell out on par with hawking Bagel Bites but it's close. At this point the big man's reputation as a purveyor of quality skating games has has deteriorated into a death wobble. Serving fans a game that feels like a half-assed launch cash in isn't going to help the series pull out of its downward trajectory towards disaster. Thanks to Excite Truck we all know that motion controls work for rudimentary steering. Even non-committal PS3 games let you tilt and turn. Tony Hawk's Down Hill Jam isn't a terrible idea, it's just loaded so heavily with mediocrity that it fails to pick up speed. Drop the attitude, turn up the imagination on the level design and tie the package together like you care and we may still give enough of a damn to try one more run at this concept.