Wii impressions: Tony Hawk Downhill Jam
Unlike previous Tony Hawk titles, Downhill Jam is a standard racing game -- there is no free-roaming, as far as we can tell from the demo and press releases. In fact, it does not feel like Tony Hawk at all -- more so, the game feels derivative of the skateboarding games found in local arcades a few years back. The Wii remote is held horizontally like a NES controller, and the button layout is smart -- the 1 and 2 buttons for jumping and grinding, the D-pad for tricks. The problems begin with steering, which is accomplished by rocking the controller right and left. A slight move does very little, but move it just a little more and the turning becomes chaotic. The controls will no doubt be tweaked and improved upon before launch.
Visually, Downhill Jam could hold its own with a second-generation Xbox One title. It's a pretty game, although not as impressive as other Nintendo first- and second-party titles. Load times, if there were any, were not noticeable.
Ironically, by breaking from traditional Tony Hawk games, Downhill Jam became even more formulaic. It could be a fun racer, but we feel the title would have benefited from more elements associated with the Tony Hawk franchise. The tracks are moderately fun, with plenty of shortcuts, but the game gains nothing from being a Tony Hawk title.
