Same Game. Different platform. Huge improvement. Having played and reviewed the DS game I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this version on the Wii. I was of course confident that the graphics and sound would be far superior and I looked forward to using the Wii-mote instead of the DS controls which I found clunky. The first thing I noticed about this version is that the focus on an adventure mode has been ditched for a more Olympic themed experience in Festival mode.

There are training sessions for each of the events which help you get to grips with the different control methods. The Festival takes place over seventeen days and on each day you must complete a training session and take part in at least one Olympic or Dream event. Some of the days end with a character challenging you to a particular event. These challenges do not affect your Festival standing but do provide an opportunity to test your ability at certain events and you can also unlock what amount to merit badges for things such as completing a number of tricks during snowboarding. I played through the Festival mode as Knuckles and came first in Olympic, a close second in Dream, and top overall by quite a large margin. My crowning moment came as I faced Rouge in a Figure Skating challenge. This was undoubtedly my weakest event up to that point but I pulled myself together and spanked her…figuratively speaking.

A few party games are on offer as an alternative to the Festival mode and these are quite fun although not too much of a departure since it does involve the same events. The idea is to compete in events in the hope you’ll be victorious and have a better chance of winning in the mini-games. For example, there is a balloon bursting mini game in which you throw balls to pop balloons. You compete against three others (AI or human controlled) in a series of events with each competitor taking turns in choosing the next event. The winners are awarded a higher number of balls than the losers and when it comes to the mini-game the winners obviously have an easier time bursting the balloons and winning points.

You can do some shopping from a store which can be accessed from the main menu. While there you can use currency which is earned by completing certain tasks during events. The list of items which can be purchased include music from the soundtrack, items of clothing for characters, and visual additions to snowboards, skis, etc. This is a nice addition as a level of customization is always welcome.

I must admit this game surprised me as I expected it to be pretty awful but actually ended up having quite a bit of fun. This is superior to the DS version and not just in the expected departments of graphics and sound. There is of course a huge difference in both those areas especially the graphics which do look really good and the music is also much less annoying in the Wii version. The lack of a tacked on adventure mode is also a pleasant surprise as I found it a needless addition in the version on the DS. Most importantly I found most of the events enjoyable and they held my attention much longer than I anticipated.

If the “perfect” family exists outside of those Wii adverts (you know the ones I mean, mummy and daddy with their well-behaved boy and girl, I suspect those adverts are designed to make single parents and gay couples feel suicidal) this game will keep everyone entertained.

7.5/10

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