Games Database
Xbox
Sport
| Also for: | PS2 | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Combination | Genre: | Sport |
| Media: | DVD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | Activision | Soft. Co.: | Activision |
| Publishers: | Activision
(GB) |
Released: | 13 Jun 2003
(GB) |
| Ratings: | 11+ | ||
| Accessories: | Xbox Memory Unit | ||
Video
Summary
Famous for its efforts in the extreme sports genre, Activision has done a great job of bringing virtual skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding to Europe, and has now launched Wakeboarding Unleashed on Xbox.
Licensed exclusively, Wakeboarding Unleashed carries the Shaun Murray name and puts players in some of the most graphically advanced levels ever created in a Pro Skater-style gaming experience. Bumps, grinds, combos and multipliers are all part of the package here – the similarities to the Tony Hawk series of skateboarding games are evident.
Tugged across the waves by a powerful speedboat, your challenge is to score points by catching waves and big air, and pulling off spectacular tricks. These tricks, as ever, are executed through a combination of button presses and d-pad movements. The more complicated the move, the more points you will earn. Eventually you will learn to string combinations of moves together to earn multipliers, maximising your score. It’s impulsive, believe us, and very addictive.
Perhaps even more intriguing is the game’s multi-player option. In a rare occurrence for a sports title, two-players can participate co-operatively. One player steers the boat, the other controls the wakeboarder – like a dynamic duo. It takes a certain element of skill, but it’s worth the effort.
Each of the nine complex levels are based on real world locations such as Hong Kong, and all boast an abundance of rails and ramps, allowing for plenty of stunts. There are also seven world-class wakeboarders, famous in their respective field, including Parks Bonifay, Dallas Friday, Tara Hamilton and of course, Shaun Murray himself.
The environments themselves lack a certain element of realism, but the water effects are nothing short of breathtaking, easily competing with those seen in Nintendo’s Wave Race. The movement of the water is fluent, and the way in which the player reacts when hit by a wave is convincing. You don’t see many wakeboarding games, but Wakeboarding Unleashed is great fun – and that’s what counts.
Licensed exclusively, Wakeboarding Unleashed carries the Shaun Murray name and puts players in some of the most graphically advanced levels ever created in a Pro Skater-style gaming experience. Bumps, grinds, combos and multipliers are all part of the package here – the similarities to the Tony Hawk series of skateboarding games are evident.
Tugged across the waves by a powerful speedboat, your challenge is to score points by catching waves and big air, and pulling off spectacular tricks. These tricks, as ever, are executed through a combination of button presses and d-pad movements. The more complicated the move, the more points you will earn. Eventually you will learn to string combinations of moves together to earn multipliers, maximising your score. It’s impulsive, believe us, and very addictive.
Perhaps even more intriguing is the game’s multi-player option. In a rare occurrence for a sports title, two-players can participate co-operatively. One player steers the boat, the other controls the wakeboarder – like a dynamic duo. It takes a certain element of skill, but it’s worth the effort.
Each of the nine complex levels are based on real world locations such as Hong Kong, and all boast an abundance of rails and ramps, allowing for plenty of stunts. There are also seven world-class wakeboarders, famous in their respective field, including Parks Bonifay, Dallas Friday, Tara Hamilton and of course, Shaun Murray himself.
The environments themselves lack a certain element of realism, but the water effects are nothing short of breathtaking, easily competing with those seen in Nintendo’s Wave Race. The movement of the water is fluent, and the way in which the player reacts when hit by a wave is convincing. You don’t see many wakeboarding games, but Wakeboarding Unleashed is great fun – and that’s what counts.
