RTL Winter Sports 2008 – the Ultimate Challenge – Review by the Sarge 

Winter Sports 2008 – the Ultimate Challenge is the improved sequel to last year’s winter RTL Winter Games 2007. The arcade – oriented winter sport compilation comprises the 15 most popular disciplines spanning 9 events. 42 missions in all with final boss rivals recreate the atmosphere of the international winter sport event.

Modes such as single player, campaign, the hot seat (4 players) and split screen (2 players) feature multiple tournament options adds to a gripping multiply player experience as you compete for record times and gold medals.  

Features 

• 15 playable disciplines spanning the 9 most popular winter sports
• Brand new campaign mode with 42 missions, incl. Boss rivals
• Multiplayer party fun: hot seat (4 players), split screen (2 players)
• 21 locations loaded with atmosphere
• Controls perfectly adapted to Nintendo Wii
• Lively sports events with mascots, opening ceremony, presentation ceremony, national anthems and many more
• Career mode with a skill system, incl, increasing skill values
• Magnificent sound tracks to the presenter duo & rousing soundtrack
• Motion capturing in cooperation with a leading European studio and an up-and-coming figure skater

 Other features include lively sports events with mascots, open ceremony, national anthems and many more. The game went unnoticed in it’s initial release, the fact that it mixes some pretty solid motion control similar to the old arcade track and field classic and a half way decent visual look means it bound to spark a bit of interest for people who like snow and winter sports!!.  

 The game includes Alpine Skiing, Ski Jumping, and Cross Country Skiing, Speed skating, Luge, Bobsled, Skeleton, figure Skating and Curling. Each event concentrates on using a very simple control method or motion that is very easy to pick up but is relatively fun despite its simplicity. Although don’t be fooled the Skiing events can be tricky to co ordinate when tilting left and right.   

In general the controls stroke game play is not that deep but this adds to the arcade feel and the graphics are in some areas an eyesore and disrespectful to any half decent graphics card a gamer owns, let’s just say the visuals would never win miss world.

The menus in comparison are well designed and simple to use. A favourite aspect of mine was the water or snow affect on the camera/screen. 

 Overall this is a no brainer click and play game to pass that hour before your dinner is on the table. It’s never a mind blowing experience but you can imagine some effort has gone into this game to create the Olympic or winter games look and feel, I do think the Nintendo Wii version will be much mroe fun to play with the motion sensing controls.  

Gameplay – 6/10 - Lots of events and simple controls
Graphics - 5/10 - Some of the intros/animations are ok but simple overall.
Sounds - 5/10 - The commentators are ok but the soundtrack monotonous
Overall – 5/10 – for the PC version I would wait for the bargain bin, but I can see this being much better on the Nintendo Wii with the Motion controls as this game screams for it. If you have been out and bought the Wii version please write us a review.