bit-tech Shopping: Infogrames TransWorld Surf (Xbox)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Graphics, Entertaining, Fun gameplay, One of the only surfing games on the Xbox

Weaknesses: Unrealistic (but this is half of the fun to me) and a bit repetitive

Summary: This is one of the only surfing games on the Xbox, so it gets some points for originality. The game reminds me a lot of the Tony Hawk skateboarding games simply because it has good graphics, great gameplay, and is simply fun to play. I'm not a surfer so I don't know how realistic the game is but I can't imagine its as easy to pull the moves as it is in the game -- but doing completely unrealistic things is half the fun of games like this for me. So I like it.

Rating: 6

Time with product:

Strengths: Graphics

Weaknesses: Stunts are ridiculously unrealistic

Summary: This game doesn't have very much competition, because of the lack of surfing games out there. It is a pretty decent game that will take a bunch of practice to learn. My only MAJOR complaint is that the stunts are completely unrealistic. You'd have to be superman times two to be able to do what you can do in this game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Days

Strengths: Realistic controls and good graphics. Creative objectives.

Weaknesses: Repetative amd steep learning curve.

Summary: Surfing games really add a new dimension to board games, by interacting with a dynamic moving surface. This game is alot of fun but will require a bit a practice at first. The game provides a very good variety of environments and ojectives, and one of my favorites being the phtotgrapher "Photo-shoots". Along with decent depth to the carrer mode, there is a good variety of music with 50 tracks to select from as well as being able to import music into the game from the Xbox hard drive. I did find some of the tricks or stunts awkward or unrealistic making it more "game-like" in feel, but some like the "big air" and "ollies" where imporessive. Overall an excelelnt game for player who don' mind some practivce beore the action.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 6 Days

Strengths: Graphics;

Weaknesses: Unrealistic stunts.

Summary: There are very few surfing games on the market so Xbox's 2001 release of Tranworld Surf fills a void for surfing fans. With locations ranging from Huntington Beach, CA to Teahupo, Tahiti gameplayers will have the chance to experience different courses and rides the big waves of seas.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Very realistic: you can pump down the line, deep rail turns slow you down/fade back, sweet barrels, if you're too far down the line there's not enough shape to keep you going, etc.

Weaknesses: Very easy to make every drop on the wave, also the barrels are very easy to make out of, but please don't change that. Plus I only used it in demo mode. Biggest draw back? I own a PS2 :(

Summary: This game rocks! Almost like real surfing, so close in fact while i used the demo I was tucking when my character was pulling in the tube. Same goes for pumping down the line ... i could almost feel my speed building while my shoulders rocked back and forth... passers by probably thought I was autistic. I practically wore a hole in the heel of my right shoe planting backside bottom turns at teahpoo. Oh God please please please let this game come out on PS2, please? Location Location Location: Fort Point? lol I wish I could have seen it in demo mode but I'll definitely buy it if it comes out for PS2 anyway, Tavarua was epic, Santa Cruz sha-weet, Bells very noice, etc. get the idea? Like to sit and watch waves at the end of your ses.? I do, after 12 years of surfing I'm still stoked and I'll be stoked to get this game if they put it out for PS2.