Disney Snow Sports

Some would say that ducks, mice and whatever animal goofy is have no business playing in the snow, let alone indulging in a full-on winter sports event. But then Disney probably wouldn't have sold quite so many toys, videos and theme park admission tickets had it kept its characters more true to life.

A game about a mouse that freezes and dies after being caught short in a threatening wintry wilderness is just not the sort of fare that sits well with kids. Disney's lesson with Bambi and the generation of kids it traumatized has been well learned.

So, as a result we have Disney Snow Sports, a happy-go-lucky game that sees an array of Disney characters compete in various winter events. When we say 'various' what we actually mean is three, which is the sum total of the mini-games on offer here. It sounds grim but it isn't as bad as you might think as the mini-games, though flawed, have enough going for them to command your attention for a spell.

The first of the trio, 'Duck Sleigh' (which despite its name is in fact an inter-species event), is a straight-up toboggan race. You must build up speed at the start by tapping the '5' key, before hurtling round the track, which is of course littered with ice walls and stalagmites. These are avoided by steering left and right using '4' and '6', and there's a trail of stars that shows you the best racing line – if followed, it helps you avoid the obstacles.

The second mini-game, 'Big Snow Race', is Disney speak for cross-country skiing. The difference here is that the action is viewed from the side as you race from the left of the screen to the right. The idea is to match your speed – you accelerate with the '6' key and slow down with '4' – to the terrain correctly in order to ensure that you don't fall.

The last offering is called (for reasons best known to Disney) Ducro Arials. It's a trick-based ski jump event where you launch your character into the air and then execute an array of manoeuvres by pressing a combination of directions (which correspond to either the thumbstick or the '2', '4', '6' and '8' keys).

Each of the three can be played in either the self-explanatory Single Event, or as part of the Tournament mode where you go up against other Disney characters through several rounds, aiming to amass the highest score and thus secure the gold medal. There's also a Hot Seat multiplayer option, which is a pass-the-handset affair but works well enough. And to add a little spice to things, each game comes with its own set of power-ups to help you cream the competition.

It's all surprisingly good fun, particularly the Duck Sleigh, which proves to be something of a challenge particularly on the later stages of a tournament. The other games emerge as more involving than your average Disney romp, too, and therein lies a problem. This game is just too tough to be suitable for young children, despite the simple controls and standard hypnotically lurid colour scheme.

It would be unfair to be too hard on the game for that, however, just as we should praise the title for the expected Disney charm and polish that shines from every pixel. Ultimately, Disney Snow Sports is certainly worth a look, though perhaps not as the obvious distraction for your typical eight-year-old.

Disney Snow Sports

Disney Snow Sports may be a little tough for its intended audience but it's good fun nonetheless
Score