MyTP Ski & Snowboard

Isn’t it annoying when, having watched a stupidly talented snowboarder pull off an incredible double backflip grab, the judges hand out a measly score?

It makes you wonder just what is needed to impress these eagle-eyed veterans who pick apart every tiny mistake in an effort to separate the best from the rest.

MyTP Ski & Snowboard can likely relate. While it's capable of impressing a crowd with an array of tricks, there are technicalities that cause critics to balk. Odd controls, rudimentary graphics, and a general lack of polish prevent the game from taking the top spot on the podium.

MyTP Ski & Snowboard is actually the amalgamation of two previous titles from developer Randerline, so if you’ve played either of those two games then the set-up and (real-life) slopes should look somewhat familiar.

If not, welcome to the icy slopes where the aim is to speed to the finish line while stringing together tricks. Gather enough points and it’s on to the next course. Events range from slaloms to regulated round-robins down a ski-jump and half pipes - all playable online with another person via Game Center.

Control is split between virtual buttons and the accelerometer. Movement by default is set to the accelerometer, with tilts of your device moving your athlete. The right-hand side of the screen is reserved for dictating speed and twisting during tricks, while the left side handles tricks.

It’s a clever, though bewildering approach to control. It seems to work, even if it's unnatural at times. Anticipate a steep learning curve, though, before you reach a point when the control scheme clicks and things become second nature.

An ollie, for example, is performed by holding anywhere on the left side of the screen to crouch, before lifting to spring up.

You're able to tweak a grab by tapping the left side of the screen or moving the virtual analogue stick on the right for flips and twists. Of course, all this depends on timing, speed, and altitude.

This risk-reward structure is at the heart of the game, encouraging you to improve runs and find a better line, despite the many restarts you have to endure due to the use of strict target scores.

In fact, the game is so tough that I even found the first slope problematic because you're forced to meet a target score and anything less results in failure. A medal system with a forgiving minimum would be preferable.

While MyTP Ski & Snowboard checks off the right boxes, it does so with minimal care. Career mode is without depth - no athlete stats to improve, equipment to unlock, or skills to earn.

Another example is the collision detection that allows you to zoom right through some objects like slalom flags as though they don't exist.

Then there are the graphics, which aren’t particularly attractive. The snow looks flat, crashes are pathetic, character models possess little character and allow for minimal customisation, and far too many jibs are missed due to the game not registering your skis/board as landing properly.

You should also be aware that the game hasn't been properly optimised for the iPad's larger screen, with some grabs placed in awkward positions.

There's much value in MyTP Ski & Snowboard, particularly when it comes to online multiplayer, yet it feels too clunky to be consistently enjoyable. In the end, it's a decent effort that just doesn't have the technical skills for a podium finish.