Downhill Jam on DS is a bit of a hybrid. Developed by Vicarious Visions, it uses the same engine and cel-shaded graphics as last year's American Sk8land while adopting the racing structure of the upcoming Downhill Jam for Wii. The end result is that the DS game is different enough from its Wii counterpart that some players may prefer it or even decide to get both versions.

After spending more than an hour with the game on Wii, readjusting to using a cross-pad and every button on the DS actually felt quite intimidating. Players experienced with American Sk8land shouldn't have much of a problem though, especially since the DS game appears to be releasing a few weeks before the Wii launch.

There are some other key differences. Since the engine and controls from American Sk8land have been left intact, you can perform and chain together tricks in ways that aren't possible in the Wii game. The boost system works differently too. Both games add to your boost meter whenever you do tricks, but while the boost on Wii is just a one time burst, in the DS game you actually have to hold a button to boost continually until your meter runs dry. There is also a meter that builds up to give you access to special tricks. Once the meter is filled, a hawk skull appears on the touch screen. Pressing it performs one of several special tricks that vary depending on whether you're grinding, in the air, etc. Add in simpler courses with fewer obstacles and you have a pretty different experience even if some of the basic level designs look similar.

Because it's centered on racing, Downhill Jam's online multiplayer is naturally more interactive than American Sk8land since players vie for position instead of going off in separate directions to gain points. There are a number of modes to compete in, and while the host has the authority to choose the mode and course you'll be racing on, other players can send their requests for consideration. The game's voice chat function does allow players to communicate at any time during a race. However, the implementation is a little limited, possibly due to system constraints. Rather than simply being able to talk at any time, you have to push a microphone icon in the lower left corner of the touch screen that will give you about ten seconds to talk before transmission stops again.

I personally had more fun with Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam on Wii, but I know others who prefer it on DS. For those trying to decide, it's going to come down to personal preferences on controls, the trick system, and the importance of online play, which is exclusive to the DS.