SSX Review

Game Reviewed: SSX

Release Date: February 28th

Developer: EA Canada

Publisher: EA Sports

Platform: [Reviewed: Xbox 360], PlayStation 3

Genre: Sports

Rated: E for Everyone

After diving into the snow I can wholeheartedly say “Silly Rabbit, Tricks are for gamers!” SSX delivers a new wave of snowboarding while bringing the old school SSX Tricky back to life. EA Sports, how do you do it!?

I’m officially calling this “EA Finesse“.  What I’m referring to is how they walk you straight into the story as fast as you can sit down to tap the start button. The SSX crew, with names like Mac Frazer came together to take claim to the deadly descents. Unfortunately, Griff takes a hike and rides solo, not only becoming the crews competition, but having an advantage, already claiming 2 areas. It’s now up to SSX to take the top position back and become victorious.

Expect a thrill ride as you leap from mountains, rails and any other accessible item around the world, including helicopters! A string of combos is what SSX has also been about, simply it’s how you manage to go from Tricky to Super Tricky, practically defying the law of physics. Precision is what matters as you perform your tricks or string them together. You can perform tricks just about anywhere with plenty of routes to work your way to the finish line. Stumble or fall? You can rewind your epic fail, while still technically failing, meaning while fixing your mistakes the race waits for no one.

The lasting impression in this installment is Survive It. If you can’t swing it, wing it. Seriously! This mode is like the mission in where you dealt with avalanches and had to make it out alive. At times, your only eyes are the chopper’s beaming headlight, only chance of survival is using your wing suit, and of course tricking in the process. These are quite entertaining and challenging.

At the end of each race, you’re awarded with XP, allowing you to level up and earn new abilities. You can tweak abilities by buying enhancements for your gear slots. Purchased with the experience points or by paying as little as four bucks for millions in points. There are also Global Events with jackpots in the billions!

Global Events is a non-stop, no lobby style competition. You simply jump in and race with time and score recorded amongst the players around the globe. So expect simultaneous gameplay  between you and others, the reward you’re playing for is well worth it.

Everything is tracked through Ridernet, SSX’s version of Need For Speed’s Autolog. Track how your friends perform and rank compared to you. Through Explore, you can also see a globe displaying where you or friends reign supreme, or at least as far the friends list shows.

Graphics weren’t the most eye-popping feature as far as characters goes, but the environment and surroundings on the 9 Deadly Descends are quite detailed and noteworthy.

The control scheme has traditional buttons, classic style and a new option for tricking out, using the right analogue. Each method worked quite well, though the button mashing was my stronger point to pull off certain moves to hit Super Tricky.

SSX is a very well crafted relaunch from EA Sports and EA Canada. Snowboarding has just picked up its 2nd lifeline in an redefining fashion.

The Scores

Gameplay: 4.75/5

Visuals: 4/5

Audio: 4/5

Controls: 4.25/5

Value: 4.5/5

Overall Rating: 4.25/5