Ultimate snowboarding game (Snowboard Supercross SSX (PS2))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Snowboard Supercross SSX (PS2)
Date:	05/09/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Violent, fast, intense

Disadvantages: None

As far as launch titles go, SSX is one Hell of a way to kickstart a console - this is a fantastic snowboarding game that recalls the glory days of the Cool Boarders series, focusing on the player pulling off insane stunts with style and finesse.

Visually, it's a solid game, although outdone by other launch titles like Timesplitters. Nevertheless, there's a good amount of detail, and the character movements are solidly animated. However, what really makes the game shine is its splendid gameplay, which is probably the best that the genre has ever offered. The best part of the game, which involves tricks, gauges your success via a meter on the screen which tallies up your tricks pulled off without a hitch. The more you hit successfully without failing, the higher this meter goes, eventually allowing you to pull of utterly insane and ridiculous stunts which will earn you massive point combos. The game has a very well designed physics system, meaning you can perform any given number of stunts, and even chain tricks together for maximum points. If you fail, though, you'll see your character contort horribly in a way that looks pretty painful. Although it is quite funny if you go careering into a giant rock face by accident.

The race element is not as fun, but it still presents a solid challenge, particularly if you enter the World Cup section, which requires you to consistently beat the pants off of the tough computer opponents if you want to win Gold. What IS fun about this, though, is the ability to give anyone trying to get past you a nice smack in the face, and I almost wish they'd embraced this ability to more extreme measures, but then it wouldn't be much of a racing game, would it?

With superb gameplay, whether you're playing alone or with a mate, this is one of the best snowboarding games, and I almost wish the series had made it to the current generation, because online play with these mechanics would have been amazing.

Summary: Simply awesome