I have been a fan of SSX ever since i bought my first game in the series, SSX 2. Back then it was all about the massive tricks, rocking soundtrack and amazing graphics. So understandably i couldn't wait for this game to and by god did it deliver. This game is by developers EA sports and is the first in the series to be made by them after the previous EA sports BIG group was dropped.

Graphics: The SSX series has always been known for being one of the best looking games on PS2. Not so much detail but being able to deal with a lot of information as you storm downhill at stupid speeds. This game is no exception. The characters look good and over the top (what SSX is all about) and the mountains have been beatifully rendered. The screen blurs at the side of when travelling at speed (purposefully) and there is a huge amount of detail and a lot of information coming on fast.

Gameplay: The way your character reacts to the controls in game has harly changed since the old SSX games but the controls you use has which may take a while for a few fans to get used to but if not the old controls are still avalible. The same style has been adopted in this game as in its predecesers with you jumping over huge cliffs and doing ultra unrealistic tricks as you make your way at pace down the hill. Although it is slightly more realistic than the other games it is by no means realistic.

Presentation: The menu system and cut scenes inbetween chapters of the game look amazing. The menu is a world map menu that moves and interacts with your actions and the cut scenes see you flying through mountain ranges, through blizzards and generally keeping up with the genral anarchy and pure exitement of the whole game.

Story: the game was previously to be named SSX deadly descents because the story involves you working up to and doing the worlds 7 most deadly descents. Like all SSX games there isn't anything like a plot line but thats nothing bad. You snowboard, make money, buy better equipment and keep snowboarding. This is fun and engrossing most of the time but i found towards the middle of the game just doing the same thing over and over was getting a little old. They do throw a few extra features in there though with the addition of night snowboarding and jumping out of helicopters just for fun really.

Soundtrack: The soundtrack to SSX has always been an important part of the game, in any case who wouldn't want to listen to a mix of high pace electric and rock while hurtling down a mountain. The music in this game is more of the same really just replaced with newer music and doesn't dissapoint, even if you don't like rock or electric im sure you will have fun making your way downhill to it. You can expect to find yourself playing to tracks from skrillex and other dubstep. In the tricky mode (specials mode basiclly) you will play to a remixed version of run-DMC's its tricky.

If i were to come up with one bad thing about it it's that they have not kept the stlye the older games were made in. They have opted for a modern and fresh presentation to it and for anyone who hasn't played the old games take no notice of this but it does just bug me slightly.

This game has been missing from game consoles ever since SSX on tour came out on PS2 how ever many years ago but it was worth the wait