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Every now and then, a video game
just explodes onto the gaming scene bypassing the ultimate
sensation of maximum entertainment. Actually, that doesn't come
every now and then, maybe uh, never mind. Ah well, who cares,
what I am trying to get at is the magnificent effect this
awesome game by EA Big has embarked on my gaming life, known as
SSX. SSX stocked up the shelves of retailers all over the United
States on October 28, 2000, along with the launch of the
PlayStation 2 gaming console, and some plenty other games. Sure
we all agreed it would be a pretty good game by reading previews
and looking at screen shots, what we failed to comprehend was
that this isn't just you regular ''good'' game. Oh no, it is
much more than that. The word starts to spread, copies fly off
the shelves, and thousands of gamers all over take a sick day
from work or a layout day for school. Okay, enough of his
useless gibber-jabber, I think it is time to further elaborate
the ratiocination for this mind-less talk...
''Welcome... to SSX''
Shall we discuss the gameplay? Once you pop this baby in
and gracefully turn on that ''power'' button, you are
automatically presented with beauty. The beginning presentation
is wonderfully done. A quick commencement is shown for a
beginners paradise and it already foreshadows some of the
levels, characters, boards, and tricks to be accomplished and
unlocked through your SSX career. Yes, I did say ''unlock,'' but
that is a completely different area and will be attempted to
later on. Anyway, the game includes two primary modes of play,
the Single Event and the World Circuit.
The Single Event mode is quite self-explanatory. You have the
option to pick any character currently unlocked and then breeze
them down up to eight different slopes (depending on which ones
you have currently unlocked.) There are four separate events to
choose from. One is the warm-up, this is basically a learners
course and is a very useful device of the game for beginners to
learn and develop skills for the basic controls. Next is
probably the main event of the bunch, the race mode with six
variant courses and three difficulty settings. Showoff mode is
where the real miracles are exposed. The character must earn
trick points to accomplish various metals (bronze, silver, and
gold) which can be a quite daunting task in some instances for
some gamers. However, nothing to get worried about, as this is
basically a practice, fun mode and no pressure to accomplish
this goal; just have fun and enjoy. The last and most un
ornamented way to play is the free ride mode, just ride however,
whenever, and where ever you prefer in to time limit. Free ride
is a very useful way to get familiarized with all the shortcuts,
secrets, and tricks in the game's courses Their is nothing
better than scampering down a huge hill at at 120 miles-per-hour
with the sole intent to expand ones SSX experience moreover
providing hours beyond hours of pure entertainment to a gamer,
and that is exactly what you feel throughout this feast of a
game.
The World Circuit is the big-kahuna of the game. When one thinks
of the term replay value, they think of the magnitude it
holds in SSX. It is amazing of all you must do in World Circuit
to unlock everything. First off, it may be wholly clever to
choose a principal character to work up. Each character has four
asunder attributes to rely on. Attribute points will awarded by
completing either first place (gold), second place (silver), or
third place (bronze). This is a very simple and elegant way to
methodize the system. Your ranking in the race determines the
rewards you shall receive. By ranking within the top three of a
race, you are awarded with a certain amount of attribute points,
sometimes a new character, or my personal favorite, a new
course! It hardly ever gets old to work up your characters to
the highest possible experience, kind of like a RPG, uh, I said
kind of, hmm, never mind. As you have read over these last two
paragraphs, SSX's modes of gameplay is quite elaborate and 100%
enjoyable. It would probably take someone about 40+ hours to
unlock all of the items and maximize the characters skills. Of
course, that is not even including the huge set of tricks that
can be performed to unlatch the feature for more character
outfits.
By now, you should know absolutely every thing dealing with the
modes of gameplay, but was it really that interesting? If it was
or if it wasn't, it is now time to discuss the number one aspect
of any extreme game, the fun conceived in dalliance. The basic
premise of SSX is getting down a blazing slope trying to win a
race while doing some amazing maneuvers. From a triple-back flip
180 reverse turn to a Tailgrab to Late Stiffy Air, the number of
tricks pretty much exceeds the bland selection you may see in
previous snow boarding games. All the tricks can be linked
together for some hella awesome combos, giving some of the most
exhilarating experiences you could feel in an extreme sports
game. The controls are pretty much like your usual great extreme
game--use Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater for example. If you have
mastered its controls, mastering SSX should be no problem. A
premise of the controls includes may be the necessity to hold
down the X-button before a jump to gain speed and give a higher
boost. It is just the little things such as this that adds more
depth to SSX’s controls. With all this praise going around, I
should be sure to mention the few flaws it holds. Even though
the selection of tricks is pretty massive, the actual basis of
all the tricks is a bit similar and seems more repetitive to the
eyes. The controls can at first be a bit annoying, because you
are often obligated to hold down the forward button, but later
realize you mistake after tumbling down a hill because you did
half a forward flip down the next hill. Moreover, the game even
gives you the ability to do some action type maneuvers by using
the right analog stick to punch opponents on the course,
sometimes giving an advantage, sometimes creating a catastrophe.
Overall, the controls are pretty simple and any flaws
encountered are very minimum and easily get-over-able!
The environments of SSX are clearly spectacular. Pretty much
unlike anything you have seen in today’s current selection of
snow boarding games. The slopes are huge and highly detailed all
the way through. What makes the environments so wonderful is the
wide variety they all hold and the secrets. Secrets thus leading
to shortcuts. It is obvious that EA Big spent some good
designing time with the added shortcuts since they are placed in
very unique places and prove to be super original. Like I stated
before, the locations of the courses of SSX are wonderfully
varied. For example, what other snow boarding game before SSX
could you go from a normal snow-slope, to skiing in Hawaii, to
zooming through a giant pin-ball machine on a board; exactly, no
other!
“Super SSX...” Graphics!
One thing that all the courses, characters, backgrounds, and any
miscellaneous item of SSX have in common is the graphics!
Need I say more? If you have played or seen the screen shots of
SSX, you probably drooled for a little bit. Admit it, don’t lie.
From the muscle movement of a character falling off a 50 feet
snow cliff to the snow tracks created by the boards, everything
is done very well in the graphic department... except the
occasional bit of two-dimensional items of the courses, such as
the fans in the stands or the sideline trees. They really don’t
look too good and should have been more carefully addressed.
With that out of the way, I clearly have nothing to say more of
SSX’s graphics. Even with a few flaws, the graphics are still
beautiful (for a first generation PS2 game).
Shine on the sound, embrace the ears!
The sound of SSX isn’t something to get all excited
about. They are good, but not the greatest in the world. The
background music is a bit impressive at first, however gets
mainly old as the hours start to rack up. Basically, the same
music rhythm is heard throughout the entire game. The commentary
is where it doe shine. The announcers provide some detailed
analysis of the performance on the course and even some humorous
moments of speak if something usual might happen or you do
poorly. “Player number-1, fighting for the worst position!” Just
more of stuff like that that can make me chuckle occasionally.
The voice acting is just a bit basic, but still good. Before,
during, and after the competitions they give some distinct
taunts which furthers the quality of this department. Like I
said, not bad, not super fantastic...
Super. Spectacular. X-perience.
Overall, SSX fundamentally gleams in every category and
as a whole. The experience taken in through SSX is like no
other. A great game that deserves some great praise. If you like
sports/racing games in particular, I especially recommend
checking out this game. Even if you dislike the genre of extreme
sports, at least give SSX a rental, it is great great fun!
<< Wrap-up >>
.:. Scores .:.
Graphics: 9.1
Sound: 8.5
Replay: 9.2
Control: 9.0
Gameplay: 9.5
Overall: 9.4
-- .:. -- Enjoy! -- .:. --
.:. JRepute |
