SSX Tricky

"Lets Get Ready to Rock Around It's Tricky, It's Tricky!"

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, that simple sentence first used by CBS during the 1980 Olympics perfectly describes this game. As you race down Tokyo in Japan, or simply take a Show Off course, you will understand the principals of snowboarding.

This game denies physics, for one, which I have found thoroughly enjoyable. I didn’t know you can go from 0-140 MPH in 5 seconds, with the friction of snow too! But this game creates a null effect in that region. Plus you can do 4 back flips with your special Tricky trick in a 30 foot jump. Air resistance, fluid friction, sliding friction, inertia, and all of Newton’s laws are thrown out the window in this fast paced adventurous snowboarding game.

Graphics ---9/10--- Excellent! Just plain stupendous! While unfortunately they’re rounded, not the more natural squares those most RPG’s posses. But this is so intricately detailed that it still has the realism that almost compares to Super Smash Bros. Melee. However, keep in mind, graphics don’t make the game, as we so dearly learned in Final Fantasy 8 and 9. Let’s see how it did in the controller department…

Controls ---10/10--- This has amazing controls on all three systems. So beautifully done on all corners of the tricks, turns, propelling and stopping needed in the game. But Gamecube’s controls take the cake. While all have the needed qualities, plus are easy to adapt to, this version of SSX Tricky is the “Prima Donna”. This game could convince me to buy a second controller if I hadn’t already.

Sound/Audio/Music ---9/10--- He can’t love that mix of Latin and Light Alternative so intricately done while a man with a deep voice screams at the top of his lungs: IT’S TRICKY IT’S TRICKY!!! Well, I for one, can’t. Don’t blame me, I’m the intrepid type, I enjoy someone some music and a freakish screamer telling me I just filled up my Trick box. Seriously. Although the music’s so-so, the quality of all the noises is divine. It’s not like Halo, where it’s so real you think you’re there, or Project Gotham Racing, where the audio is even better than Halo, but seriously folks, it’s good. It doesn’t make the game, but it accounts for a lot of it.

Rent/Buy? Tough decision. I suggest renting it first and then if you like it you can buy it. Although it’s good enough for a nine, there’s something there that makes me think twice about getting it. Be sure to rent first.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/27/02, Updated 05/27/02