SSX 3

"A new world of SSX"

In SSX 3, the SSX world expands to a much larger scale. More tracks, more modes, more customization, more freedom. However, freedom comes at a price. SSX 3 has a lot in common with it's predecessors, but many new features drastically alter the face of this snowboarding brand.
Let's start with the new. The first you'll notice is the new ''free roaming'' feature. EA claims that you have an entire mountain with three peaks, and you can go anywhere you want. It's a dirty lie. The mountain has a number of paths that branch and merge in places, but if you started wandering off the beaten path, you'll either be rewarded or punished for going off limits and sent back to the path, with a lessened trick meter. While you're freeriding about, though, you will want to explore a lot. You'll see a lot of giant floating snowflakes, called Collectibles. These are worth a set monetary value depending on which peak you're on, and count towards a medal once you get enough. You'll also happen across green pillars that represent Big Challenges, these are small tasks that break up the action in between racing and freestyling. Big Challenges vary from collecting items spread about the track, completing the track under a set time, grinding certain rails, or pulling off specific tricks.
EA has also tweaked the basics of boarding in SSX 3. First thing I noticed, was the new Recover Bar. When you mess up a trick, you have a chance to try and fill up the Recover Bar by rapidly pressing the B button. If you succeed, you'll either be able to land and only lose your combo, or just not lose as much trick meter as you usually would. Also new to SSX 3 is the Handplant button. Handplants can be done on any grindable rail as well as at the top of halfpipes or quaterpipes. Handplants act much like in Tony Hawk. Press the button and your character will initiate a handplant. Hold down the button and use the analog stick to keep your character balanced for longer handplants. Another large addition is the board tip. This is easily equated to a manual in Tony Hawk. Press the C-stick either up or down while on flat ground and your character will balance on either the nose or tail of their board, respectivly. Use the C-stick to keep balance. Another big feature is the Ubergrinds. While in uber status and grinding, hit a grab button and you'll perform an ubergrind for some big points. At the end of each competition, you'll not only get a medal, if you place, but also a cash prize.

With all the cash you're earning from competitions and big challenges, you can spend it at the Lodge on any number of things. You can deck your character with new shirts, pants, gloves, hats, goggles, boots, or even a new deck, some of the accessories border on the insane. Halo's, crowns, a paper bag for a head, a skull, rainbow spiked hair, or my personal favorite, the Albinofro. Besides making your character look better, you can also spend it on stats to make your character play better. Stats are basically the same as in Tricky (Speed, Accel., Tricks, Spin, Stability, etc.). Or, you can take that money and create your own, personal soundtrack. If you don't like the basic soundtrack, you can go start up your own with six free songs. After that, each new song added to your playlist will set you back $5000.

The main problem I have with SSX 3 is the characters. In Tricky, they all had different starting stats, and different maxes for their stats, making each character play unique. This time around, all the characters start out the same and end up with the same max stats. The only difference now is look and what they say. Which leads into my next gripe, the voice acting. Some are really good, most notably the DJ Atomika. He's great and I love him. Other characters fit in well, but often I just turn them off. Some, however, are horrendous. Specifically, Zoe and Kaori. Their annoying voices and stale lines grate on my nerves.

Levels in SSX 3 are as you'd expect. Insane, complex, and completely outlandish. Levels are fun to race through, fun to explore, and just plain fun to look at. However, if you've played Tricky or the original, you'll realize that few are innovative. Metro City is fun, but way to close to previous city levels.

Overall, I give this game an 8/10. While it's great fun, (my fingers hurt from playing it so much), it loses points for the blandness of characters, awkward GC controller (sorry, it really is. My finger hurts mostly from hitting that damn Z button), the levels are mostly more of the same, and Zoe and Kaori. Definately worth a rental, possibly a purchase.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/03