Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding

"Amped lives up to all its hype!!!"

Having Amped be my 2nd Xbox game, it was well worth the $49.99, maybe even more. This is the 2nd snowboarding game I have ever purchased from any console, and Amped makes me like the snowboarding genre even more.

Gameplay: The learning curve to this game is a bit steep. When I first picked up and played this game, I was finding myself falling and eating snow in more than half of my jumps. People accustomed to Tony's Hawk's Pro Skater will often question why their boarders aren't spinning fast enough. The skill point system is fun and the sponsors add more of a challenge to the game. Once you have mastered your skills, you will be pulling off 30,000+ point tricks in one jump and insane grinding combos. Another unique addition is the Pro tasks. In these tasks, you must follow the Pro snowboarder and trick off where he/she does, but also beat the score of that jump. Tricks range from Easy to Crazy. The most original aspects aside from the Sponsors and Pro's is the Rank system. Your main goal is to be ranked #1 in the world but it is a long and tedious task to get there. Points can also be quickly boosted by tricking in front of a camera man, or a red Media icon floating above various ramps and locations, which can sometimes actually double your trick score. Also, while getting sponsors, you will gain new equipment. Snowboards, Boots, Bindings, and even clothing will be available. Choosing your Gear is important because each part will affect your attributes so discovering a perfect combination will definitely aid you in achieving those High Scores.

Audio: The first time I listened to the music while shredding down a slope, I was hooked. Most of these bands are unknown but I quickly learned the lyrics and beats to these songs. There is a wide spectrum of music genres such as Punk, Rock, Techno, Rap, R&B, and others. You can also rip out your own music from CD-RW's onto your Xbox hard drive and snowboard with those also. There is about over 150 songs with bands such as Elliot, The Get Up Kids, Yellowcard, and my favorite out of this game, By A Thread. The music just pumps the player up and makes even crashing a more enjoyable experience.

Video: The graphics in this game do not blow your mind away, but they are beautiful. In some mountains you can literally see down the entire mountain and have spectacular views. All the elements are smooth and do not suffer from blocky texture. The graphics in Amped are just spectacular.

Replayability: You can create another snowboarder and go through another Career, but it will be tedious and lengthy as 1 round through Career Mode will tire you out. The multiplayer functions are extremely fun and Quick Start will allow you to shred with any of the Pro's or your Career snowboarder, each with their own attributes.

Buy or Rent? If you are a fan of snowboarding games and can get through the steep learning curve, then Amped is the game for you. This game is not for everyone, though. If you are easily frustrated with a steep learning curve, then consider a rental of this game before purchasing it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/12/02, Updated 05/12/02