SSX: Information from Answers.com

Release Date: October 26, 2000
Genre: Sports
Style: Snowboarding
Similar Games: Cool Boarders (PlayStation), Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder (PlayStation 2), Dark Summit (PlayStation 2)

Game Description

SSX involves high-speed snowboarding action spanning eight snowed-over motocross tracks. Tracks range from the obstacle-ridden Tokyo Megaplex to the high cliffs of Mesablanca, each having dangerous turns, big-air ramps, and tunnels.

While the tracks are designed with an arcade-like mindset, Electronic Arts wanted to provide gamers a plausible physics engine that emulated the sport. Every track's layout will test your snowboarding skills with breakneck speeds on severe downward slopes! Although you're to finish each course before your opponents, what's wrong with a little showboating? A wealth of executable maneuvers are available including aerial tricks, 360-degree spins, and back flips!

A total of eight unique characters are included, each differing in style, attitude, and skills. Getting by on her good looks, Elisa is a shrewd snowboarder with a high-risk mentality; Hiro will never leave the house without the latest snowboarding technology; Kaori is carefree, full of energy, and friendly to whomever she meets; and Jurgen is best described as a juggernaut.

SSX features a variety of gameplay options including the World Circuit, Training, and Show Off modes. Before even considering signing up for the Professional World Championship Invitational Event, players can learn the ropes by completing the Training course. This mode covers the basics such as how to perform certain tricks and how to control the snowboarder.

The World Circuit is an event-based competition spanning five fields with 32 snowboarders vying for glory. Your objective is to score as high a rating as possible throughout the events; whoever holds the highest overall ranking at the end of the day wins! Everyone else can lower his or her head in shame and try again next year.

Show Off mode has you performing as many stunts as you can while trying to finish the race within the time limit. Located throughout the tracks are snowflakes that act as multipliers. Simply touch a snowflake while performing a stunt to earn as much as five times the trick's point value.

~ Matthew House, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Big SSX Snowboard Supercross, Electronic Arts' first PlayStation 2 title, deals with snowboarding and snow-covered motocross tracks most notably influenced by the PlayStation's various Cool Boarders titles and Rippin' Riders Snowboarding for the Dreamcast. The Adventure mode is also comparable (though unfairly) to Psygnosis' Psybadek.

~ Matthew House, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

While the PlayStation 2's long-awaited launch featured high-profile games such as Madden NFL 2001 and Tekken Tag Tournament, EA Canada emerged from right field with a snowboarding racer named SSX -- perhaps the console's best launch title. Reminiscent of Neversoft's Tony Hawk Pro Skater and the Cool Boarders series, this snowboarding title is a surprise hit that contains a massive amount of depth (more apparent upon further exploration) and is a blast to play.

How does a game of this caliber contain much depth when the goal remains the same of all racing games? While you follow a fixed path and must cross a finish line to achieve victory, SSX breaks traditional racing standards. Snowboarders can perform rail tricks and jumps throughout the courses; performing tricks increases the Power Boost meter and allows the character to accelerate downhill at a faster rate than normal. The key to success is balance -- while performing a considerable number of tricks will increase your Power Boost (and thus your speed), you may end up spending more time in the air than racing to the finish. In contrast, perfectly hitting every apex on every turn without performing any tricks will throw you in the wake of the competition. Finding a balance between these two aspects is essential.

SSX also provides a number of well-thought out shortcuts located off the beaten path. This is a welcome change of pace from the traditional linear racing games. Shortcuts are often labeled with a huge glass billboard boasting of the game's name; by successfully crashing through these boards, you will find yourself on a new and often more difficult path that will (usually) give you an edge over the competition. Deciding whether or not the shortcut will be worthwhile is entirely up to you. The broad courses significantly increase the replay value as you continually return in search of new paths on the expansive mountains.

Aside from the tricks and shortcuts, SSX excels as a traditional racing title. For starters, the computer AI is excellent and finds ways to maneuver around your character at the most inopportune moments. Using the right analog stick, you can even punch a nearby racer off balance and into a snowdrift. Additionally, the gameplay maintains a constant 60 frames per second, keeping the action at a quick and often stress-inducing pace.

Although this is a first-generation PlayStation 2 title, SSX doesn't give up a polygon in the graphics department. Landscapes are absolutely gorgeous with highly detailed terra firma, trees, and breathtakingly beautiful skies. Boarders are loaded with polygons, giving them a smooth, realistic look that matches their unique personalities; it's actually quite enjoyable just to watch the characters in action.

The boarders' high-quality, charismatic designs complement the sound effects, bringing the characters to life through a series of realistic screams and lively taunts. The sound of snowboards crunching on packed snow or the sound of boards crossing ice adds to the game's appeal. Additionally, the soundtrack adds an upbeat pace to the game that changes depending on how well you perform; featuring the Beastie Boys' Mix Master Mike and other talented artists, the music is filled with "old-school" beats and rhythm.

When you consider the bonus goodies, solid graphics and credible racing physics, it's hard to imagine how one could ever stop playing. New courses, characters, outfits and boards become available upon successfully completing various three-round races. SSX is as close as you can get to gaming perfection. SSX is more than a snowboarding game -- it offers exceptional features that would appeal to most, if not all gamers. The bottom line? You can't miss with this PlayStation 2 launch title.