Title: SSX 3
Description: 10. Simply Perfect.
Description: 10. Simply Perfect.
Evil Hamster - May 27, 2007 12:19 PM (GMT)
Game: SSX 3
Number of players: 1 to 4
Price: £19.99
Release: 2003
Console: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
SSX 3 is one of the few games in existence that can be given the title of 'Perfect'. The sheer number of goals to achieve, things to do, upgrades to buy, the awesome multiplayer, the great single-player mode, huge amounts of customisation, internet play, beautiful graphics and unprecedented freedom for a game in this genre makes for a truly incredible gaming experience.
The controls for SSX 3 are fairly simple to get used to. They're fairly standard stuff- the stick is used to steer, the D-pad for spin tricks, the shoulder buttons for grabs, etcetera. Within two minutes you'll be snowboarding around the huge slopes like a natural. Whilst the control scheme is hardly initiative, it plays like a dream.
The way the game plays is also pretty much what you'd expect. There are all the different things you'd expect to be able to do in a snowboarding game, such as races, halfpipes, monster tricks, that sort of thing. Other things that are neat little additions and immensely add to the gameplay are a boost bar, which fills up as you perform tricks, and allows you to perform 'UBER' tricks when this bar is full. These give you mega points. You can also fill up your boost bar by punching other snowboarders if they get close enough. This is unbelievably satisfying, and can add a great deal of strategy to the races.
The bulk of the single player mode is the 'conquer the mountain' mode. This comprises of earning money by competing in competitions on the various slopes in the game. The different competitions are races, slopestyles, and halfpipes. When you beat one competition, you get money, unlock more competitions, beat enough and you unlock another peak, that sort of thing. Whilst at first this is not overly challenging, some of the later levels are pretty beastly and are likely to take numerous attempts before they are successfully beaten. However, most of these challenges are fairly easy compared to some of the 'BIG' challenges littered throughout the various courses.
So. BIG challenges. These can generally be found when just randomly snowboarding around any of the peaks, as a transparent green pillar. Upon coming into contact with one of these, you will be set a challenge to perform. These can vary enormously, anything from 'get 10 000 points in a minute' to 'burst all three balloons' (off jumps) Most of these are very challenging, and you get a huge payout for beating some of the harder ones. Beating all these challenges is likely to take you at lest 20-30 hours.
Then, of course, there's no point having all this cash if you haven't got anything to spend it on. With your cash, you can buy different clothes, boards and headgear for you character. Some of the more expensive items are simply awesome, such as a paper bag to wear on your head, or angel wings.You can also use your cash to buy upgrades for the various characters available, to make them much better in various aspects, such as tricks, speed, cornering and jump.
That's pretty much it for the single-player. Multiplayer, as you'd expect from a game such as this, is the game's forté. You can race, trick out or have a go on a half pipe. With up to four players, if you have a multitap. It's gaming perfection. You can also play online if you have an internet connection (Which I don't, so I haven't tried it) But if you have friends who you can play with, this game is one of the best out there.
The music in game is also incredible. 'Radio Big' as it is called, has some incredible mucic choices, as well as some rather entertaining 'News broadcasts' and competitive notices. It really helps to create a really great competitive atmosphere to the game. If you don't like some of the tracks, you can make it so that they aren't selected. But personally, I love them all :D
The graphics are also stunning. The attention to detail is simply breathtaking. I mean, look at these sun effects. Beautiful.
This game has near-endless replayability if you have people who you can play with regularly. Even if you don't have anyone who you can play multiplayer with, I'd still estimate at least 40 hours of solid gameplay. Go and buy it, you won't regret it.
Presentation: 9.5
Graphics: 9.5
Gameplay: 10
Sound: 9.5
Lasting Appeal: 10
Overall score: 10
Other comments: It's the best game in the series. It beats On Tour hands down, and Blur doesn't have as many extras, despite the more initiative control scheme.
Worth buying: Yes
Number of players: 1 to 4
Price: £19.99
Release: 2003
Console: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
SSX 3 is one of the few games in existence that can be given the title of 'Perfect'. The sheer number of goals to achieve, things to do, upgrades to buy, the awesome multiplayer, the great single-player mode, huge amounts of customisation, internet play, beautiful graphics and unprecedented freedom for a game in this genre makes for a truly incredible gaming experience.
The controls for SSX 3 are fairly simple to get used to. They're fairly standard stuff- the stick is used to steer, the D-pad for spin tricks, the shoulder buttons for grabs, etcetera. Within two minutes you'll be snowboarding around the huge slopes like a natural. Whilst the control scheme is hardly initiative, it plays like a dream.
The way the game plays is also pretty much what you'd expect. There are all the different things you'd expect to be able to do in a snowboarding game, such as races, halfpipes, monster tricks, that sort of thing. Other things that are neat little additions and immensely add to the gameplay are a boost bar, which fills up as you perform tricks, and allows you to perform 'UBER' tricks when this bar is full. These give you mega points. You can also fill up your boost bar by punching other snowboarders if they get close enough. This is unbelievably satisfying, and can add a great deal of strategy to the races.
The bulk of the single player mode is the 'conquer the mountain' mode. This comprises of earning money by competing in competitions on the various slopes in the game. The different competitions are races, slopestyles, and halfpipes. When you beat one competition, you get money, unlock more competitions, beat enough and you unlock another peak, that sort of thing. Whilst at first this is not overly challenging, some of the later levels are pretty beastly and are likely to take numerous attempts before they are successfully beaten. However, most of these challenges are fairly easy compared to some of the 'BIG' challenges littered throughout the various courses.
So. BIG challenges. These can generally be found when just randomly snowboarding around any of the peaks, as a transparent green pillar. Upon coming into contact with one of these, you will be set a challenge to perform. These can vary enormously, anything from 'get 10 000 points in a minute' to 'burst all three balloons' (off jumps) Most of these are very challenging, and you get a huge payout for beating some of the harder ones. Beating all these challenges is likely to take you at lest 20-30 hours.
Then, of course, there's no point having all this cash if you haven't got anything to spend it on. With your cash, you can buy different clothes, boards and headgear for you character. Some of the more expensive items are simply awesome, such as a paper bag to wear on your head, or angel wings.You can also use your cash to buy upgrades for the various characters available, to make them much better in various aspects, such as tricks, speed, cornering and jump.
That's pretty much it for the single-player. Multiplayer, as you'd expect from a game such as this, is the game's forté. You can race, trick out or have a go on a half pipe. With up to four players, if you have a multitap. It's gaming perfection. You can also play online if you have an internet connection (Which I don't, so I haven't tried it) But if you have friends who you can play with, this game is one of the best out there.
The music in game is also incredible. 'Radio Big' as it is called, has some incredible mucic choices, as well as some rather entertaining 'News broadcasts' and competitive notices. It really helps to create a really great competitive atmosphere to the game. If you don't like some of the tracks, you can make it so that they aren't selected. But personally, I love them all :D
The graphics are also stunning. The attention to detail is simply breathtaking. I mean, look at these sun effects. Beautiful.
This game has near-endless replayability if you have people who you can play with regularly. Even if you don't have anyone who you can play multiplayer with, I'd still estimate at least 40 hours of solid gameplay. Go and buy it, you won't regret it.
Presentation: 9.5
Graphics: 9.5
Gameplay: 10
Sound: 9.5
Lasting Appeal: 10
Overall score: 10
Other comments: It's the best game in the series. It beats On Tour hands down, and Blur doesn't have as many extras, despite the more initiative control scheme.
Worth buying: Yes