Publisher: EA Canada / EA Sports
Cert: 3+
Platform: Xbox 360, PC, Playstation 3
Genre: Sport
SSX is a snowboarding franchise which first appeared on Playstation 2. The plot of the 2012 release involves the SSX team's attempts to snowboard across nine deadly descents, which are set in real world locations such as the Himalayas and the Great Wall of China. The game’s controls involve combos and rewinds, something which feels a little like DJ Hero. The tracks are pleasingly distinguishable from each other and the suitably loud soundtrack includes the likes of the Naked and Famous and DJ Shadow.
Although, the controls are easy to figure it's difficult to master the "Tricky" moves or stunts (as it should be). There's no traditional multiplayer per se but you can invite friends into your game to race against. The online mode also includes RiderNet - a tool similar to one in Need for that allows players to keep track of their friend's progress. Sometimes the races progress so fast that the commentary sounds a little out of sync and annoyingly there's a requirement to use an online pass and an option to spend real world money on in-game items. These are just quibbles. SSX is the most accessible and fun snowboarding game in years.
Rent or Buy: Buy
Graphics: 4/5
Game Play: 4/5
Replay Value: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Reviewed by: Bryan Collins
