Platforms: Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube
Release date: October 20, 2003
ESRB rating: E
SSX 3 comes to us from EA BIG, famous for creating the Street Sports series (NBA, NFL, FIFA). SSX 3 is obviously the third installment of the series, and I'd have to say it's the best on several different levels.
SSX 3 is an arcade style snowboard game. Characters in SSX 3 can pull off ridiculous tricks on their snowboard, or should I say off, as they detach themselves from their board and perform impossible aerial acrobatics. The trick system in SSX 3 has grabs assigned to three buttons on the controller, players can press a button to perform a grab, or combine it with another grab button to perform another kind of grab. Players can also "tweak" grabs to nab themselves some more points, and use the directional pad to flip and spin to earn even more points. Performing tricks also generates boost, which makes players go faster and fly higher allowing for bigger and better tricks. Pull off enough tricks and you can go Uber, which is where characters leave their boards for more exotic high-flying stunts.
SSX 3's single player mode has players conquering the mountain, on three different peaks. Players start from the bottom and work their way up to the top. The game has players carving through the back country or shredding through insane trick courses. A neat feature about the mountain in SSX 3 is that all the courses are interconnected, the game even has player going on tours through each peak. There are also challenges that players can do to earn some extra cash for the shop and work toward achieving 100% completion.
The soundtrack of SSX 3 is the best licensed soudtrack I have ever heard. Songs range from booming trance music to relaxing electronic jams, also are some really good rock songs from Finger Eleven, Yellowcard, Thrice, Autopilot Off, and many others. There are a few songs that I don't particularly like, but the soundtrack is completely customizable, so you don't have to worry about being forced to listen to that annoying song all the way through before something good comes up.
The voice work and writing for SSX 3 is brilliant. Characters shouting out taunts and dissing others as they zip past them, or exclaiming how awesome they are for pulling off that incredible stunt. Another cool voice that is heard throughout the game is good ol' DJ Atomika, he's never seen in the game but he's always watching you. Not that it really matters, because his job is to play some great tunes and deliver some witty conversation that will make you smile.
Each peak in SSX 3 is extremely different from the next. Peak 1 is mellow, yet colorful, taking players through the beginning courses with style. Peak 2 has a dichotomy of the serene and dangerous, as players will run away from avalanches or race over crumbling bridges. Peak 3 is very blunt about how it wants players to feel about it: mean. Right from the start of peak 3 players have to carve their way out of danger as huge chunks fall out from beneath them.
All in all SSX 3 is an incredible game with really fun gameplay, clever one-liners, a wicked soundtrack, and a slick presentation it would be an injustice to pass this game up. Find yourself a copy and start shredding!
