SSX 3 Review

Wow. What can I say? This is the game that SSX fans have waited for.

After the release of the ps2 launch title SSX, it was clear that there was a place for snowboard themed video games. SSX combined the fun of racing with wild, unrealistic tracks to make a super fun snowboard racing game. A few years later, EA went on to create SSX Tricky, which added more tricks to the gameplay of the original. And now, in 2003, EA has created the best version of this game yet; SSX 3.

There are now 3 huge mountain peaks to board down, and each of them is more crazier in it's course design than the last. There are all of the same, popular snowboarding events like Super Pipe, Race, and Jam, but now they are much bigger and more elaborate. The gameplay is a perfect mix of doing tricks and racing with high speed. Most of the time it feels like you are just 'falling' down the tracks, not racing, but it feels great, and very realistic. The controls are perfect. Want to grind a metal pole? Just steer your boarder towards it and he/she will grind it. All you have to do it stay balanced.

The music has to be mentioned. Some great music tracks from Fatboy Slim, and N.E.R.D. are here, and fully remixed for each track. What I mean by that is, when you reach a cave section of the track for instance the song will actually change the beat and remove some instruments to sound completely different. When your boarder flies into the air, the music will 'dampen' and sound muffled. All of this really immerses you into the whole experience. The sound effects are great too. From firewords shooting off around you as you fly off a ramp, to carve deep into the snow to take a wide turn. It sounds real. And it's all presented in THX surround sound and Dolby Pro Logic (on the Gamecube version).

I played this game not long after it was released, and I am still playing it today. And it's still fun! That is the lasting ability of this game. There is so much to see and unlock! There are a lot of secrets in this game too. You will wonder how EA managed to fit all of this on one disc.

Graphics- 9.8 out of 10
Sound and Music- 10 out of 10
Gameplay- 10 out of 10
Presentation- 9.9 out of 10

Overall- 10 out of 10