Gameplay
Besides this addition to the SSX series, there have been four other installments. While there have been changes in characters, tracks, style, and tricks, the same basic gameplay still remained the same. It's all about quick speeds and insane, jaw-dropping (not to mention impossible) tricks. While this hasn't changed, the controls have.
Uber tricks are mapped to wiimote motions, and require you to draw shapes in the air to perform them.
EA has completely remodeled the controls to work with the unique features of the Wiimote. Now, instead of button-mashing to accomplish uber tricks, you must make different motions with the wiimote - such as drawing a heart, a Z, and a loop. When it works well, it is extremely satisfying to pull off, however there is a steep learning curve. You may think that these tricks are recognized by IR by the wiimote, however they are not. What this means is that you don't even have to point at the TV for the Wii to recognize what you are doing. This means that you just keep the wiimote at a 90 degree angle from the TV, instead of being pointed in anyway. They're hard to do, but god is it satisfying.
Uber tricks aren't the only thing that's gotten the waggle treatment, though. Carving has been mapped to the nunchuck. This is one of the best uses for the nunchuck yet. To carve, you simply tilt the nunchuck to the left and the right as well as tilting the analog control stick on the nunchuck to carve sharper. (The controls can be changed to just analog or tilt controls). Grabs are mapped to pressing the 'Z' button and tilting the nunchuck forward, backwards, to the right, and to the left. To do in-air flips, you point the wiimote in different directions. Up makes you do a front flip, down makes you do a back flip, and left and right make you spin in the corresponding direction.
Carving is done by tilting the nunchuck to the left and right.
Other than controls, the core game is basically the same. You can either just ride freestyle at your own pace, while completing optional challenges to earn yourself unlockable uber tricks, clothes, snow boards, and skill points. You can also kick it slopestyle to see if you can beat the set score. In addition, you can now battle to the sometimes frustratingly difficult slalom levels. You must make sharp turns to make your way around flags scattered around the course. Unfortunately, there are no full mountain runs.
Graphics
Surprisingly solid. Instead of taking the completely realistic route, EA instead chose a slightly cartoonish style. The character models have been remodeled to reflect the new style, and the environments have a less realistic style. The snow itself looks pretty impressive as it shimmers in the sunlight. The only thing that brings this down is the fact that there are some frame rate problems, although they aren't common.
Makes you want to hop on a board and join them, doesn't it?
Sound
The main soundtrack is great. EA got Junkie XL to do the soundtrack, and it sounds great in the game; however, it works even better with the implementation of the "groove bar". The groove bar is a meter of your groove and it measures basically how well you are doing. As you do more tricks, and you start going faster, the groove bar reflects that by increasing. This causes the music to become more intense. If you are doing poorly and falling or running into things, the groove bar will go down and make the music become softer. This works well, and can really affect your emotions as you are playing the game. EA really put a lot of thought into the music of the game, and it shows. The only complaint I have is that, in some songs, the transition from low to high is way to subtle.
The groove bar is on the right and displays how well you are doing. It even affects the music!
The sound effects, however, leave much to be desired. I'm not sure what EA was thinking... why would they take out the voices of the characters. One of the greatest aspects of the franchise is the personality of the characters, as well as the comments thrown between characters during and after an event. Well, now the most you hear from your character is "woooahhhh" when you grind are about to fall off a rail. It's completely unsatisfying. Other sound effects are nothing special.
Lasting Appeal
The core game has a lot to offer, but not a huge amount of variety. Completing all the challenges and courses will last you a long time, especially if you are looking to complete the game with multiple characters. Unfortunately, there isn't much after that. There is no online play, and the two online modes (one in which you take turns playing with up to four players, another where two players can compete against each other at one time) aren't going to last you a long time.
|
WiiChat.com Media
|  |
Linear Mode
