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After taking a year off, SSX returns better than ever. SSX On Tour is able to make the SSX series the best it has been after a strong start as the defining title of the PlayStation 2 launch. The game drastically changes the direction of the SSX franchise, but works very well.
The game’s main single-player mode is the Tour mode. Here, you’ll create a custom player and compete in a number of events. You’ll participate in the typical SSX events – race, trick and slope-style (a combination of the first two) – against characters from previous SSX games and some new faces. The focus of SSX On Tour is your character though. Some of the new events are more interesting though. There is an event where you try to touch the snow as little as possible; touching it too much will lead to a disqualification. Others are a bit more expected like grind a certain number of rails or collecting a certain number of icons.
The game’s biggest gameplay change is the addition of skis. You can even make your custom player a skier instead of a snowboarder. The skiers have plenty of new moves not available to snowboarders, thereby increasing an already extensive list of moves for players to master. Another key gameplay change is the move of “Ubertricks” from a combination of a shoulder button and a face button to the right analog stick. They are also called “monster tricks now.”
The game features two-player multiplayer for the Gamecube. Surprisingly, the Gamecube version is not lacking online multiplayer since EA Games removed the feature from all versions of SSX On Tour (it was found in the PS2 version of SSX 3). The Gamecube version does feature Mario, Luigi and Peach as playable characters much like EA Sports BIG did with NBA Street V3. They include some unique sound effects and what not, and don’t add too much to the overall value but are nonetheless a cool addition. Just like NBA Street V3, some will love it, others will hate it. I fall squarely in the former category.
The series’ visuals have always been top-notch and On Tour is no different. The game’s characters are wonderfully modeled and animated. They pull of their moves with inane authenticity. The particle effects are awesome and really bring the environments to life. SSX 3 introduced the massive one-mountain environment thanks to streaming technology, and SSX On Tour continues the new tradition. The game still has very defined, tightly designed courses however. They really do feel like they’re taking place in a massive mountain and are packed with shortcuts, secret areas, and alternate roads. The tracks are littered with other snowboarders and skiers, and you’re rewarded for narrowly avoiding them (clearly a nod to the Burnout series). The sense of speed in SSX On Tour is simply amazing. The motion blur effects are amazing and really make you feel like you’re going really fast.
Of course, we couldn’t discuss the visuals without acknowledging SSX On Tour’s new visual style. The game mimics the deliberately crude hand-drawn art that could very easily have come from a boarder day dreaming in class. This new style perpetrates the entire game and works very well.
The game’s sound is fitting for the new theme. You’ll find some heavy-metal tracks from Motorhead and Iron Maiden, coupled with new indie rock, punk, and hip-hop. The vast scope makes sure that no one is left behind, but they all fit the game very well thanks to the new art direction. The sound effects are very effective. When you’re going slow, you’ll hear all the ambient effects – the sound of the board, of snow falling, and of people talking – but once you reach higher speeds all of these ambient sound effects are drowned out. It’s very effective at enhancing the feeling of speed.
SSX On Tour provides just enough new stuff to please fans of the series. It also builds on a very stable gameplay foundation, maximizing the fun for the game. The game is definitely recommended. If you’re a Mario fan, it is recommended even more so. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Oct 18, 2005
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