Scully ON THE GAME

SSX On Tour

SSX On Tour, eh? Got to be careful typing that one, especially when searching for it on the web in a crowded office. Even knowing the rationale behind the title (it stands for 'Snowboard Super Cross') it still looks like a typo to me.

SSX On Tour is the fourth release in the SSX series and almost certainly the last on the PS2. The first three releases were massive sellers and firm favourites of two close friends, both of whom were eager to progress in the game play as far as possible. To me, SSX has always been a game that was a fun way to spend an evening with those friends, although I never felt the urge to shell out my own cash on a copy. So is this the one to persuade me otherwise? In goes the disc and Iron Maiden blasts out - it's got me smiling already.

Comparing this with the previous version, SSX3, the first thing that struck me was that everything takes place on a single mountain slope, whereas SSX3 allowed you to hop from peak to peak, by way of mixing it up. The mountain itself is broken down into individual runs, with Medal Races and Shreds (challenges, to you) available for each one.

The races are straightforward enough - 'beat the other boarders to qualify' events (lifted from SSX3) with the shreds being more like SSX Tricky. The shreds range from solo challenges (like attaining a minimum amount of air time, or travelling an impossibly long distance on the rails), to different one-on-one challenges, time trials and highest trick score competition.

The races and shreds are a rich smorgasbord of events, appearing to randomly pop up on the mountain map, as fast as you can complete them. You can try out the races and shreds in pretty much any order you choose. Each completed run earns you 'hype', and accumulating hype sends you up the rankings board from 200th to (hopefully) 1st, and from Novice to Legend. New runs and challenges open up as you complete the old ones. After an hour of play I opened up 'Between The Sheets' at the peak, which is one the most insane race levels I've ever played. Still smiling here.

Picking up the game after a break, I opted for the one-on-one races first to warm up a bit. By the third race the speed had seriously ramped up and the endless sleepless nights I spent playing Wipeout Fusion started to pay off. With Motörhead in my ears, getting the adrenalin going, I was beginning to think this was a little too easy and way too much fun. Crazed, maniacal leer, now.

Unlike the previous SSX incarnations, where the challenges were optional extras, you have to complete the Tricky shred sections to progress in the game. And as you progress, the tricks become a greater part of the game play. There are many different types of shred (really want to say Orange and Marmalade here), so they never really begin to feel repetitive. Keeping the mix coming stops the constant racing becoming monotonous. Collecting the collectables is huge fun, tagging other racers is enjoyably frustrating and the race challenges are just shorter versions of the Medal Races. You also get points for knocking bystanders and kids out - not very PC, I know, but then who cares!

The problem for me - and there was bound to be one - comes on the trick shred challenges. Thing is, I'm really bad at these. Try as I might I just can't get to grips with it and with the required score going from 12,500 on the first run, to 55,000 on the second, you need to develop the skills fast. Having all of these elements is fun, but making their completion necessary to advance could make players give up with the game.

Just to touch on the music for a moment. It's awful. There's really not much else to be said. I've mentioned two bands already who each get a single track, but if you're not a fan of either, you're out of luck. The rest is a roster of bland, generic, Z-list metal. I ended up turning it off and putting a CD on.

On the graphics side, this is neither better nor worse than the previous releases, but as they have all been of such a high standard that's not a problem. If you've played any of the others you know what this looks like. The draw distance is fantastic with no slow down of the frame rate when the detailed sections appear. Very smooth.

The one thing I haven't mentioned is the 'Persona' section, which allows you to customise your snowboarder. Why? No, really. Why? Buying an upgraded snowboard is one thing, but buying a clean pair of underpants and paying for a haircut is another. Okay, maybe my age is starting to show, and a lot of players feel that the characters of the game are important. But it does feel a little Barbie and Ken to me.

Another genuine gripe though is the introduction of skis as an alternative to the board. Excellent idea, but they aren't interchangeable. Choose snowboard or skis up front and be stuck with that choice or start over again.

The best thing about SSX On Tour, however, is sitting round and playing it with your mates. That's what games like this are made for. What I need is a trickster sitting next to me, so that I can fling the controller at them in frustration, then sip a cold beer and watch in amazement as they fly through the air.

Conclusion

All in all, SSX On Tour appears to be a summing-up of all the good things about the SSX series, and a nice introduction to those who have not tried the series before. Trouble is, while it does both very well, its does neither as well as I'd hoped and doesn't live up to the incredible SSX3. The old faithful have their reservations and the new blood can struggle to get to grips with it, but SSX On Tour is still one of the better games on the PS2. Let's see what happens on the PS3.

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SSX On Tour
Latest incarnation in the popular SSX series. Mixes the best elements from previous games to hold its positions as one of the better race offerings for the PS2.
Overall Rating:	7 out of 10
ESRB Rating:	Everyone (10+)
Publisher:	Electronic Arts
Available for:	PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PSP