This entry in the SSX series kicks things off by letting you create your own custom skier or snowboarder before hitting the mountain. Gone is the world-tour style map from earlier games; instead, you pick your events through a new front-end menu that looks like a chaotic mash-up of an MTV broadcast and a sketcher’s notebook.
The controls have been overhauled to make pulling off huge “Monster Jumps” (the game’s term for Uber Tricks) far more accessible. You no longer need to memorize complex button combinations, so anyone can quickly start sending their character soaring through the air with style. But a word of warning: just like in past games, spamming the same trick over and over will net you fewer points. To truly evolve your rider from a fresh-faced beginner into what the game calls a “black-diamond-dominating rockstar,” you’ll need to mix up your moves and keep your routine fresh.
The game delivers on the series’ signature promise of massive air, blistering speed, and a vibrant assortment of slopes, each packed with their own secrets and intricate pathways.
For players on the Nintendo GameCube, there’s a fantastic bonus: Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach join the roster as exclusive playable characters. Each one brings their own signature moves to the slopes, and their races are even accompanied by those iconic, rearranged Mario-themed tunes.
