SSX on Tour

Any game that opens with Iron Maiden��s ��Run to the Hills�� is worthy of attention, particularly if it��s accompanied by stylish hand-drawn visuals and the most gratuitous overuse of the rock horns outside of a Kiss concert. SSX on Tour is totally frickin�� metal, and, as such, is quite dramatically different from previous games in the series.

The changes begin with the presentation, but there have been some fundamental alterations to this fourth game in the franchise that may jar longtime fans. To start with, you no longer play as the established characters. Moby, Psymon, and all of the rest of them remain as a recognizable presence, but now you play as ��you,�� thanks to the ubiquitous EA character-creation gizmo. There are plenty of puffy coats, hairdos, and baggy pants to personalize your extreme Ken or Barbie doll with, but sadly, the switch to full customization has eliminated the charm. If you��re not familiar with the SSX roster, the significance of being challenged to a race by one of the ��stars�� (who are now all grown up, it seems) is completely lost on you. Such is the dichotomy of the new game. The changes estrange fans, but at the same time they rely on an intimate knowledge of the series�� history to make their full impact.

For many, SSX Tricky is the absolute pinnacle of fantasy extreme-sports gameplay. In truth, it still is, and it��s interesting to note that the ��fantasy�� aspect of SSX is now all but gone. There are no more crazy pinball levels, no zany wind tubes, turbo pads, or bumpers. It��s more of a ��pure�� snowboarding (or skiing, the addition of which is fairly insignificant) game than ever. That��s not to say that On Tour is a bad game, far from it, it��s just not the game that many of us fell in love with. What it has gained in visual style and flair (and it��s absolutely dripping with it), it has lost in personality.

Thankfully, the controls are still perfect, and the sense of barely controllable velocity is still beautifully portrayed. It seems that the new SSX development crew has been watching what the Criterion guys have been doing with Burnout, as there are a number of tricks that seem very familiar. The subtle blurring of the screen at high velocity makes a huge difference, and the ��near miss�� mechanic that gives you points for not quite knocking over noncompeting snowboarders is pure Burnout. Also, the use of a dramatic slow-mo camera during monster tricks has a significant effect on the drama of those big leaps.

It��s an exhilarating and stylish experience, to be sure, but it��s sad to note that if this had been the first game in a new series, it probably wouldn��t go down quite so well. EA��s desire to reinvent is admirable, but given that this is the fourth outing for a franchise beloved for being different, the move toward the conventional does nothing but hurt it.

How Metal?

Iron Maiden on the title screen, Dio in-game, rock horn graphics every-frickin��-where, and different cuts of squealing, shredding metal guitar solos every time you meet an objective. The game even lets rip with a monstrous power chord whenever you��re in first place. How much more metal could it be? None. None more metal.

Pros: Stylish graphics, metal soundtrack, awesome control

Cons: Lacks the personality of previous games

Rating: 4.0

Pub. EA Sports Big Dev. EA Canada ESRB E MSRP $49.99

Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.