SSX on Tour
a game by | Electronic Arts Canada |
Platforms: | GameCube, XBox, Playstation 2 (2005) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 7.6/10 - 11 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Sport Games, SSX Games, Skateboarding Games |
As we all know, Tony Hawks Pro Skater was the game that would really capture the hearts of the gaming community and establish extreme sports as a popular video game genre. From then on there were a cavalcade of games that would further the success of the genre such as Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX, MX 2002 Featuring Ricky Carmichael, EA's Skate series and the wonderful Snowboarding masterclass that was the SSX series. This series would bring a brand of silliness and slapstick humour to the would of extreme sports, offering hours of fun on the slope for you and your friends. The SSX series would go from strength to strength with each new offering and with SSX On Tour, the series would be hoping to keep the momentum of the series going forward.
Aside from the aforementioned ties to extreme sports games in general, this game plays rather similarly to any game within the SSX series. However, if you aren’t familiar with this series, it plays rather like Shawn White's Snowboarding, OnRush, Steep, Coolboarders or 1080° Snowboarding. This title would aim to continue the trend of arcade-style racing on the slopes and does so with aplomb.
Get On Your Boards And Ride!
Firstly, let’s talk about the cartoon style, snowboarding on acid aesthetic and how this game aims to deliver that on this occasion. In SSX 3, it was clear that the developers we’re trying to move from a hyperactive presentation to a more refined, too cool for school sort of vibe. However, when they saw that the community weren’t accepting of this change, they have obviously decided to double down on the wacky side as this game has that ADHD, can’t sit still, vibrant and colourful animated doodle aesthetic that we so loved on SSX's first instalment.
Sadly though, in terms of the detail and presentation of the stages, characters and gear, it all seems a little bit rough around the edges. Sure, the lighting and textures are better in areas but as a whole, the game just about matches SSX 3 for presentation and in some areas, it doesn’t even do that.
We're Going On Tour, Dude!
The game offers a lot of the same gameplay modes, characters and memorable stages to this game, but the most interesting change is the tour mode. This takes a leaf from the later Tony Hawk's titles where you create your own skater, make him or her in your own image and then proceed to climb the pro ladder all the way to the top. It’s an interesting change that allows the game to feel more personal than it ever has and it helps to keep the format fresh.
The game modes have also received a facelift too in areas. While you’ll still have your usual race formats, your trick attack stages and so on, you’ll also be treated to some new modes. A creative one that urges you to stay airborne for as much of the course as you can. This will give you an allocation of time you can spend on the snow and you’ll have to finish the stage before the timer runs down. It’s a really neat addition that again, keeps this long-running format fresh.
Oncoming Traffic
SSX On Tour also doubles down on the arcade feel of the gameplay by opening up the tracks to the general public. This basically means that along with battling with fellow racers, focusing on getting the fastest racing line, finding the best shortcuts and performing the slickest tricks. You’ll also have to do that while avoiding heading face-first into the other much slower skiers on the mountain so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. This is a clear move to make this gameplay more like the high octane racer Burnout and quite frankly, its a great decision that only adds to the experience.
Hit The Slopes
It’s another phenomenally good job from the SSX series at producing a snowboarding title with its own unique personality and adding to the previous outing to great effect. The art direction feels like it’s back to its usual over the top nature, the game modes are updated along with a great tour mode that will entice players back to the series that thought the last outing wasn’t too ambitious in this department.
There is the one small issue of the lack of Online Multiplayer but aside from that, this is easily the best SSX game when compared to all it’s predecessors and one you must try for yourself.
Pros
- Art direction is much more familiar to older titles
- New game modes and campaign mode
- Tracks are much more consistently interesting with less dull stretches
Cons
- Challenges in Tour Mode can be a bit arbitrary and mundane.
- No online multiplayer.
Download SSX on Tour
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP