SSX 3

[Sl1p]

The characters actually had interactions outside of your rival having a freaking "!" above his damned head. They would speak at the begining and end of every race. EVERY RACE! Where the Hell did that go in this one?! I don't just want to know when my rival wants to challenge me. I also want to know what my friends have to say before and after, and I want my boarder to punk out if I suck really bad.

It's called your MCOMM, use it. Also most of the chatter happens during races now such as the trash talk and the praising. Knowing that hot chicks are looking out for you on the slopes is a nice feeling. Also it's pretty funny to have some guy talk mad shit halfway through the race only to eat it and have your character talk smack while they're dead somewhere. Good times!

The menu system sucks. It's confusing as all Hell, and it's difficult to gain your bearings once in. I also find it horribly annoying that I have to restart the effing game every time I want to return to the lodge . . . but I could be overlooking something. God knows with this menu system, that's very possible.

Yes you are overlooking something. You transport yourself to the lodge through the TRANSPORT option in the menu. Use your head.

That said, I do like some of the things it's done. The varied events and peaks add wonderful variety to the play and replayability . . . but why are all of the extra events singles events? Why do I have to run down a mountain by myself? What the Hell fun is that? I have to beat a preselected score from a player who "already ran the course" (read: randomly selected or scripted by the game itself). Shenanigans!

So I guess you missed the 2 of 3 variations of the hill runs where you actually do race against your rival. Awesome job! I will pistol whip the next person who says the word shenanigans (GUESS THE MOVIE TIME!).

I love the degree of freedom the game gives you in the customization department. All of the crap to unlock and purchase is a very welcome addition. But it seems hollow. Like, so freaking what! I get to match my meangless wardrobe to my meaningless accessories to my meaningless board. What happened to stats improving (or at least changing) with each new board upgrade? What happened to the thrill of unlocking that last, super-ultra-incredible board that just couldn't be beat? What happened to all the meaning?!

I could actually careless about the stats for the items. Theres such a ridiculous amount of items and accessories (I'm a DOAX fan, I love accessorizing) that I just get lost in them. So there, you have one valid complaint somewhere in that.

The production values were also much higher on Tricky. We got a serialized "Making of . . ." We got character voice actor profiles. We got a whole buch of coolness that wasn't present in this one. That just plain sucks.

And Tricky wasn't even a quarter of the size that SSX3 is. So I guess in the mindless filler category of SSX Tricky, it runs away with the gold.

IN OTHER NEWS~

I maxed out Griff and started on Elise tonight. Wow is using tall characters weird! No longer can I frontflip up hills and such. I bought Crimson Skies tonight and went back to playing SSX3 as soon as I got back to my friends place. They all started yelling about how I can just go out, buy a game, toss it on the floor and go back to playing something I've had for a while now. Sorry, SSX3 is too good XD!!!

[Roufuss]

CV has a point, the menu system kind of sucks ass. It would be better, if the manual wasn't so crappy. I just now figured out what session means, after never giving it a second look before.

But I agree 1000% with him about character interactions. The characters in this one feel so dead and carbon copy. In Tricky, you really got to feel your character, and all the interaction in it was fun as hell. Yea, they chatter to each other during a race, but that's no excuse to cut out the pre and post race chatter.

And CV might not have got this far, but wait until you get to the "secret" characters, and realize they are just skins, and don't have any voices or style of their own, and you can't customize them. What good is having Eddie or Marisol if I can't customize them and they don't talk?

Yes, this game is a masterpiece in terms of course design, gameplay, control, and replay value, but they really cut back in terms of character. This game is damn good, but it's by no means perfect.

And where did I underline anything before?

[NoFace]

Here's a question... when you're equipping gear, what do the bars on the right side of the screen with a 1 and a 2 mean? Sometimes they go up and down when I change equipment, but I can't figure out what the hell they're for. Anyone know or have an idea at least?

[Kidnemo]

THIS GAME SUCKS BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS DONT TALK ENOUGH!

And to think that I'm hearing this on TNL, where gameplay is supposed to be paramount. I'm sorry, unless the most important thing for you in a game is XTREME characters exchanging tired and cliched equips with each other, I suggest you put down SSX3 and start taping Mt.Dew commercials.

DO THE DEW!

[NoFace]

I was buying some soda in a gas station on the way home with SSX3 a few days ago, and I never drink Mountain Dew... but I saw it next to some Pepsi and decided the Dew would be a better choice for my SSX-ing. Made myself laugh

[Sl1p]

Damn! Nemo stole my post

Nemo, you gotta remember. This is TNL. Somone HAS to find at least SOME mundane reason to bitch and moan, no matter how lame it may be. You're not allowed to praise a game without someone coming up with SOMETHING to bitch and moan needlessly about.

And that is why I love this place. It rewards me with a never ending string of hilarity.

[Will]

the whole fanboy thing
no, i just dont have a ps2(wouldnt get that version anyhow, since everyone is saying thats the ugliest version). and thus far, i am getting less and less happy with the memory card on the x-box, the gc version, i can take my FULL saves anywhere, soul calibur 2 and kotor really ticked me off on that regard, that i couldnt take my saves to my friend's house to show off(or if i could, it certainly wasnt an option i noticed, and think i looked pretty thoroughly) so gc it is for me, besides, i had to buck the trend of everyone else here

I haven't seen the other versions yet but its a beautiful game on any system. Besides some framerate drops here and there, there's nothing ugly about the PS2 version alone so if not by a side-by-side comparison you really wouldn't tell. It also has the high resolution mode Remy mentioned.

I'm actually glad I picked the PS2 version over the GC one because for the exact same reason I traded in the GC Tricky for the PS2 version is missing tricks(and extras I admit) which outweighs any graphical improvements as well as having a much better suited control.

Anyway thats just my stance/preference on the PS2 version. If you don't have a PS2 and have an X-Box and GC you can't go wrong with those versions(I'd tell you to get the X-Box one over the GC save the memory card portability issue).

You guys are all smoking crack. Tricky is 18x better than this rushed pile of horse crap.

I'm returning it tomorrow to get my money back.

Rushed crap? Come on now, hardly.

Tricky was much more grab-and-go.

The characters actually had interactions outside of your rival having a freaking "!" above his damned head. They would speak at the begining and end of every race. EVERY RACE! Where the Hell did that go in this one?! I don't just want to know when my rival wants to challenge me. I also want to know what my friends have to say before and after, and I want my boarder to punk out if I suck really bad.

I understand your dislike with the lack of more character interaction and voicework but I don't think it works against the game in any high degree.

I do miss all the stuff you mentioned but SSX3 has far more substance in actual gameplay than Tricky had. Besides they all still make quips when they pass you by as Sl1p said and some even come up to you at the end of a race and talk to you. MCOMM as I mentioned is a cool way for them to interact with you from far while you may be doing something else.

The menu system sucks. It's confusing as all Hell, and it's difficult to gain your bearings once in. I also find it horribly annoying that I have to restart the effing game every time I want to return to the lodge . . . but I could be overlooking something. God knows with this menu system, that's very possible.

No need for all of that hassle man just use the transport system. As far as the menu's go, they are a bit much to take in but its not overbearingly difficult to navigate them. There are alot of spots to cover and you can either just go to a specific spot or start from the top if you want and trick your way down which makes it very convenient.

..but why are all of the extra events singles events? Why do I have to run down a mountain by myself? What the Hell fun is that? I have to beat a preselected score from a player who "already ran the course" (read: randomly selected or scripted by the game itself). Shenanigans!

That's the charm of the game. Everyone else is doing their own thing like GTA 3 and you can take it to them or join up in various races with more players. I guess you just like the more groupy interactive races and such in SSX Tricky which was fine as well but too limiting looking back at it.

I would find it annoying to be always careening down a peak with people in the way, I just want to do my own thing and race when I want more competition or whatever involving more opponents.

All of the snow effects are wonderful. Man! I got to the second peak and saw the snow coming down and was awestruck. How many other games do you know that do that?! None! I also like how the grounded snow glistens and glitters, but it looks really fake, unlike it's wonderful, precipitous brother.

It is indeed a beautiful game, I think it has the best snow effects outside the N64 1080 and the animation is great

I love the degree of freedom the game gives you in the customization department. All of the crap to unlock and purchase is a very welcome addition. But it seems hollow. Like, so freaking what! I get to match my meangless wardrobe to my meaningless accessories to my meaningless board. What happened to stats improving (or at least changing) with each new board upgrade? What happened to the thrill of unlocking that last, super-ultra-incredible board that just couldn't be beat? What happened to all the meaning?!

Hey man, clothing/accessories are just that. I liked the Tricky clothing alot but being able to customize how your boarder looks is much cooler when you can add shades, small bottoms for the girls(hehe), cowboy hats, different pants with tops.

Its obviously an aesthetic thing which had no bearing in the gameplay but it had no actual meaning in Tricky other than trying getting a shiny looking suit at the end. Also regarding meaning, you have to buy the clothes, music, ubers, and attributes with the money system so that definite solves the problem you had with it. Its just a different system than earning them with only races and I think it makes it deeper in a good way and extends replay value quite a bit.

The character attributes are where its at. The boards in Tricky increased your stats as you got better ones but in SSX3 all you have to do is max out your characters to move faster and gain more uber tricks.

The production values were also much higher on Tricky. We got a serialized "Making of . . ." We got character voice actor profiles. We got a whole buch of coolness that wasn't present in this one. That just plain sucks.

Thats very true and I really liked all of that but there's only so much you can do with it after seeing it for a bunch of times. I think SSX3 definitely could have used that if they had the same level of voicework in it but again the gameplay is what supposed to keep you coming back.

It's very possible I'm being too hard. The game controls very well, and it's pretty fun to race most of the courses available. That's why I'm going to give it another shot tomorrow morning before I go to work. I'm tired right now, and I have been ever since I got out of work seven hours ago. These opinions and issues might be the result of "The Grump." The same thing happened with Jak II, and I ended up loving it.

I haven't lost hope for it, I'm just pissed off at it, and threatening to return it makes me feel better.

I was quite shocked that you hated it so seeing that reaction disconcerted me but I say stick with it until Peak 2 or 3 as more things become apparant and available.

Heh, I'm reminded by what dog$ said about one person saying game sucks and the other saying give it a chance but no matter what the person saying it sucks will keep his firm opinion.

[Rumpy]

Got it today, and this game simply rules. My take on the characters/talking/interaction "complaint". Who gives a fuck? It was the same lines after each race that you (or at least I) skipped after the first two times. Having them talk while going down the mountain is fine with me, it achieves the same thing and it doesn't waste any time having a small movie at the end of a race. As for the skins, I remember more than a few of the Tricky characters (like the women characters) had some shitty costumes there were actually nothing more than skins. Buying new gear is fun, buy what you like and customize as you see fit. There is much more flexibility in upgrading your character now (you can raise each attribute in small amounts).

And this is one hell of a good looking game. The quality in animation between this and Tricky is actually really big. Tricky looks and feels much more stiff than this. With the new snow and character animation it looks like your actually riding on and through snow instead of a white texture like Tricky. I just got the pass for Peak 2 and I'm already impressed. The sound and music just match the graphics, it's a whole package of awesome game making. I can't see how anyone could think this game is rushed. The way the courses are layed out is just fantastic and even the parts between events are fun. I could care less about a "making of" documentary. You watch it once or twice and that's it. I'd rather have a huge mountain to ride down through. That's another thing I like, as much as Tricky gave you freedom, SSX 3 feels much more open. It doesn't feel like your on a single track forced to go down one or two paths, it feels like you can go anywhere you want. Oh and I gotta hand it to the programmers, the load times are almost non existent. Makes the game that much more enjoyable.

The menu system seems weird at first but after an hour I think it's easy to navigate. Jumping around the peak is really easy too. They thought of everything.

[Captain Vegetable]

I hate your guts, Kidnemo.

I find it extremely funny that no one but Will cared to comment about my observation that I was probably being way to hard on the game. Sl1p, that comment you made about people finding something to complain about for everything just because this is TNL seems all that much more ironic.

OMG AN OPINION THAT IS NOT MY OWN! LET ME CALL HIM HARDCORE AND BELITTLE HIS ISSUES SO MY OPINION LOOKS BETTER!!! OMG!!!

I also find it silly and superficial that not a damn one of you commented on the good things I had to say about it. I guess "that's what happens here at TNL."

Jackasses.

Turns out it isn't half bad. After I got over the sillyness of most of my complaints I was actually able to bear down on what really mattered. The tricking system is great, though I haven't quite got the hang of board pressing yet. It will be mine. Oh, yes. It will be mine.

All the singles events aren't so bad, especially since you can just concentrate on the mountain and exploring it. It's nice just riding along, tricking if you want, not tricking if you don't want. Finding the best run through for tricking is probably my most favorite, though. Finding by way of what path you're able to get the highest score, and then screaming down the mountain doing your best to stick to the mental map you made. It's cool.

I really did mean what I said about the snow. It's gorgious.

The accessorising is still meh. I'll buy a few, but the real drive for me is to totally own the mountain. I could give a damn how I look when I do it.

I like the fact that I need to spend cash for upping my stats. I don't, however, like the fact that everyone has the same ceilings for all of the stats. It's a really unimportant detail, and I could look over it if I wanted, but I'm not going to. Everyone who has a problem with this can suck my nuts in advance.

So, there you have it. Better than Tricky? Sure, why not. Besides, if I don't agree with all of you I'm likely to be talked into submission anyway.

Also, I do record Mountain Dew commercials. What's so wrong about that?

And this is one hell of a good looking game. The quality in animation between this and Tricky is actually really big. Tricky looks and feels much more stiff than this. With the new snow and character animation it looks like your actually riding on and through snow instead of a white texture like Tricky. I just got the pass for Peak 2 and I'm already impressed. The sound and music just match the graphics, it's a whole package of awesome game making. I can't see how anyone could think this game is rushed. The way the courses are layed out is just fantastic and even the parts between events are fun. I could care less about a "making of" documentary. You watch it once or twice and that's it. I'd rather have a huge mountain to ride down through. That's another thing I like, as much as Tricky gave you freedom, SSX 3 feels much more open. It doesn't feel like your on a single track forced to go down one or two paths, it feels like you can go anywhere you want. Oh and I gotta hand it to the programmers, the load times are almost non existent. Makes the game that much more enjoyable.

Yeah, I know. I agree with you 100%, in spite of my initial impressions. It must have been "The Grump."

I aslo didn't say anything about the music, but I love it. It's one of the the best, if not the best, liscensed game ST ever.

[Green]

I think I spent too much time leveling up. I'll go back to some early big challenges, and sometimes I find myself rocketing down the slope too fast or jumping too high to grab something