SSX 3
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| SSX 3 | |
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| Developer(s) | EA Canada |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports BIG |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Gizmondo |
| Release date(s) | NA October 20, 2003 PAL October 31, 2003 Game Boy Advance NA November 11, 2003 PAL November 21, 2003 Gizmondo PAL September 22, 2005 NA October 22, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E OFLC: G PEGI: 7+ |
| Input methods | Gamepad |
SSX 3 is a snowboarding video game published by Electronic Arts and developed by EA Sports BIG, which was released in late 2003. It is the third installment in the SSX series, and is THX approved.
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[edit] Gameplay
As in previous SSX titles, players choose one of several characters, participate in races or trick competitions, and earn rewards.
The most obvious change to the series is the location. In earlier games, individual tracks were located around the world. In SSX 3, the entire game takes place on one mountain, with three peaks and several individual runs. Runs are designated as "race", "slopestyle", "super pipe", "big air", or "backcountry" tracks, and are designed accordingly. The race tracks are connected; it is possible to board through these tracks from the top of the mountain to the bottom without stopping or reloading each track.
The reward system is also revamped and improved. Although some rewards are still tied to what medals the player gets, most rewards are bought using money earned in competition or when finding hidden collectibles. Outfits, stat improvements, "cheat characters" (character models) and game art are all available.
Graphically the game is improved over previous installments by featuring a new graphics engine which adds various visual improvements such as 'Mountain effects': special effects to the game's mountain, such as thunder. Furthermore, the game is based around a "freeroaming" architecture akin to the later installments of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series.
Other notable changes include the introduction of a second level of "über tricks"; the elimination of freestyle/BX/Alpine boards in favor of a single board type, and the elimination of statistical differences between characters, and the continuity in tracks linked together by "Stations." In general, the game emphasizes customization much more than in previous games; for example, different boards no longer have different effects on how they perform, allowing the player to choose between them based purely on aesthetics as opposed to taking the statistics into consideration, as was common previously.
There are four ways to "Conquer the Mountain" and advance to higher peaks:
One is to earn medals in racing events, eventually leading to a challenge by the master of that peak in a backcountry event, and then a full peak challenge, which covers that peak's backcountry all the way to the bottom of Peak 1. There are 5 official race courses in the game, not including the 6 rival challenge races.
Freestyle works similarly, given that there are more freestyle events than there are races. Also, the full peak challenges for Peaks 1 and 2 only cover their respective backcountries and slopestyles. There are 9 official freestyle courses in the game, not including the 6 rival challenge freestyles.
Freeride works in an entirely different way. The player can earn a certain percentage of the collectibles for the peak and also win a certain number of the peak's "Big Challenges" (special challenges that range from breaking glass panes in superpipes to punching targets in "The Throne"). The "typical" Big Challenge has the player score points in a race track or speed down a slopestyle track.
Earnings is a set amount of money the player is supposed to earn while playing the game normally.
[edit] Characters
SSX 3 features 10 main characters, 6 of which are returning members of previous SSX games. The six veterans at SSX are Elise, Kaori, Mac, Moby, Psymon and Zoe. The game's four debuting characters are Allegra, Griff, Nate and Viggo. Finishing various in-game tasks earns the player money, with which they can buy their character accessories. Each character features a number of shared accessories as well as unique items designed specifically for them. Purchasing accessories allows the player to create a distinct version of their character to distinguish them from others.
In addition to these characters, there are unlockable "cheat characters". While these hidden characters are entirely playable, most of them do not have unique animations, voice acting or equipable accessories. Cheat characters range from past characters from the SSX series to bizarre fantasy snowboarders, such as a snowman or a beaver.
[edit] Soundtrack
The soundtrack for SSX 3 contains a large selection of songs which the player could add to a custom playlist. A compilation CD containing 12 of the songs from the game was also released, though it did not contain the game's title track.
[edit] References
- Smith, Shaun (2003). Prima's Official Strategy Guide: SSX 3. USA: Random House.
[edit] External links
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