Post by Brian-RN on Nov 11, 2005 17:25:20 GMT -5
SSX On Tour
When SSX was released as a launch title for the PS2, fans and critics alike raved it as the best snowboarding game available on current-generation systems. With the rather abysmal performance of 1080 Avalanche, this is definitely a true statement. On Tour holds up the basic core gameplay very well, while not just re-inventing it’s look, but also adding a skier option and ‘borrowing’ some ideas from Criterions Burnout series.
The first noticeable thing about On Tour is its graphical layout. The new layout looks as if it was torn out of a 1980’s metal-heads notebook. The rather eccentric doodles and drawings line not only the menus of On Tour, but the courses as well. The regular courses are lined with hands throwing up the horns and the jumps are signified by star-struck aliens. Even the collectables such as speed boosts and cash look hand-drawn. Needless to say, On Tour looks very good as a high school daydream, but of course, graphics have always been a strong point of the SSX series.
While on the graphics, lets just say they’ve haven’t improved much since SSX3. The environments and characters as a whole haven’t gone under a graphical makeover. They’re still the same look and style as SSX 3. The courses look generally the same except for there are a lot of trees. Needless to say On Tours graphics are rather impressive. The character models are still rather outstanding and the courses as a whole are still amazing. SSX On Tour also features a pretty outstanding draw distance, which can be seen which catching huge amounts of air.
The characters in the game look very well done. Ranging from playable characters to created characters, each one looks unique. The create-a-character is new to the SSX franchise, but it’s not new to EA Big, thus giving On Tour a very good create-a-character mode. Although it’s nothing like The Sims, On Tour will let the player create a character that looks something like themselves, or let them go all out and give the character a liberty spikes, a one piece jumpsuit and pretty much make them look crazy. It’s not very in-depth, but for a snowboarding game that focuses more on the gameplay than how the player looks, it’s pretty awesome.
Much like the created characters, the gameplay of On Tour is very out there. Players can perform huge tricks and grind humongous rails. The gameplay is very exaggerated, as one could never land a back flip after simply jumping. This just adds to the fun factor, as player will find themselves trying to add a few more tricks in before they hit the ground, really taking a gamble. Tricks are still done with the shoulder buttons, as well as a few face buttons. Also, this time around special tricks are called ‘Monster Tricks’ and are done with the trick stick. Pushing the trick stick in any direction will result in a different Monster Trick, and rotating it will result in an even better move. Another addition to the series is that Monster tricks don’t run out unless the player doesn’t do anything. Monster tricks can reach a point where players have unlimited boost until they crash. This can be essential in races, as it gives the player an extra edge over the competition.
There are three types of events in On Tour; Race, Slopestyle and Shred. Race is exactly what it says, a race. Generally against 9 other people, races can be down one course, a few courses, or down the entire mountain. Races also have many types. Finals matches require players to qualify in the final 4 for the final race. Venue matches take players time over all 4 race venues and combines them into one total time. And then there are single, double and triple race matches, which require players to race a number of times, and then either have their times totaled, have their best time taken or simply see who wins the most races. Slopestyle consists of who can get the most points. It also uses the same types of events as races, but switches time with points.
Finally, Shred events. These are basically to gain hype, and they vary from doing a certain amount of monster tricks, to racing 1-on-1 against an opponent. These events are generally very short, but the difficulty is varied. Most can be accomplished on the first try, while others will have some players trying them over a few times. As mentioned above, Shreds gain hype, which raises the player in the rankings, raising them from Beginner to Amateur to Pro, etc. New statuses unlock new events and new equipment. These are normally quirky pieces of clothing, but their fun none the less.
The whole premise of On Tour is to become number 1. Players start at #200, and eventually work their way up. It becomes gradually harder and harder, as players rise fewer spots with each win. More the more hype gained with each event means the player rises more spots. Rising to the top doesn’t take that long, but it’s not something players will want to do in one sitting. After rising to number one, players can still unlock sponsorships and new clothing. They can also finish all of the events and break records. Also, after players reach a certain rank, Free Ride is unlocked. Players can simply ride down the mountain, or do individual challenges on each course.
This time around, there’s only one mountain. It takes roughly 15 minutes to ride down the mountain, give or take a few depending on riding style. Also, there are a lot more trees this time around. Generally SSX has been about course riding, but now there’s lots of off-slope riding, which is return means trees, trees, trees. Players will find themselves flying off jumps, only to meet their woody doom. It can be an annoyance at first, but eventually players will love zooming through trees, nearly missing each one. It’s some what of a thrill, and is also a great way to take out rival riders.
Another great thing about On Tour is the AI. Unlike many games, the AI in this game fall. The run into trees, hold tricks to long, and bump into objects. It’s not so much that they’re dumb, but just enough that it’s realistic. It’s nice during a race to see ones opponent fall, knowing that they’re not super-computers that take every shortcut and come out of nowhere. The AI in this game are some of the best out there as far as player vs. CPU go for racing games.
Another new thing to watch out for are other skiers and snowboarders on the mountain. These other riders can be knocked down for boost, or just be avoided. Players won’t find many in the back country, but there are tons of little kids and adults alike hitting the more carved out areas. These other riders also add a sense of humor to the game, as they’ll talk about the game or other rather random things. It’s a nice break from the adrenaline filled gameplay, and is worth a laugh or two.
Since the other riders of the game are given the option to ski, so are the players. Players can now choose from either skis or snowboard. Skis control exactly the same as snowboards, and many of the moves look exactly the same, but the sense of speed isn’t the same with skiers as it is with snowboarders. It feels as if the character is always moving the same speed, even with the boost on. Most likely fans of the series will choose snowboarders, but for those that don’t, be warned.
On Tour has a very good sense of speed. The boost factor feels like it’s been taken out of the Burnout series, as not only are the blur effects there, but the takedowns and close calls as well. It really adds to the gameplay, as On Tour is so ‘out there’ the speed just makes it that much cooler.
The Tour itself speaks to the fact that players will be moving up in the rankings. It’s really an underlying theme, as the words ‘The Tour’ don’t come up that often. It’s really not a huge part of the game, as it just feels like a title (which it should in ways), while not actually contributing to the gameplay.
A large part of the adrenaline filled gameplay of On Tour is credited to the soundtrack. An awesome mix of punk, indie, rap, dance and hip-hop make their way into On Tour’s collection, giving the game a very snowboardy feel. The music cuts out while doing a monster trick or catching huge air, then comes back in when the player lands it, giving that trick some extra cool points. Of course, what would a metal-head inspired game be without some classic rock? Dio, Scorpions and Def Leppard, not to mention many others grace the tracks of On Tour, attributing to the metal head feel of the game.
The sound effects are also very good. Players will yell insults at each others and when a character falls it sounds like it hurts. The sound of the board on the snow is also very well done, as each turn, cut and jump sounds incredible. The courses also sound very good, whether it be boarders jumping through trees or the sound of the fireworks going off. So pretty much, the entire game sounds pretty good.
After being around for a whole console life, one might think the SSX series has run out of steam and it on its last leg. This isn’t true of On Tour, and while it isn’t necessarily the best in its series, it’s a great game and it sticks to the core gameplay that made it so popular, while adding some new elements to keep the series fresh. On Tour isn’t a must own, but if you’re a fan of the series, check this one out.
Overall 8.6/10
When SSX was released as a launch title for the PS2, fans and critics alike raved it as the best snowboarding game available on current-generation systems. With the rather abysmal performance of 1080 Avalanche, this is definitely a true statement. On Tour holds up the basic core gameplay very well, while not just re-inventing it’s look, but also adding a skier option and ‘borrowing’ some ideas from Criterions Burnout series.
The first noticeable thing about On Tour is its graphical layout. The new layout looks as if it was torn out of a 1980’s metal-heads notebook. The rather eccentric doodles and drawings line not only the menus of On Tour, but the courses as well. The regular courses are lined with hands throwing up the horns and the jumps are signified by star-struck aliens. Even the collectables such as speed boosts and cash look hand-drawn. Needless to say, On Tour looks very good as a high school daydream, but of course, graphics have always been a strong point of the SSX series.
While on the graphics, lets just say they’ve haven’t improved much since SSX3. The environments and characters as a whole haven’t gone under a graphical makeover. They’re still the same look and style as SSX 3. The courses look generally the same except for there are a lot of trees. Needless to say On Tours graphics are rather impressive. The character models are still rather outstanding and the courses as a whole are still amazing. SSX On Tour also features a pretty outstanding draw distance, which can be seen which catching huge amounts of air.
The characters in the game look very well done. Ranging from playable characters to created characters, each one looks unique. The create-a-character is new to the SSX franchise, but it’s not new to EA Big, thus giving On Tour a very good create-a-character mode. Although it’s nothing like The Sims, On Tour will let the player create a character that looks something like themselves, or let them go all out and give the character a liberty spikes, a one piece jumpsuit and pretty much make them look crazy. It’s not very in-depth, but for a snowboarding game that focuses more on the gameplay than how the player looks, it’s pretty awesome.
Much like the created characters, the gameplay of On Tour is very out there. Players can perform huge tricks and grind humongous rails. The gameplay is very exaggerated, as one could never land a back flip after simply jumping. This just adds to the fun factor, as player will find themselves trying to add a few more tricks in before they hit the ground, really taking a gamble. Tricks are still done with the shoulder buttons, as well as a few face buttons. Also, this time around special tricks are called ‘Monster Tricks’ and are done with the trick stick. Pushing the trick stick in any direction will result in a different Monster Trick, and rotating it will result in an even better move. Another addition to the series is that Monster tricks don’t run out unless the player doesn’t do anything. Monster tricks can reach a point where players have unlimited boost until they crash. This can be essential in races, as it gives the player an extra edge over the competition.
There are three types of events in On Tour; Race, Slopestyle and Shred. Race is exactly what it says, a race. Generally against 9 other people, races can be down one course, a few courses, or down the entire mountain. Races also have many types. Finals matches require players to qualify in the final 4 for the final race. Venue matches take players time over all 4 race venues and combines them into one total time. And then there are single, double and triple race matches, which require players to race a number of times, and then either have their times totaled, have their best time taken or simply see who wins the most races. Slopestyle consists of who can get the most points. It also uses the same types of events as races, but switches time with points.
Finally, Shred events. These are basically to gain hype, and they vary from doing a certain amount of monster tricks, to racing 1-on-1 against an opponent. These events are generally very short, but the difficulty is varied. Most can be accomplished on the first try, while others will have some players trying them over a few times. As mentioned above, Shreds gain hype, which raises the player in the rankings, raising them from Beginner to Amateur to Pro, etc. New statuses unlock new events and new equipment. These are normally quirky pieces of clothing, but their fun none the less.
The whole premise of On Tour is to become number 1. Players start at #200, and eventually work their way up. It becomes gradually harder and harder, as players rise fewer spots with each win. More the more hype gained with each event means the player rises more spots. Rising to the top doesn’t take that long, but it’s not something players will want to do in one sitting. After rising to number one, players can still unlock sponsorships and new clothing. They can also finish all of the events and break records. Also, after players reach a certain rank, Free Ride is unlocked. Players can simply ride down the mountain, or do individual challenges on each course.
This time around, there’s only one mountain. It takes roughly 15 minutes to ride down the mountain, give or take a few depending on riding style. Also, there are a lot more trees this time around. Generally SSX has been about course riding, but now there’s lots of off-slope riding, which is return means trees, trees, trees. Players will find themselves flying off jumps, only to meet their woody doom. It can be an annoyance at first, but eventually players will love zooming through trees, nearly missing each one. It’s some what of a thrill, and is also a great way to take out rival riders.
Another great thing about On Tour is the AI. Unlike many games, the AI in this game fall. The run into trees, hold tricks to long, and bump into objects. It’s not so much that they’re dumb, but just enough that it’s realistic. It’s nice during a race to see ones opponent fall, knowing that they’re not super-computers that take every shortcut and come out of nowhere. The AI in this game are some of the best out there as far as player vs. CPU go for racing games.
Another new thing to watch out for are other skiers and snowboarders on the mountain. These other riders can be knocked down for boost, or just be avoided. Players won’t find many in the back country, but there are tons of little kids and adults alike hitting the more carved out areas. These other riders also add a sense of humor to the game, as they’ll talk about the game or other rather random things. It’s a nice break from the adrenaline filled gameplay, and is worth a laugh or two.
Since the other riders of the game are given the option to ski, so are the players. Players can now choose from either skis or snowboard. Skis control exactly the same as snowboards, and many of the moves look exactly the same, but the sense of speed isn’t the same with skiers as it is with snowboarders. It feels as if the character is always moving the same speed, even with the boost on. Most likely fans of the series will choose snowboarders, but for those that don’t, be warned.
On Tour has a very good sense of speed. The boost factor feels like it’s been taken out of the Burnout series, as not only are the blur effects there, but the takedowns and close calls as well. It really adds to the gameplay, as On Tour is so ‘out there’ the speed just makes it that much cooler.
The Tour itself speaks to the fact that players will be moving up in the rankings. It’s really an underlying theme, as the words ‘The Tour’ don’t come up that often. It’s really not a huge part of the game, as it just feels like a title (which it should in ways), while not actually contributing to the gameplay.
A large part of the adrenaline filled gameplay of On Tour is credited to the soundtrack. An awesome mix of punk, indie, rap, dance and hip-hop make their way into On Tour’s collection, giving the game a very snowboardy feel. The music cuts out while doing a monster trick or catching huge air, then comes back in when the player lands it, giving that trick some extra cool points. Of course, what would a metal-head inspired game be without some classic rock? Dio, Scorpions and Def Leppard, not to mention many others grace the tracks of On Tour, attributing to the metal head feel of the game.
The sound effects are also very good. Players will yell insults at each others and when a character falls it sounds like it hurts. The sound of the board on the snow is also very well done, as each turn, cut and jump sounds incredible. The courses also sound very good, whether it be boarders jumping through trees or the sound of the fireworks going off. So pretty much, the entire game sounds pretty good.
After being around for a whole console life, one might think the SSX series has run out of steam and it on its last leg. This isn’t true of On Tour, and while it isn’t necessarily the best in its series, it’s a great game and it sticks to the core gameplay that made it so popular, while adding some new elements to keep the series fresh. On Tour isn’t a must own, but if you’re a fan of the series, check this one out.
Overall 8.6/10