SSX (2000 video game)

Did You Know?

• SSX's development started on the Dreamcast before moving to the PlayStation 2 after Electronic Arts ended its relationship with Sega.
• The game was announced on February 17, 2000.
• The executive producer Steve Rechtschaffner invented the Olympic snowboard event called boardercross, which inspired the game.

Gameplay

Players select from eight riders, each with distinct statistics and boarding styles. Four characters—Mac Fraser, Moby Jones, Elise Riggs, and Kaori Nishidake—are available initially; the remaining four are unlocked by earning gold medals. Courses feature ramps, rails, jumps, and other objects. Performing tricks fills a boost meter used for acceleration, making tricks important even in races. Many advanced tricks are not realistic to actual physics, but larger and more extreme tricks score the most points. A freeride mode allows players to practice or explore courses without competition.

Reception

SSX received universal acclaim according to Metacritic. Eric Bratcher of NextGen called it "The best game on PS2 to date. End of story." In Japan, where it was released as X-treme Racing SSX on October 26, 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40. GameSpot praised the smooth graphics, direct controls, and dynamic soundtrack that adjusts music intensity based on player performance. IGN highlighted the balance between tricks and racing, calling the Tokyo Megaplex course "a festival of lights, color and one of the most ingeniously designed levels that have ever been in a game." Both reviews noted occasional graphical slowdown but considered it rare and minor. Edge gave it eight out of ten, stating it values entertainment over image. GameCritics praised the scope of the tracks and the simplicity of the trick system, though it criticized the pre-wind jump system for sacrificing steering before ramps. The game won PlayStation 2 Game of the Year at Electronic Gaming Monthly's 2000 Gamers' Choice Awards and Readers' Choice Awards, and won "Best Sound" and "Best PlayStation 2 Game" at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards. It was a runner-up for several other awards, and GameSpot staff called it a "killer app" for the PlayStation 2.