Snowboarding games are a dime a dozen these days. In fact it's hard to go anywhere without bumping into some average snowboarding game. Just going outside to check my mail I come across two or three. "Hello CoolBoarders! How are you ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding?" I say to the multitude of titles vying for my gaming money. Perhaps the market is not that flooded, but it seems like it sometimes. What is a rare breed, are good snowboarding titles. Nintendo's 1080, set the benchmark early in the N64's life, and no game has come close to reaching that standard. That statement was true, until now. Electronic Art's SSX has stormed onto the scene dazzling gamers and non-gamers alike with its amazing graphics, and even more amazing gameplay.

SSX is the first title in the BIG line of EA products. A BIG title is a game that is more arcade like, and less like what you would typically expect from Electronic Arts. It is also an appropriate name for this game, as everything here is larger than life. The courses are enormous, the jumps are huge, and the tricks have to be seen to be believed. Even the characters are BIG, not in their stature, but in their attitude. You'll find this out quickly, as getting to the bottom of the hill first requires much more than speed.

SSX has two options upon starting the game, Single Event, and World Circuit mode. In a single event, you can go head to head against a second player, or tweak your skills on a course that you are having difficulty with. The bulk of the gameplay is in the World Circuit mode. There you select a character, and guide them through a season. As you progress through the season you are able to powerup your character, earn new boards, costumes, and most importantly, new tracks. During a season, you can participate on two different events on each course, Race mode, and Showoff mode. In Showoff mode your goal is to earn as many points as possible on a single run down the course. Points are earned by performing tricks, and reaching bonus multipliers scattered throughout the level. By earning medals in Showoff, new characters become available for you to guide through a season. Race mode is just what it sounds like. You race down the slopes as fast as you can, and try to earn a medal.

The Gameplay in SSX is difficult to convey in a review, but it is some of the most outstanding I have ever experienced. Even though Showoff mode is fun, Race mode is what this game is all about. Here EA has found a good mix between difficult and fun, making this game enjoyable for hours on end. When you race a course, you must prove your abilities by placing in the top 3, in three different rounds, before you win a medal. This can sometimes get monotonous, but it does a great job of preparing you for the next level. As you launch yourself downhill it seems like there is always something keeping you from reaching the bottom of the hill. Whether it's a pesky opponent trying to bump you off course, a huge jump, or that daunting "Cliff >>>" sign, it takes total concentration to make it down the course in one piece. In addition to those obstacles, you must find time to perform tricks, because as the announcer likes to say "Tricks=Boost, Boost=Speed!". That's right, you can't play it safe in this game, you've got to lay it all on the line even if you are leading, or that three second lead will disappear in no time at all.

What is so difficult to get across, is how over-the-top this game really is, and that is what makes it so special. Even though many of the moves and courses are a bit unrealistic, it never loses the feel of a snowboarding title, and most importantly it never stops being fun. This can be attributed directly to the amazing course design found in the game. I cannot say enough good things about it. The first course is a simple run down what could be any slope in the world. This gives you a good opportunity to learn some moves, and get a feel for what the game is about. From then on, the courses are like you've never imagined. Merqury City Meltdown takes you through a busy city, down in the subway, and through an amazing gas lamp lit forest. The Tokyo Megaplex simply drops you in the middle of a life-size pinball machine, and on the last course Aloha Ice Jam, you'll find yourself boarding down a melting iceberg. A melting iceberg may not seem so significant, but this iceberg is melting because it is being towed into a tropical port! Needless to say, the snow is slushy, even nonexistent in parts, but the melting snow has uncovered some tunnels of ice under the ground, so this course has lots to offer.

The graphics found in SSX are phenomenal, and combined with the wonderful gameplay, make this THE showcase title for the PS2. The amount of detail and eye-candy present has never been seen like this on a home console. Fireworks explode as you fly past, snow machines blow snow across the run, and giant floodlights illuminate the course from all angles. What makes this even more amazing is that all this happens at the same time, with no slowdown. The draw distance is also exceptional, and the only time I noticed any pop-up was in one section on Aloha Ice Jam, it was hardly noticeable, and I probably didn't even notice it until my 3rd or 4th trip downhill.

The characters are well done, and are comprised of up to 5,000 polygons per person when viewed from up close. Each boarder has their own unique look, boards, and outfit as well. This adds a nice variety to the game, and helps make each character stand out from the others. Another nice touch is that each participant's board leaves its own trail in the snow, making it possible to discover shortcuts by following the leaders.

Continuing with the trend of excellence is the game's audio. The game has original hip-hop and dance tracks mixed by the Beastie Boys' Mix Master Mike. This music cannot be considered "background", because it responds directly to your performance. If you muscle your way into 1st place, you'll hear a brief hit, letting you know you're the leader. If you find yourself dropping in the race rankings, you'll hear different instruments drop out as you go. By the time you are in last place, a bassline and drums is about all you'll hear. Another nice touch that adds to the game is how the music drops out completely when you make a big jump, leaving just you and the wind. All this is done seamlessly, and it does a nice job complimenting the action.

The sound effects are well done, and again, they add quite a bit to the game. The sound of your board trying to catch an edge on ice sounds different than it does on slush. The announcer does a nice job, and although he gets a little repetitive it does not take away from the game. Characters will taunt each other before, during, and after the race, and they have no problem telling you how they feel about you selecting them to race for you. For all you wrestling fans out there, "Mean Gene" Okerlund lends his voice talents as an announcer on one of the courses.

In my opinion, SSX is far and away the best launch title that I have played. It has taken a stale genre and injected much needed life into it. The fact that this is one of the titles that earned my launch day money also speaks volumes, as I was very careful about what games I spent my cash on. This game has many unlockable items, lots of character, and it is difficult enough to keep you playing for quite some time. SSX has made me excited to see what other titles EA will offer in its BIG franchise, and if the games are any thing like what we have seen thus far, we are all in for a treat. If you are a fan of boarding, racing, or arcade-style games you will likely not be disappointed with this masterpiece.