Publisher: Microsoft
Ages: Eight & up
Parental
Advisory:
None
Snowboarders who are nowhere near snow can get their kicks with Microsoft's Amped 2. This comprehensive snowboarding game offers spectacularly rendered mountains and well done terrain parks and lets players compete head-to-head in various multi-player modes and through online play. It's a satisfying snowboarding experience that is mostly for purists.
Amped 2 is a sequel that takes all of the moves from it predecessor and adds aerial tricks; advanced grabs; a full set of rail slides, tweaks, stalls, and hand and foot plants; and introduces "butter," a new combo system that links nose and tail manuals. The game emphasizes tricks over racing. As a result, the title lacks the wide appeal of a race game that casual gamers can more easily learn and get into.
The game lets players live the life of a professional snowboarder-traveling the globe; performing tricks for sponsors, photographers, and fans and building fame. There are three levels of media challenges: photos, photo sequences, and video demo reels. And as a player's fame builds, sponsors award new gear and boards, and banners appear on mountains, displaying the latest endorsements.
Gamers can create and customize their own rider, including hair style, gear, and customized board graphics. The game features 14 top snowboarding pros that include Jeremy Jones, Mikey LeBlanc, Travis Parker, and Janna Meyen. If one is new to this art of virtual snowboarding, the game comes with a helpful tutorial that teaches the basics.
Comprehensive multi-player modes let individuals and teams compete via split-screen, LAN, or Xbox Live. Online, players may challenge up to seven other people in a game of horse, or play games of 4-vs.-4 King of the Mountain.
The graphics serve impressive, fully-rendered, 3-D environments and there are new mountains that include Laax, Switzerland, Mt. Buller in Australia, and heli-riding Harris Mountain in New Zealand. Clouds cast shadows that move over the hills, and runs feature other riders, snow-cats, people riding chairlifts, and working snow machines. The game also comes with a comprehensive sound track that includes some 300 songs.
Amped 2 is a good game. But its emphasis on tricks means that it appeals more to die hard players. And it's these gamers that will particularly enjoy the title's online features.
1/8/04
Daytrum Editorial Staff
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