Amped

Review - Microsoft's answer to SSX gets the Ferrago treatment.

Snowboarding titles are pretty much synonymous with consoles these days, thanks in part to the in-roads made by EA in this sporting sub-genre, and partly because of the growth of this ultra-cool adrenaline sport. Regardless these games are big business, so naturally Microsoft ensured that their own icy-cool take on the subject was in-place ready for the Xbox’s launch. The games name is Amped.

Amped is indeed a pretty cool game, albeit it a rather ‘painted-by-numbers’ affair, at times. The graphics can be lovely most of the time, the length and breadth of the runs being particularly impressive; the mountain scenery breathtaking. The visuals are not however, without the odd annoying glitch, such as pop-up scenery and occasional clipping problems (whereby you can see through solid objects). These do show a degree of carelessness occasionally, though aren’t wholly awful. All in all, Amped is a deeply attractive game – the animation especially being very fluid, and very fast.

Microsoft’s offering takes a different approach to it’s illustrious competitors, too – aiming at a more ‘serious’ simulation approach to the sport – with some accurate physics, moves, runs, outfits, etc. The game also allows you to take on the pros in a ‘Career’ mode – where you’ll be able to build up the repute of your character within the sport and media. This is done by accruing points for your various tricks and jumps, as you move from run to run, growing in ability. Indeed, as you progress you’ll find that your character gets stronger and more agile – a vast, and pleasing improvement from the awful butter-fingered performance you’ll meet with earlier in the game.

Sponsorship deals are another addition to Amped, and you’ll be able to earn these by completing particular tricks and stunts that impress certain sponsors – the acquirement of which allows you to purchase better boards and outfits. Which is nice.

Now a little detractor. Amped is a deeply, deeply hard game. In fact it’s quite dauntingly so. On first commencing the game, I found myself floundering woefully in the snow, unable to even complete the most simple of moves. Of course, this was partly down to me being crap, but also, as a later discovered, was a result of the rather ‘hit-and-miss’ control system. It isn’t exactly predictable when it comes to moves, and jumps, etc. This got frustrating very quickly.

Of course, as any self-respecting Snowboarder would testify, it’s all about style, and this game has it by the bucketload – whether it’s the coolest on the slopes is debateable, but if the excellent and rousing soundtrack is anything to go by then it’s pretty close. All in all then, Amped is a fun if rather too challenging Snowboarding game, that does prove a little frustrating at times, mainly as a result of some comparatively minor flaws. Fans of these games will probably enjoy the struggle, but those looking for a quick arcade thrill may be advised to look elsewhere.

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