Amped 2
Encyclopedia
Amped 2 is a sequel to Microsoft's
snowboarding game Amped
, which was an Xbox launch title. The game was introduced as part of the XSN Sports
lineup, which included such games as NFL Fever, Top Spin and Rallisport Challenge
.
in which each level has goals for the player to complete. Each level or mountain has a high score and media score to break, which entails accumulating the most points in one run of the mountain and performing tricks for photographers or the media who are scattered throughout the mountain. The player must also find eight snowmen on each run as well as complete five tricks and gap locations that earn the player skill points. Skill points are used to upgrade stats such as "spin/flip", "big air", "ollie
", "balance", and "switch".
In addition to these challenges, as the player progress through their career, they will be invited to events in which they compete for a top three finish which yields both fame and skill points. As the player's fame rises they gain different titles which are (from lowest to highest): "Local Rider", "Shop Rider", "Pro", "Superstar", and "#1". Once the player reaches number one in the world they are able to become a legend by completing each legend challenge on each mountain.
In addition to snowboarding, the player has the opportunity to snow skate
. Snow skate adds different gameplay elements to the game which is more representative of skateboarding
than snowboarding.
A character's physical features, such as clothing, goggles, and boots, can be edited.
, Travis Parker
, and Janna Meyen.
Amped 2 provides a wide variety of performable tricks. There are also point multipliers which increase points when performing a difficult or stylish move.
General tricks include spins, flips, off-axes, butters, jibs, railslides, ollies, jumps, grabs, lip tricks, and tweaks . The player can also perform "combos". For example, a multiple flip + a 360 spin. Grabs can be achieved while airborne by moving the right thumbstick in any direction.
Additionally, the player can perform "style moves", which adds extra points and point multipliers to increase the player's score.
On Xbox Live there are five different game types such as, "Just Ride", "Trick Race", "High Score", "Best Trick", and "King of the Mountain".
There are seven different courses which include, Breckenridge
, Bear Mountain
, Mount Hood
, Laax
, Mount Buller, Millicent
, and New Zealand
, and each course has at least two different drop points.
Amped 2's multiplayer on Xbox Live brought a number of new features not seen in any other on-line game at the time. For instance, it was the first game on Xbox Live to integrate a player's career mode character to that of their Xbox Live character. During career mode, as the player completes tasks, they gain skill points which increase their character's abilities. This then translates to the player's Xbox Live character, therefore, giving individuals who have completed the career mode an advantage over those who have not.
Many Xbox Live titles have a single host who controls the game options, but if that player were to quit their session, the entire game session would expire. However, in Amped 2, the host can choose to have either the winner, loser, or a random player of a session select the options for the following game. Also, if the host quits, the player with the next best connection gains hosting abilities rather than ending the game session.
, Acumen Nation
, and The Peripheral Visionaries. In addition to the in game soundtrack, players can choose to use custom soundtracks as well.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
snowboarding game Amped
Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding
Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding is an Xbox exclusive snowboarding video game. It is the first of the Amped video game series....
, which was an Xbox launch title. The game was introduced as part of the XSN Sports
XSN Sports
XSN Sports is a defunct Microsoft Game Studios brand focusing on sports games that also featured an online game matching service that allowed players to set up private leagues and tournaments for titles in their lineup.-Game matching service:...
lineup, which included such games as NFL Fever, Top Spin and Rallisport Challenge
Rallisport Challenge
RalliSport Challenge is a 2002 video game of rallying for the Microsoft Windows and the Xbox. It allows a career with up to 29 cars including the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. Four races that are included in the game are Rally, Hillclimb, Ice Racing, and Rallycross...
.
Career Mode
The career mode in Amped 2 is much like other extreme sport games such as Tony Hawk's Pro SkaterTony Hawk's Pro Skater
-Reception:The game was very well-received by most critics, scoring an outstanding 92 on Metacritic based on 18 reviews for the PS1 version. IGN gave the N64 version of the game a 9.1 out of 10 praising the gameplay for "genius control, combo system and design" despite little criticism with sound...
in which each level has goals for the player to complete. Each level or mountain has a high score and media score to break, which entails accumulating the most points in one run of the mountain and performing tricks for photographers or the media who are scattered throughout the mountain. The player must also find eight snowmen on each run as well as complete five tricks and gap locations that earn the player skill points. Skill points are used to upgrade stats such as "spin/flip", "big air", "ollie
Ollie
Ollie, a shortened form of Oliver may refer to the following:-People:*Ollie Canning , Irish hurling player*Ollie Clarke, a British association footballer...
", "balance", and "switch".
In addition to these challenges, as the player progress through their career, they will be invited to events in which they compete for a top three finish which yields both fame and skill points. As the player's fame rises they gain different titles which are (from lowest to highest): "Local Rider", "Shop Rider", "Pro", "Superstar", and "#1". Once the player reaches number one in the world they are able to become a legend by completing each legend challenge on each mountain.
In addition to snowboarding, the player has the opportunity to snow skate
Snow skating
A snowskate is a hybrid of a skateboard and a snowboard, intended primarily to allow for skateboard-style tricks on the snow. There are many types depending on the brand or style of snowskate.- History and design :...
. Snow skate adds different gameplay elements to the game which is more representative of skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
than snowboarding.
A character's physical features, such as clothing, goggles, and boots, can be edited.
Tricks and game points
Amped 2 features 14 top snowboarding pros, including Jeremy Jones, Mikey LeBlancHolden Outerwear
Holden Outerwear is a manufacturer of jackets and pants for use in skiing and snowboarding. Based in Portland, OR, Holden is owned by professional snowboarder Mikey LeBlanc and designer Scott Zergebel.-History:...
, Travis Parker
Travis Parker
Travis Parker is a professional snowboarder. Originally from Jonestown, Texas, his sponsors have included Capita Super, K2 Snowboards, DC Boots, Airblaster, Union Bindings, Level, Lifetime, and Bluebird. In 2005, Parker started riding for Capita, having left longtime sponsor K2...
, and Janna Meyen.
Amped 2 provides a wide variety of performable tricks. There are also point multipliers which increase points when performing a difficult or stylish move.
General tricks include spins, flips, off-axes, butters, jibs, railslides, ollies, jumps, grabs, lip tricks, and tweaks . The player can also perform "combos". For example, a multiple flip + a 360 spin. Grabs can be achieved while airborne by moving the right thumbstick in any direction.
Additionally, the player can perform "style moves", which adds extra points and point multipliers to increase the player's score.
Multiplayer
Amped 2 supports up to eight players on System Link or Xbox Live and allows split-screen on both.On Xbox Live there are five different game types such as, "Just Ride", "Trick Race", "High Score", "Best Trick", and "King of the Mountain".
There are seven different courses which include, Breckenridge
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge Ski Resort, or just Breck, is perenially one of North America's top 2 most visited ski resorts, and is located in Summit County, Colorado in the town of Breckenridge...
, Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain (Ski Area)
Bear Mountain , formerly Goldmine Mountain, is a ski area in Southern California. It is the sister resort of Snow Summit, together known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts. In 2002 Bear Mountain was purchased by Snow Summit, and the two resorts are now accessible with a single lift ticket...
, Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
, Laax
Laax
Laax is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Laax has an area, , of . Of this area, 35.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.6% is forested...
, Mount Buller, Millicent
Millicent
Millicent is a female given name that has been in use since the Middle Ages. The English form Millicent derives from the Old French Melisende, from the Germanic amal "work" and swinth "strength"...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and each course has at least two different drop points.
Amped 2's multiplayer on Xbox Live brought a number of new features not seen in any other on-line game at the time. For instance, it was the first game on Xbox Live to integrate a player's career mode character to that of their Xbox Live character. During career mode, as the player completes tasks, they gain skill points which increase their character's abilities. This then translates to the player's Xbox Live character, therefore, giving individuals who have completed the career mode an advantage over those who have not.
Many Xbox Live titles have a single host who controls the game options, but if that player were to quit their session, the entire game session would expire. However, in Amped 2, the host can choose to have either the winner, loser, or a random player of a session select the options for the following game. Also, if the host quits, the player with the next best connection gains hosting abilities rather than ending the game session.
Soundtrack
Amped 2 has an abundant soundtrack of over 300 songs, including various underground and indie groups such as MyGMyG
MyG is an underground musical group. They have created 3 CDs to date: Sidewalk Symphony, Vito y Coco, and Politick'n. They have been featured in the Xbox games Amped and Amped 2, Transworld Snowboarding, the PlayStation and PC game L.A. Rush, as well as various snowskate and wakeboard videos, and...
, Acumen Nation
Acumen Nation
Acumen Nation is an industrial rock band based in Chicago, Illinois.-History:Formed in the late 1980s as Acumen by Jason Novak and Ethan Novak , the band released several cassette demos before self-releasing the CD demo "Transmissions from Eville" in 1994. The two along with bassist Greg Lopez put...
, and The Peripheral Visionaries. In addition to the in game soundtrack, players can choose to use custom soundtracks as well.