SSX 3
Encyclopedia
SSX 3 is a snowboarding extreme racing game published by Electronic Arts
and developed by EA Sports BIG
, which was released in late 2003. It is the third installment in the SSX
series, and is THX
approved. Like the previous installments, the game was critically acclaimed. SSX 3 became the first game in the series to finally sell over one million copies on one platform, with the PlayStation 2
version selling 1.38 million units worldwide, and the GameCube and Xbox
versions selling roughly about a million units worldwide. It is estimated that the GameBoy Advance version has sold around 800,000 units. It is also estimated that in total the game has sold around 5 million copies.
The most obvious change to the series is the location. In earlier games, individual tracks were located around the world. In SSX 3, the entire game takes place on one mountain, with three peaks and several individual runs. Runs are designated as "race", "slopestyle", "super pipe", "big air", or "backcountry" tracks, and are designed accordingly. The race tracks are connected; it is possible to board through these tracks from the top of the mountain to the bottom without stopping or reloading each track.
The reward system is also revamped and improved. Although some rewards are still tied to what medals the player gets, most rewards are bought using money earned in competition or when finding hidden collectibles. Outfits, stat improvements, "cheat characters" (character models) and game art are all available.
Graphically the game is improved over previous installments by featuring a new graphics engine which adds various visual improvements such as 'Mountain effects': special effects to the game's mountain, such as thunder. Furthermore, the game is based around a "freeroaming" architecture akin to the later installments of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series.
Other notable changes include the introduction of a second level of "über tricks"; the elimination of freestyle/BX/Alpine boards in favor of a single board type, and the elimination of statistical differences between characters, and the continuity in tracks linked together by "Stations." In general, the game emphasizes customization much more than in previous games; for example, different boards no longer have different effects on how they perform, allowing the player to choose between them based purely on aesthetics as opposed to taking the statistics into consideration, as was common previously.
There are four ways to "Conquer the Mountain" and advance to higher peaks:
One is to earn medals in racing events, eventually leading to a challenge by the master of that peak in a backcountry event, and then a full peak challenge, which covers that peak's backcountry all the way to the bottom of Peak 1. There are 5 official race courses in the game, not including the 6 rival challenge races.
Freestyle works similarly, given that there are more freestyle events than there are races. Also, the full peak challenges for Peaks 1 and 2 only cover their respective backcountries and slopestyles. There are 9 official freestyle courses in the game, not including the 6 rival challenge freestyles.
Freeride works in an entirely different way. The player can earn a certain percentage of the collectibles for the peak and also win a certain number of the peak's "Big Challenges" (special challenges that range from breaking glass panes in superpipes to punching targets in "The Throne"). The "typical" Big Challenge has the player score points in a race track or speed down a slopestyle track.
Earnings is a set amount of money the player is supposed to earn while playing the game normally.
SSX Veterans Elise Riggs Zoe Payne Moby Jones Mackenzie "Mac" Fraser Psymon Stark Kaori Nishidake
Debut Characters Allegra Sauvagess Griff Simmons Nate Logan Viggo Rolig
Finishing various in-game tasks earns the player money, with which they can buy their character accessories. Each character features a number of shared accessories as well as unique items designed specifically for them. Purchasing accessories allows the player to create a distinct version of their character to distinguish them from others.
In addition to these characters, there are unlockable "cheat characters". While these hidden characters are entirely playable, most of them do not have unique animations, voice acting or equipable accessories. Cheat characters range from past characters from the SSX series such as Seeiah Owens and Marisol Diez Delgado, to bizarre fantasy snowboarders, such as a snowman or a beaver, and even Stretch from NBA Street
.
A compilation CD containing 13 of the songs from the game was also released, though it did not contain the game's title track.
The following is a list of songs featured in the game:
1. Swollen Members
- "Deep End -Utah Saints Remix-"
2. Swollen Members
- "All Night"
3. Andy Hunter - "Go"
4. Caesars - "Jerk It Out
"
5. N.E.R.D. - "Rock Star (Jason Nevins Remix)"
6. X-ecutioners - "Like This"
7. Kinky
- "Mas"
8. Ima Robot
- "A is for Action"
9. Alpine Stars - "Snow Patrol"
10. Aphrodite
- "Wobble"
11. Audio Bullys
- "We Don't Care"
12. Dan the Automator
Featuring Q-Bert - "Bear Witness III"
13. Felix Da Housecat
- "Silver Screen Shower Scene (Static Revenger)"
14. Deepsky
- "Ride"
15. Queens of the Stone Age
- "No One Knows -U.N.K.L.E. Remix-"
16. Yellowcard
- "Way Away
"
17. Overseer
- "Screw Up"
18. Fischerspooner
- "Emerge (Junkie XL Remix)"
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Higher Ground -X-ecutioners Remix-"
20. Röyksopp
- "Poor Leno -Silicon Soul Remix-"
21. The Black Eyed Peas
- "Labor Day (It's A Holiday)"
22. Jane's Addiction
- "Hypersonic"
23. MxPx
- "Play It Loud"
24. Dilated Peoples
- "Who's Who"
25. Basement Jaxx
- "Do Your Thing (Jaxx Clubb mix)"
26. Chemical Brothers - "Leave Home"
27. Fatboy Slim
- "Don't Let The Man Get You Down"
28. K-os
- "Freeze"
29. The Faint
- "Glass Danse -Paul Oakenfield Remix-"
30. Thrice
- "Stare At The Sun"
31. Autopilot Off
- "Clockworks"
32. Placebo
- "The Bitter End"
33. Power Plant - "Avalanche"
34. John Morgan
- "Buffet of Breaks"
35. Finger Eleven
- "Good Times"
and a 92.28% at Game Rankings
. Gamespot
gave it a 9.0 out of 10, stating that "SSX 3 delivers a rush like few racing games or action sports games have ever achieved." IGN
gave the game a 9.5 out of 10, saying that "this is the best snowboarding game I have ever played." and "It's arcade-centric, trick heavy, and on the third peak, it's brutal, but in the end, nothing comes close to SSX 3."
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
and developed by EA Sports BIG
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
, which was released in late 2003. It is the third installment in the SSX
SSX (series)
SSX is a series of snowboarding and skiing videogames published by EA Sports BIG. It is an arcade-style racing game with larger-than-life courses, characters, and tricks...
series, and is THX
THX
THX is a trade name of a high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems. The current THX was created in 2001 when it spun off from Lucasfilm Ltd...
approved. Like the previous installments, the game was critically acclaimed. SSX 3 became the first game in the series to finally sell over one million copies on one platform, with the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version selling 1.38 million units worldwide, and the GameCube and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
versions selling roughly about a million units worldwide. It is estimated that the GameBoy Advance version has sold around 800,000 units. It is also estimated that in total the game has sold around 5 million copies.
Gameplay
As in previous SSX titles, players choose one of several characters, participate in races or trick competitions, and earn rewards.The most obvious change to the series is the location. In earlier games, individual tracks were located around the world. In SSX 3, the entire game takes place on one mountain, with three peaks and several individual runs. Runs are designated as "race", "slopestyle", "super pipe", "big air", or "backcountry" tracks, and are designed accordingly. The race tracks are connected; it is possible to board through these tracks from the top of the mountain to the bottom without stopping or reloading each track.
The reward system is also revamped and improved. Although some rewards are still tied to what medals the player gets, most rewards are bought using money earned in competition or when finding hidden collectibles. Outfits, stat improvements, "cheat characters" (character models) and game art are all available.
Graphically the game is improved over previous installments by featuring a new graphics engine which adds various visual improvements such as 'Mountain effects': special effects to the game's mountain, such as thunder. Furthermore, the game is based around a "freeroaming" architecture akin to the later installments of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series.
Other notable changes include the introduction of a second level of "über tricks"; the elimination of freestyle/BX/Alpine boards in favor of a single board type, and the elimination of statistical differences between characters, and the continuity in tracks linked together by "Stations." In general, the game emphasizes customization much more than in previous games; for example, different boards no longer have different effects on how they perform, allowing the player to choose between them based purely on aesthetics as opposed to taking the statistics into consideration, as was common previously.
There are four ways to "Conquer the Mountain" and advance to higher peaks:
One is to earn medals in racing events, eventually leading to a challenge by the master of that peak in a backcountry event, and then a full peak challenge, which covers that peak's backcountry all the way to the bottom of Peak 1. There are 5 official race courses in the game, not including the 6 rival challenge races.
Freestyle works similarly, given that there are more freestyle events than there are races. Also, the full peak challenges for Peaks 1 and 2 only cover their respective backcountries and slopestyles. There are 9 official freestyle courses in the game, not including the 6 rival challenge freestyles.
Freeride works in an entirely different way. The player can earn a certain percentage of the collectibles for the peak and also win a certain number of the peak's "Big Challenges" (special challenges that range from breaking glass panes in superpipes to punching targets in "The Throne"). The "typical" Big Challenge has the player score points in a race track or speed down a slopestyle track.
Earnings is a set amount of money the player is supposed to earn while playing the game normally.
Characters
SSX 3 features 10 main characters, 6 of which are returning members of previous SSX games, and 4 of which are debut characters.SSX Veterans Elise Riggs Zoe Payne Moby Jones Mackenzie "Mac" Fraser Psymon Stark Kaori Nishidake
Debut Characters Allegra Sauvagess Griff Simmons Nate Logan Viggo Rolig
Finishing various in-game tasks earns the player money, with which they can buy their character accessories. Each character features a number of shared accessories as well as unique items designed specifically for them. Purchasing accessories allows the player to create a distinct version of their character to distinguish them from others.
In addition to these characters, there are unlockable "cheat characters". While these hidden characters are entirely playable, most of them do not have unique animations, voice acting or equipable accessories. Cheat characters range from past characters from the SSX series such as Seeiah Owens and Marisol Diez Delgado, to bizarre fantasy snowboarders, such as a snowman or a beaver, and even Stretch from NBA Street
NBA Street
NBA Street is a series of basketball video games produced by EA Sports BIG. It combines the talent and big names of the NBA with the attitude and atmosphere of streetball...
.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for SSX 3 is an eclectic mix of songs from different genres, including house, trance, electronica, drum & bass, punk, modern rock, and hip-hop. Like previous releases, the build-up of songs played during gameplay is affected by the player's momentum in landing (or failing to land) big tricks, and taking harder mountain paths.A compilation CD containing 13 of the songs from the game was also released, though it did not contain the game's title track.
The following is a list of songs featured in the game:
1. Swollen Members
Swollen Members
Swollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada consisting mainly of the duo Mad Child, and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only and producer Rob the Viking, an official group member since 2002...
- "Deep End -Utah Saints Remix-"
2. Swollen Members
Swollen Members
Swollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada consisting mainly of the duo Mad Child, and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only and producer Rob the Viking, an official group member since 2002...
- "All Night"
3. Andy Hunter - "Go"
4. Caesars - "Jerk It Out
Jerk It Out
"Jerk It Out" is a song by Caesars which originally appeared on their album Love for the Streets and is also featured on the follow-up Paper Tigers in remixed form. There is also a Jason Nevins club remix, called "Jerk It Harder"...
"
5. N.E.R.D. - "Rock Star (Jason Nevins Remix)"
6. X-ecutioners - "Like This"
7. Kinky
Kinky
Kinky may refer to:*Kinky , a five-member band from Monterrey, Mexico**Kinky , their self-titled album*Kinky *Kink , unconventional sexual practices...
- "Mas"
8. Ima Robot
Ima Robot
-Band history:Ima Robot formed in the late 1990s, after vocalist Alex Ebert's band The Lucky 13's broke up, and became successful in the early 2000s after signing with Virgin Records. The band's other original members were Timmy "the Terror" Anderson, Oligee, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, and the prolific...
- "A is for Action"
9. Alpine Stars - "Snow Patrol"
10. Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
- "Wobble"
11. Audio Bullys
Audio Bullys
Audio Bullys are an electronic music group from London, consisting of Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale. The group were once managed by DJ and presenter George Lamb....
- "We Don't Care"
12. Dan the Automator
Dan the Automator
Daniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
Featuring Q-Bert - "Bear Witness III"
13. Felix Da Housecat
Felix da Housecat
Felix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
- "Silver Screen Shower Scene (Static Revenger)"
14. Deepsky
Deepsky
Deepsky is an electronic music act based in Los Angeles. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Deepsky formed in 1992 when its two founding members, J. Scott Giaquinta and Jason Blum, met at the University of New Mexico...
- "Ride"
15. Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
- "No One Knows -U.N.K.L.E. Remix-"
16. Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
- "Way Away
Way Away
"Way Away" is the first single and opening track of Yellowcard's album Ocean Avenue. The song and music video both reflect the band's choice about leaving their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida to California in hopes of making a name for themselves in the Southern California music scene."Way Away"...
"
17. Overseer
Overseer
Rob Overseer is an English DJ/producer, born in Leeds whose works have been included in soundtracks for Animatrix, Snatch, Any Given Sunday and The Girl Next Door, as well as video games like Need for Speed: Underground, NFL Gameday 2004, several Matchstick Productions ski films, and Stuntman,...
- "Screw Up"
18. Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner is an electroclash duo and performance troupe formed in 1998 in New York. The name is a portmanteau of the founders' last names, Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner...
- "Emerge (Junkie XL Remix)"
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
- "Higher Ground -X-ecutioners Remix-"
20. Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
- "Poor Leno -Silicon Soul Remix-"
21. The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
- "Labor Day (It's A Holiday)"
22. Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
- "Hypersonic"
23. MxPx
MxPx
MxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....
- "Play It Loud"
24. Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...
- "Who's Who"
25. Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
- "Do Your Thing (Jaxx Clubb mix)"
26. Chemical Brothers - "Leave Home"
27. Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
- "Don't Let The Man Get You Down"
28. K-os
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
- "Freeze"
29. The Faint
The Faint
The Faint is an American indie rock band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, the band consists of Todd Fink, Jacob Thiele, Dapose, Joel Petersen and Clark Baechle. The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer and included Conor Oberst...
- "Glass Danse -Paul Oakenfield Remix-"
30. Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
- "Stare At The Sun"
31. Autopilot Off
Autopilot Off
Autopilot Off is a punk rock band from Orange County, New York composed of Chris Hughes , Chris Johnson , Phil Robinson and Rob Kucharek ....
- "Clockworks"
32. Placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
- "The Bitter End"
33. Power Plant - "Avalanche"
34. John Morgan
John Morgan
-Arts and entertainment:*John Morgan , British painter*John Morgan , Welsh clergyman, scholar and poet*John Morgan , American broadcaster and television producer...
- "Buffet of Breaks"
35. Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream...
- "Good Times"
Reception
SSX 3 received universal acclaim upon its release. The PlayStation 2 version currently has a 93 at MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
and a 92.28% at Game Rankings
Game Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
. Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave it a 9.0 out of 10, stating that "SSX 3 delivers a rush like few racing games or action sports games have ever achieved." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the game a 9.5 out of 10, saying that "this is the best snowboarding game I have ever played." and "It's arcade-centric, trick heavy, and on the third peak, it's brutal, but in the end, nothing comes close to SSX 3."