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PLATFORM: WII

AN ODDLY FAMILIAR RIDE

’m happy to see that SSX is feeling a little refreshed after its tour. SSX 3 is still my favorite, and I always wanted to see a return to that entry’s style – and SSX Blur is that and more. Blur’s peaks are the same ones you logged so many hours on in SSX 3, yet this is not a complete retread.

The biggest change to Blur is the new control scheme. You’ll use the nunchuk to steer down the mountain, and these carving controls are actually intuitive and smooth. The rest of the control scheme takes a little more getting used to. There is no prewinding in this game; you flick the Wii remote in the direction you want to spin and hold the Z button while flicking the nunchuk in different directions to perform the grabs. It sounds confusing, but after a couple minutes it doesn’t feel that bad. The one real problem I have with this game is that the ubertrick system doesn’t work nearly as well as it should. The new controls do add something new to the series, but almost the entire time I pined for something more traditional.

Blur is a bit more streamlined than previous entries, meaning there isn’t much do to aside from shredding the mountain and entering tournaments. For some reason, the characters aren’t as <00AD>customizable as they have been in previous entries. I don’t mind that the game lacks this, as I would rather have a solid trick system, but the fact that it’s missing feels like a small step backwards for the series. It would have been nice to see more new trails. Also, why don’t any of the characters say anything? It’s a little eerie not hearing Moby’s narcissistic diatribes as he is speeding by the slower contestants.

Still, I can’t complain too much since I had more fun with Blur overall than I did with On Tour. Pulling off a Triple Front Flip Nosebleed in the middle of a race down sheer ice is always fun, and there is just something about the sound a snowboard makes on fresh powder that always gets me pumped. But for all the fun I had with this game, it really just whetted my appetite for something a little meatier.

-BEN REEVES

MATT HELGESON

7.5

I love the fact that developers and publishers are making a real effort to tailor their Wii titles to the system’s unique control scheme. Like Madden, Tony Hawk, and Call of Duty, the long-running SSX franchise has completely reconfigured its control to make use of the Wii remote. Unfortunately, like those aforementioned games, I’m not sure if “different” necessarily means “better.” The basic controls for steering work great – I really like the new carving mechanics. However, the mish-mash of inputs required to trick – pressing buttons, tilting the nunchuk, and tracing shapes with the remote – ultimately feels muddled and confusing. There will be a brief period of time after you get the hang of it where you’ll think, “Wow, this actually works! Cool!” This will soon followed by the feeling that, while this is fun, you’d rather be ripping down the mountain the old-fashioned way.

8.5

CONCEPT:

Move SSX 3 to the Wii and find some way to pull off the tricks with the new remote

GRAPHICS:

Not as blurry as advertised. Actually, the graphics might be the best part of the game

SOUND:

Not very impressive. No licensed songs, no character voices, and the dynamic music system doesn’t add much to the experience

PLAYABILITY:

The Wii controls won’t appeal to everyone, but those it clicks with will have a good time

ENTERTAINMENT:

The new controls work, but always concentrating on what you are doing prevents you from being fully immersed

REPLAY:

Moderately High