Cheat Index - SSX On Tour GameCube Review

It's easy to get caught up in next generation hype and shift focus to an array of games that won't be on store shelves for months to come. EA is a company that is large enough to boast a full line-up of sports sequels that are both scheduled to launch with Xbox 360, as well as close out the current generation. While we've come to expect a continuous flow of sequels from EA sports titles, we've recently begun to question how much new content is required to make a sequel worth buying. Other titles this year have brought just enough to the table to justify their continuation. While On Tour isn't exactly an original experience, the core gameplay of SSX is such a blast that we're happy to hop on the lift one more time.

In case the entire SSX phenomenon has passed you by a little back story might be in order. The series kicked off as a PS2 launch title, which we loudly proclaimed the best piece of software to come out with Sony's second console. SSX Tricky and SSX 3 added more and bigger tricks, longer runs, and ironed out nearly all of the technical wrinkles. So while the series has avoided tinkering with the original formula, it has also held our interest over the years.

None of the changes made to On Tour are earth shattering but for the most part they are positive. This time around players are not just racing champs, they are also high altitude rock stars seeking to build hype and dominate the mountain. Rock and roll has been infused into every aspect of SSX, from the wacky menus and icon system to the excellent soundtrack. The overall presentation looks like a fully animated sketchbook found in the locker of a rock n' roll obsessed adolescent. There are guitar playing unicorns, dancing amoebas, and so many visual non sequiturs that just staring at the menu screen can be a joy.

This edgy artistic approach extends into the gameplay. There are sketchbook icons, an announcer taken straight from an arena rock show, and excellent replays that freeze frame from multiple angles and throw in more crazy illustrations. SSX: On Tour should be commended for its excellent sense of style. While the rest of EA sports offerings are always stupendously functional in their presentation, On Tour is the only title that exudes such personality and fun.

Full Review