When Microsoft first unleashed the Xbox unto its unsuspecting public, Amped was one of its showcase titles. While the game itself was graphically impressive, the gameplay was standard at best. Two years later, Microsoft upped the ante with Amped 2. This version featured drastically improved gameplay, custom soundtracks, and was the first snowboarding game ever to include online play. Now with the 360 on the horizon, Amped 3 is set to arrive in the launch window to entice players back to the digital slopes. Can it dethrone the mighty SSX?

Features

• Over 120 new tricks to pull off!
  
• Easier to use controls.
  
• Huge free roaming mountain locations to explore and shred.
  
• Truly bizarre new graphic style.

Gameplay
Unlike the analog heavy version of Amped 2, Amped 3 is making use of the four face buttons to pull off its tricks. This design was chosen to make the game more accessible to new players, as Amped 2’s analog based controls put off a lot of people. While it was innovative to have the analog stick system in place, it took a long time to learn to use properly, which put the casual gamer off. The new and slick 360 Joypad is a breeze to use and it won’t be long before your sailing down the slopes, pulling off tricks that put the pros to shame. This style of controls also made it easier to add new tricks to the game, and the designers have promised over 120 new tricks for you to play with as you progress.

Another new option to the series is free roaming and exploring. No longer are you confined to various ski slopes (although there are set tracks as well); you can choose to ski down any side of the mountain slopes you are on. Since there will be several real mountains to ski, it seems daunting to choose where to go right? Thankfully, the designers have provided a handy map that you can use to scout out the various locations to ski. You can use this feature to look over each location and choose a place to start skiing immediately, or you can choose to go the GTA route and hop a snowmobile there. If you decided to snowmobile out the location, you’ll gain bonus points for performing tricks en route; Points that can be used to unlock new features and items for your character.



Amped 3

The game sports a decent but not amazing custom character set. It has every standard feature, allowing you to make everything from an Olympic Snowboarder to a Flamboyant Showoff. A far more interesting editor is the new custom track feature. If you get tired of riding down real snowtrails, you can custom create your own hill, right down to the items and rails you can grind. Amoung the more amusing items we saw were dumpsters, sofas, and busses. You can also choose to make the area as cluttered as you’d like, so you can make an open slope with a gentle grade, or a snowcapped junkyard full of obstacles.