SSX 3 is a 2003 snowboarding video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label. The third installment in the SSX series, A soundtrack album, SSX 3 Soundtrack, was released on September 30, 2003.

SSX 3 was critically acclaimed, with reviewers praising the game's open world, trick system, presentation, and soundtrack. It was the first game in the SSX series to sell 1 million copies. Its 2018 re-release for Xbox One was also a success and was critically acclaimed.

Gameplay

SSX 3 is a snowboard racing game played from a third-person view. Players control one of various snowboarders and compete in events set across individual courses in peaks on a mountain. Unlike previous games in the series, which contain unconnected courses, a freeride mode also allows players to freely roam the open world consisting of all the courses in the game; it is possible for the player to ride from the top of the mountain to the bottom without stopping or reloading each course.

Players can gain points by performing tricks, such as grabs, grinds, flips, and spins. A feature returning from previous games in the SSX series is the adrenaline meter, which gains adrenaline when the player executes tricks. It can be used to provide a speed boost or, once it becomes full, perform advanced tricks called übers, which grant more points than regular tricks. Performing übers increases the level of the adrenaline meter, which leads to progressively more advanced super über tricks and faster adrenaline boosts. Performing multiple tricks of different kinds creates a combo, doubling the points acquired from tricks, while repeating the same trick causes the number of points it earns to drop. Both wiping out and resetting result in a loss of adrenaline and the ability to perform übers until the adrenaline meter is filled again.

Races contain multiple routes and shortcuts, which can give the player an advantage over opponents. Players can also use melee combat to knock other snowboarders over, slowing them down and providing the player with adrenaline. Race events have three heats, The online service has since been discontinued.

Development

SSX 3 was developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports Big label. Its development began after the release of SSX Tricky, the previous title in the series, in 2001. EA Canada stated that SSX 3 was designed so "just about anyone can pick up and play". Larry LaPierre, the producer of the game, stated that the developers wanted "to give people the first ever full mountain experience" and allow players to choose what they wanted to do on the mountain. which later became the official title. The game was available to play by journalists before release at the July 2003 Camp EA event, and earlier in May at E3 2003. The Gizmondo version was also available to play by journalists at E3 2005.

The open ended nature of the game was influenced by Battlefield 1942 and NBA Street Vol. 2, both EA titles, as the developers of SSX 3 enjoyed features in both games that allow players to choose the way they want to play. including the Academy Award-nominated visual effects designer Henry LaBounta, who worked as one of the game's three art directors. The game contains thirty different types of snow, ranging in consistency,

Reception

SSX 3 received critical acclaim upon its release. Metacritic calculated an average score of 93 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) version based on 41 reviews, On aggregate website GameRankings, the game holds 92% for PS2 and GC based on 60 reviews and 38 reviews, respectively, and 90% for Xbox based on 41 reviews. Reviewers liked the addition of an open world, the presentation, and trick system, A review by Computer and Video Games called the game slow and sluggish, and its controls unresponsive. it also received nominations for "Game of the Year", "Console Game of the Year", "Outstanding Innovation in Console Gaming", and "Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering".

By July 2006, its PS2 version had sold 750,000 copies and earned $28 million in the United States. It was the first game in the SSX series to sell 1 million copies. Next Generation ranked it as the 83rd highest-selling game launched for the PS2, Xbox, or GC between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined sales of the SSX series reached 3 million units in the United States by July 2006. SSX 3s PS2 version also received a Gold sales award from the ELSPA, indicating sales of at least 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

References

Further reading

  • SSX 3: Behind the Scenes at YouTube