Hands-onTransWorld Snowboarding

Given that Xbox snowboarders can already experience the over-the-top arcade thrills of SSX Tricky , the realism of SSX Tricky , and the mediocre storyline of SSX Tricky , it's reasonable to assume that it's going to take something pretty special to get noticed in what could fast become an overcrowded genre. Having spent some quality time with the latest build of Infogrames' TransWorld Snowboarding, we're pleased to report that the company's late entry in the genre could be just that.

It'd be impossible to talk about playing TransWorld Snowboarding without mentioning the sumptuous visuals that greet players the second they boot it up. The 10 real-life pro boarders in the game all come complete with two incredibly well-textured outfits and boast animations that are at the very least on a par with those of any of the game's competitors. The slopes are even more impressive, combining the colorful look of SSX Tricky with snow that looks even more realistic than the snow in Amped, thanks to some great bump-mapping effects. The snow is worthy of Halo, no less.

There are 17 locations in the game, divided into five distinct categories--half-pipe, slope style, straight jump, backcountry, and boarder rally, the latter of which are the courses used for racing alongside four AI riders. All the different course types offer plenty of scope for pulling off tricks, which are just as important when racing, since tricks are the only way to fill up the all-important speed boost meter in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Performing spectacular tricks is relatively easy thanks to an intuitive control scheme that allows 16 different grab moves to be pulled off using the right analog stick--eight directions, doubled up when the stick is depressed. The shoulder buttons can be used to rotate the rider in the air or mid-grind, while the left analog stick can be used for flips and spins. One especially neat feature, which owes a great deal to the revert move in SSX Tricky , allows players to perform long combos by pushing a shoulder button at the exact moment they land after a trick. Doing so causes a four-second timer to appear in the middle of the screen, and any trick started before the timer runs out counts toward the existing combo score. Needless to say, this move can be performed again and again, perhaps even allowing for combos that span entire runs.

In addition to trying to attain the highest trick scores possible, players will be required to complete specific challenges on every level. Most of the challenges require specific tricks to be performed, but others are a little more involved, perhaps requiring the discovery of a hard-to-find half-pipe, or for a number of ice walls to be crashed through on a single run. The game will also feature multiplayer support for two players on a split screen or for up to four in turn-based modes.

While the in-game sound effects weren't particularly memorable, TransWorld Snowboarding is unlikely to disappoint the ears. The game features no less than 80 different music tracks, and they can individually be added or deleted from the player's personal playlist. The game will also allow for music on the Xbox hard drive to be used as well, much the same as in Amped.

TransWorld Snowboarding, which is being developed by Finnish studio House marque, is due for release on October 15. For more information, check out our SSX Tricky of the game.