Highly Underrated, Mission Based Game
Once I turned on the Cube with Dark Summit in, everything changed...
And So It Starts...
You are Naya, a good-looking, funkily-dressed snowboarder on a hill dominated by snobby skiers. To prove your mettle, you must complete a series of tasks as you cruise down the mountain. Doing so, you earn ''lift points'' that will open up other routes and better equipment.
Characters
I really like Naya. She's cool, she's fun, and she is well-voiced. The characters who help you along your way have the potential to be cool, but are never developed. The ''bad guys'' are absolutely classic. They are super-whiny, bratty, and really make you want to beat them in the challenges you encounter with them.
Story
The story is hilarious. I can't reveal too much without spoiling it for you, but the longer you play, the more you realize that the game designers really had fun making this game. You start off trying to prove the snobby skiers that they're wrong, but it becomes much more X-Files-esque as time progresses.
The only negative is that you have to really hunt for some of the challenges. Because they aren't marked well (in some cases) you can spend a lot of time maneuvering around trying to figure out where they begin or what is being asked of you.
Graphics and Sound
It looks great! The animations of the tricks are well done, and the skiers that you pass on your way down the hill perform collision detection admirably.
Much like the highly lauded SSX3, you can begin at the top of the mountain (once you have unlocked it) and then spend quite a long time skiing down the whole mountain, passing previous goals.
The audio is irritating after a while, especially as you get higher up the mountain and deeper into the story. I assume that the developers attempted to make the sound vapid, but instead it comes off as hollow. I typically listen to music when playing, because the electronic/static sounds (given off by electrified obstacles) are really quite annoying after the first run.
Will This Gather Dust?
I really liked this game, but I can't say I replay it often. I still have it, and know that I will come back to it soon.
Overall Recommendation:
If you like SSX3, you'll like this.
If you like snowboarding, you'll like this.
If you like snow, you'll like this.