SSX3: Big Air, Big Scores, Big Combos

SSX 3 is the third installment in Electronic Arts' popular snowboarding franchise. The game will offer a significant upgrade over the previous two entries in the franchise while building on the solid core gameplay elements. However, SSX 3 is, in many ways, a new beginning for the franchise, thanks to some radical tweaks to the existing SSX formula. While fans of the franchise are intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the different events as well as the score and combo systems in the game, there have been some changes and additions.

SSX 3 offers a whole new twist on the tried and true SSX gameplay.

The Big Air events in SSX 3 will be broken up into four heats. The goal of the first three heats is to earn the most points possible in each. The catch is that each run is timed, forcing you to keep a brisk pace while performing tricks. If you linger too long performing tricks and are unable to complete the race before time runs out, you won't be awarded any points and will be forced to wear a "scarlet letter"-type label--DNF, which stands for "did not finish"--for the rest of that heat. Scores for five CPU opponents will be tracked to give you a sense of what the competition is up to. You'll see a listing of your competitors' runs before and after each heat to help you manage your sense of accomplishment. After you've finished three heats, your best two scores will be combined to give you a final score. If you manage to place in the top three, you'll advance to the final round. If you rank fourth or below, you won't progress to the next level, but you'll be given the chance to redeem yourself by trying those three heats again. The big challenge in the three heats is that the point multiplier icons you can pick up to boost your score won't regenerate, which forces you to try new routes on your runs if you want to go for the best scores. The final round, the fourth heat, is where you'll be competing to get a gold, silver, or bronze medal by placing first, second, or third, respectively. The saving grace is that the point multipliers are regenerated on the slope, maximizing your score options, which you'll need since your CPU opponents are a pack of high-scoring freaks. As always, you'll be shamed if you can't finish your run on time.

To really excel in the game you'll need to be able to master a little bit of everything.

If you want to be a contender in SSX 3, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the game's scoring and trick systems, which have been tweaked some since the previous entries. While the game is pretty generous with doling out points, you'll score some extra points every time you land a trick. Successfully pulling off tricks has the added benefit of filling your adrenaline meter, which will let you temporarily boost your speed. You'll also be able to perform ubertricks once your meter is full.