I've Always been a fan of the SSX series and when I saw the footage of the 4th installment, I was like "Hells Yeah!" but then I played it for a week and... was kinda disappointed... and here is why. The one stand out thing of the SSX franchise has always been the characters themselves. I Love almost all of them. From Zoe Payne (personal Fav btw) to Elise, to Kaori, to Mac, and Especially Psymon! I was hoping the the 4th installment to the series would have taken it a step farther... but they didn't and, that's the problem I kinda have with it.
On the one hand, the create a character was good feature. but as of late, it seems that most games no matter what the genre, seem to rely to much on that. Almost using it as a crutch. when this feature was added, it made the game focus more on the character you created. Making all the other characters that we're developed over the last 3 games before it, take a back seat. That was kind of a let down. Especially since some new characters got introduced. (like, Tyson, Sid, Skye) They seemed kinda cool too but, you don't really See them as often as you like. Thus, you won't care about them as much as you are playing the game. This game is all about you. That ain't always a good thing. Well, It would have if they had of added some "character" to the character you played as!
Not just looks and threads you can buy and, your over all look but, personality adjustments a tweaks you can do to your character. Like what EA did with Def Jam FFNY. Example? Wouldn't it have been nice if the character you made actually interacted with the other NPC's? Like your character and Zoe Payne talking trash to each other as they race or, trick off? Or your character saying some cool one liners as they perform tricks?
If they had of added some personal touch like that in this game, It would have been Immaculate. A true digital work of art. It is superior to the other games in style and design and in innovation like, The option to choose Board or Skis. But the SSX series that old fans know of. Is starting melt away like snow in the spring.