Hands on:

The third in the SSX series is heading to Xbox in October (2004) and come with all the usual tweaks including a new sound track featuring a broad range of music from artists including the X-Ecutioners, Felix Da Housecat, Queens of the Stone Age, N.E.R.D. and graphical loveliness but this time the game only features a solitary mountain, now before you gasp in horror this is the next major development similar to us Xbox owners much loved Amped you get to free roam anywhere the snow falls.

"Free Roam and compete in any of the more than 100 unique challenges"

Players now will be air lifted by Helicopter to one of the three mountain peeks offering all new to the SSX series thrilling new opportunities for exploration, competition, and some good old-fashioned showing off. There is now only one thing that controls players decent down the mountain "them". Players will soon discover the mountain is colossal in size, and a place where they can immerse themselves in a free-roaming snow paradise. SSX 3 features all-new events and courses, awe-inspiring tricks, and a cast of cool, customizable characters. Discover the open terrain, explore its hidden crevices, and conquer its peaks.

In addition to the new boarding venues, Big Challenges rewards players for completing any of the more than 100 unique challenges as they explore the mountain's vast world. Grind billboards, board press logs, even hand plant the fence line it's all wrapped up in the white powder stuff. Beat all three peeks and players will be awarded with an epic journey down the mountain face.

"This is no place for the faint hearted"

Snow covered mountains are no place for people with six foot snow boards strapped to there feet if they don't have enough bottle for the Extremeness that is Snowboarding, another new feature of SSX3 will be changing weather conditions. As players descend down the mountain they might encounter wonders of freak ferocious lightning Storms Avalanches which players will have to avoid and al this whilst competing in some of the highest quality challenges, this is no place for the faint hearted.

EA have been keen to point out that in SSX3 there are no menus there are no restrictions and there are no loading times, once your at the top of the mountain it's straight down with no stopping to grab a breath just plain old heart pounding action all the way to the bottom, if you see it use it, if you come across a path you can go down it, if you see a cliff you can jump off it this is free roaming folks with the best tricks and combos yet.

"A whole new huge arsenal of tricks and special moves"

Players will have access to a whole new huge arsenal of tricks and special moves, from grinds, handplants and board presses along with a new three-tiered trick system which includes one footed Ubers and rail based tricks, each character will have his or her own signature moves. EA have also added in a mode named Super Pipe. This is a vast half pipe that is a very good spot for busting a lot of tricks. Big airs, spins, grabs, whatever, you can do anything on this free for all no rules pipe.
"new characters join our six returning boarders"

Four new characters join our six returning favorites. Mac, Elise, Zoe, Moby, Psymon, and Kaori, and they're joined by four new characters including the crazy Swede Viggo, mountain man Nate, 12 year-old phenom Griff, and the talented and sexy Allegra. Finally the game will include hundreds of extras by way of unlockable collectables, secrets and shortcuts which will either enhance your characters abilities, their looks or just give you some fun extras to play with. All in all SSX3 is looking playing and shaping up to be a classic experience , strap on your boards folks as SSX3 is coming soon to Xbox's near you!