Amped was the first game i bought when I got my Xbox all those years ago, along with PGR & Halo. I played it to death. Loved it to bits, but there are always things niggling away at you when you get to a certain skill level in a game, especially as the last few challenges were rock-hard. All the flaws and imperfections start to manifest and you start to see the game a little differently when you realise that it's not you making the mistakes, it's the game. However, the game was so well done in nearly all aspects that I kind of turned a blind eye. This time around though, i'm not going to be so forgiving. So, Amped, what have you got to say for yourself this time around?

Gameplay:

On first impressions, nothing much has changed. Sure, the graphics are a little sharper and smoother, there are more options and mountains to conquer but the initial feeling was very much one of deja vu. Jumping straight into the career mode, it was like meeting a best friend for the first time in ages. The control system has been refined and tweaked to near perfection and it just feels 'right'. Obviously there was a lot of catching up to do and it took but a few runs down the mountain to get right back in my boots. Users who went for the analog stick controls first time around will have a big advantage here (me included) as it is the main system for controlling your grabs. If you haven't used the system before, it's frustratingly unintuitive for the first hour or so, but stick with it (no pun intended) and it becomes the most natural thing since, well, the last time you mastered a control system. Basically, you don't need to press a button to pull grab tricks. Just flick the right stick in any direction, and your boarded will perform a grab. These can then be tweaked with the right or left trigger, provided you have learned the appropriate trick from the pros, of course. A really nice addition to the control system is the new way you can pull off 'stylish' tricks. This requires a very steady thumb to complete successfully but the rewards are most definitely worth it. A stylish trick is pulled off when the left thumbstick is moved gently in any direction. Instead of pulling and pushing it as hard as you can to get those flips completed in the right time, move it delicately and a bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. The longer you hold the stylish trick, the bigger the score. Simple, but damn essential if you want to get those huge scores along the way. Another new addition to your tricks arsenal is the 'butter' trick. Basically the same premise as performing a manual on a skateboard, it allows you to string tricks together and, again is designed to help you attain the big scores later in the game.

The more you play the game, the more it seems to have been improved and more options are available to you. The new gameplay modes include a photo shoot and snow sk8. The photo shoot is an opportunity for you to climb up the world rankings and have your run immortalised in a magazine, website or other publication for all to see. You have to score a set amount of points and ride through ever elaborate hoops placed on the course. It's a nice addition and challenges you to make yourself more accurate and find different runs down the mountain. Snow sk8 mode lets you loose on the mountain on a modified skateboard with blades running down the sides instead of wheels. Although it is set to certain runs on certain mountains, it breaks up the gameplay enough and provides good variety to the whole package. The controls are similar to the snowboarding sections, except the X button kick flips and you have to perform a grab if you bang out any loops or corkscrews. Again, a small addition that does a lot to

The main draw for a lot of people is the fantastic use of the XSN sports network and the multiplayer fun that it provides. You can trick your way down the mountain with up to seven other riders in various modes that provide pretty much everything you could hope for. King of the Mountain works just like Graffiti mode in Tony Hawk where you own obstacles by getting the highest score on them, High Score does just what it says it does; get the highest score of the run to win. Best Trick is again, self explanatory and the last is Trick Race which gets you racing to the finish line down the mountain. Sounds easy? Well, you have to trick and score on certain obstacles; else your rider suffers a time penalty. What?! Well, they're not going to make it easy for you, are they? All in all, this is a great game to play live; it has relaxed play in between frantic last minute bursts as you try to get that top point score.

Graphics:

Visually, Amped 2 is not significantly improved from its predecessor, but it still turns out a very pleasing look and animations are spot on. The only minor gripe is the transition from being in the air and crashing which occasionally looks a bit disjointed. Good graphics are more of an accessory in a game that relies so heavily on feel and overall playability. The scope of the mountains is very impressive and your view just goes on forever. Basically, Amped 2 looks very much like the first game in style, but the engine seems to be much more polished and refined.

Sound:

As with all titles in this genre, Amped 2 has a rockin' soundtrack. Where this game stands out is the sheer volume of music to ride to. Hundreds of songs come with the game, covering all styles so you'll never run out of things to listen to. The majority of the bands are from indie, not major labels and it just makes the game seem much fresher. It's nice to play games to bands you've heard of but even better when there's so much material that you haven't heard before. It makes the game feel less forced and comes across as a much more pure snowboarding game. Of course there's the option to rip your own tracks to the game as well. We are so spoiled!

Longevity:

The main core of the game, your career mode, is where you'll spend your time initially. There is so much to do that you'll be kept busy for a long time getting your world ranking up and improving your stats. Couple this with the online play and this will be in your Xbox for a long time to come. It's great to pick up and play for 10 minutes or sit down for a good session.

Overall:

So, another winter, another batch of snowboarding titles. How does Amped 2 fare with the competition? As a complete package, Amped 2 blows the competition away. For me, it suits my playing style perfectly. Lots of challenges to undertake, a very deep and complex trick system and the added Live content makes this the snowboarding title to own. Pretty soon, it'll be owning you.