Review: Warning: Do not snowboard while playing a snowboarding game on a cell phone gaming device.
SSX: Out of Bounds is Electronic Arts' attempt to port SSX 3 from the consoles to the smallest form possible. Although this means the N-Gage game has been slimmed down for the pocket, it still contains the same characters, courses and charisma that make the extreme snowboarding series popular. All of these SSX elements are put together in a solid presentation that includes an impressive 3D engine and admirable soundtrack. Although, Out of Bounds is not without setbacks, it proves to be one of the handheld's most enjoyable titles in the end.
Out of Bounds takes place on three peaks of varying difficulty, each with a mixture of downhill high-speed racing and freestyle events. Courses boast 3D environments that look good, but don't sacrifice graphics for gameplay. In other words, EA Sports BIG balanced the engine to look pretty and be playable at the same time. This is something that has plagued other N-Gage titles, so it's nice to see a developer take the time to seek a proper solution.
Snowboarding down the white slopes is done with ease. This is a relief because the racing end of the game relies heavily on trick performance, unlike snowboarding games that separate the racing and trick elements. In some cases, performing tricks is the only way you'll be able to gain enough speed to win a race. Before each race begins, a reminder of the controls appears along with a very important formula: Tricks = Boost = Speed.
When in the air, 0-9 on the keypad allows for a variety of grabs and tweaks. Landing tricks fills the boost meter, which is used by pressing 5 on the keypad. If you're unsuccessful in your landing, 5 is also the button that allows you to recover from a fall. Buttons 4 and 6, to the right and left of 5, allow you to knockdown opponents within reaching distance. The aggressive move is useful if you can pull it off, but be prepared to see it used against you quite often by the computer opponents.
In addition to using tricks to gain speed in downhill racing, they're also integral in the freestyle events. These events range from ramp and rail-cluttered slopes to the expected, but always fun, half-pipe. Once you earn enough money from the open slopes and events, more open up and new gear can be bought in a snowboarding store. Besides new boards and outfits, it's also possible to put money toward increasing the various attributes of the boarder.
The list of licensed music on Out of Bounds is impressive, but it also turns out to be one of the game's biggest pitfalls. The impressive part? There are over twenty song renditions from bands like Yellow Card, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas and Queens of the Stone Age. However, while these notable names go a long way toward making Out of Bounds more SSX-friendly, they just don't last long enough. Basically, it's a little more than 30 seconds of the chorus, which quickly becomes repetitive on a three-minute slope. It's even worse when the same song begins to play on the very next course. For once, a portable game gets the kind of music right, but can't keep me listening when it plays again and again. The saving grace for some who can stand this is the fact that songs can be turned on and off within the Radio BIG menu outside of the game.
Conquer the Mountain and the Single event make up the meat of Out of Bounds, but Shadow Racing and Multiplayer Modes give the game a fair amount of replay value. Shadow Racing pits you against your green ghost so that you can improve your time. It's also possible to upload your ghost and download other people's ghosts via N-Gage Arena. That spices things up a bit, but it won't bring you back on a consistent basis. On the other hand, four-player multiplayer competitions via Bluetooth really add a lot, so long as you can find N-Gage owners that also possess a copy of the game. Without this, the game is basically over as soon as you finish the third peak.
