Sometimes a game series just needs a change in order to vault ahead. After all, if everyone played the same old game over and over again, would there be a need for high-tech hardware? Obviously not. Fortunately, some of these changes work for the better. Ever since Call of Duty stepped into the realm of Modern Warfare, sales have gone through the roof. Now Electronic Arts is taking another one of its franchises to extremes – literally. When it was initially introduced in 2000 on the PlayStation 2, SSX was all about fun-loving snowboarding and a bright palette of colorful visuals scattered across each stage. This formula has worked well in the sequels to come, but EA is finally doing something different with the series this year with SSX: Deadly Descents. The teaser trailer for the game was introduced last year at Spike’s Video Game Awards (and confused for a game called SSX: Deadly Ascent – nice gaffe there), and it introduced gamers to a dark side of snowboarding. Don’t worry, it’s for the better.
In the game, you’re a member of an elite snowboarding team that’s looking to make a name for itself. But how can you do that when hotshots like Shaun White are performing derring-dos on a nearly daily basis? Simple – take the game to the next level. Thus, the team sets out to snowboard across deadly terrain, in areas that no one’s ever covered before. Granted, there’s a reason people don’t usually cover this territory – because it’s dangerous and life-threatening. But that’s just part of the thrill, right? The game will take place across several mountain locations. So far, we only know about two of them – the Himalayan peaks and the solid ice ranges of Antarctica. Both provide their own unique dangers. In the Himalayas, you run the risk of blacking out, due to the extremely thin air that makes it almost impossible to breathe. And as for Antarctica, the weather is so cold, your nose is likely to snap off if it gets frozen enough. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, literally, as you’ll also need to contend with other mountain dangers while you complete your rough ride. While the setting is far more mature than previously released SSX games, the gameplay should be second-nature to long-time fans. Deadly Descents will feature an intricate trick system where you can perform grabs, grinds and other slick moves, using items in the environment to your advantage.
The better you score, the more you conquer the mountain, and the more areas open up to you. Looking good while you perform stunts is just as important as staying alive. After all, what’s the point of taking the ride if you don’t enjoy yourself? SSX: Deadly Descents’ new look should be nothing short of fantastic, judging by the stuff we’ve seen from the trailer thus far. Some in-game footage will no doubt be coming soon (perhaps by GDC), but we expect nothing short of an amazing ride through troublesome terrain, all while keeping a watchful eye over our snowboarder and keeping him or her out of harm’s way as long as possible. It’ll be interesting to see how Deadly Descents’ multiplayer shapes up. We’re betting that EA will introduce some kind of competitive angle where players fight to control certain parts of the mountain, or perhaps take part in “escape” events, such as outrunning avalanches or making it to the bottom of the mountain in the fastest time possible. No matter what happens, we have faith that EA will be up for the job. Be sure to check back for more coverage on SSX: Deadly Descents in the months ahead. Judging by what we’ve seen and heard thus far, though, we’re confident that this will be the best ride to date. And to think, we won’t have to put up with Eddie, or his hilarious afro haircut.
