Amped 3

Considering they’re for different platforms, it doesn’t seem fair to compare Amped 3 to EA’s popular SSX snowboarding game. But it’s hard not to. They’re the only serious snowboarding games for Xbox gamers, and they have a lot of things in common, but what they don’t share is what matters.

Amped 3 gets right everything that’s wrong with SSX. It has a much better mission structure, far more personality, and a better sense of what makes snow-sports culture fun and irreverent. What it misses out on is SSX’s superior control and trick system, and the overall “feel” of cruising through champagne powder. That doesn’t mean the on-board experience of Amped 3 is bad; it’s just different. Much more Tony Hawk-inspired than before. Once you get a feel for the controls, the change seems less important, and the other good features of the game start to shine.

Created by Indie Built, the developers formerly known as Access Software – the former Microsoft first-party crew that brought us Links and Top Spin – Amped 3 gives you the entire mountain to explore. Actually, multiple areas of seven real-life ski resorts to be exact, and challenges are peppered throughout. These are somewhat hit and miss. The “Kitty Clean-Up” mode where you pick up jewels is kinda dumb, but the “Sled Slaughter” – akin to Burnout’s crash mode – is fun time after time.

Sadly, Amped 3’s graphics don’t really live up to the Xbox 360’s power. They’re crisp and feature an amazing draw distance that lets you see the whole mountain, but they’re hardly “next-gen.” Indie Built makes up for that with some creative art styles, though.

On the whole, Amped 3 is a fun and interesting experience, but short of a must-have for any but the most hardcore fans.