First Release Date – October 30th 2000
Publisher – EA Sports BIG
Developer – EA Canada
A Snowboarding Sensation
SSX (2000) is a snowboarding video game developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports BIG. Released as an exclusive PS2 launch title, the game proved to be extremely popular, thus prompting a series of sequels.
Games in the SSX series that were released on the PlayStation 2 include SSX (2000), SSX Tricky, SSX 3 and SSX: On Tour. These later instalments were also released on the Xbox and GameCube.
Later SSX Entries
Since the successful release of SSX back in the year 2000 there have been several sequels, with the latest releasing in 2012 for the Sony PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360. Below we’ve outlined a timeline for each game:
- SSX (2000) – Released exclusively on the PS2.
- SSX Tricky (2001) – Released on PS2, GameCube, Xbox and GBA.
- SSX 3 (2003) – Released on PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA & Gizmondo.
- SSX: Out of Bounds (2005) – Released exclusively for the Nokia N-Gage.
- SSX: On Tour (2005) – Released on PS2, PSP, GameCube & Xbox.
- SSX Blur (2007) – Released exclusively on Nintendo Wii.
- SSX (2012) – Released on PS3 & Xbox 360.
Since the release of SSX (2012), there has been no official confirmation that any more SSX games are set to be released. However, there has been some speculation that SSX Tricky could at some point receive a remaster.
SSX (2000) Gameplay
SSX has two different game modes. One is a traditional racing style where players (in a field of up to 6 riders), attempt to make it to the end of a course as fast as they can. The other game mode (Showoff) requires the player to perform snowboarding tricks in order to earn points. Players are also given the option to partake in a warmup where they can learn the basics as well as a freestyle mode.
Each course has a variety of ramps, slopes, jumps, rails and various other objects for players to perform snowboarding tricks over/on. Successfully performing tricks not only awards the player with points, they also work to fill the player’s boost meter. As such, tricks are an important component of all modes throughout the game.
And it’s not only astounding tricks that can help to give players a competitive edge. Those who are keen-eyed may stumble across secret shortcuts to help them get ahead of their opponents in a race.
SSX (2000) Characters & Courses
This game has 8 unique characters to choose from, each with varying abilities and snowboarding styles.
The first 4 characters Mac, Moby, Elise & Kaori are available to choose from the start. The next 4 characters Jurgen, JP, Zoe & Hiro must be unlocked by earning gold medals.
The game also features a total of 6 courses. These include:
- Snowdream – Location: Japan. Difficulty: Easy.
- Elysium Alps – Location: Europe. Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Merqury City Meltdown – Location: East Coast. Difficulty: Expert.
- Mesablanca – Location: South West USA. Difficulty: Expert.
- Tokyo Megaplex – Location: Tokyo Japan. Difficulty: Super Expert.
- Aloha Ice Jam – Location: Hawaii USA. Difficulty: Super Expert.
Bonus Unlockables
As well as being able to unlock new courses and characters during a playthrough, players also have the ability to unlock new costumes for each character, as well as some other bonuses. These costumes and bonuses can be unlocked by completing the entries in each character’s trick book.
Each character’s trick book has a Green Circle Section (Easy), Blue Square Section (Intermediate) and a Black Diamond Section (Advanced).
Completing the Green Circle Section will award the player with a new costume for the related character, as will completing the Blue Square Section.
Upon completion of the Black Diamond Section, players are awarded with a flashing light blue halo around the character’s selection icon.
SSX PS2 Gameplay Footage
Here is some gameplay footage of the 2nd course in SSX (2000), Elysium Alps. The game’s description for this course reads:
“Carved high in the French Alps this is a wide course with extreme drops and challenging shortcuts“.
