EA Big brings us another spin from a
popular form of recreation. Where SSX takes snowboarding to the extreme, Sled Storm takes
the snowmobile there. While not nearly feeling like a finished game, there is still a lot
of game play here. With plenty to unlock there is a lot of replay value; you just have to
choke through the lack of options in the beginning to find the real heart of the game.
Even with all the problems it is defiantly better than Artic Thunder.As you can see this is
not titled Sled Storm 2--even though EA already released a game with the same title for
the PSone. This is more of an upgrade than a sequel, taking the basic foundation and
twisting the handlebars to represent a whole new style of game. Sled Storm mixes circuit
racing with extreme trick performance. In order to succeed you will need to master both
your racing skills and your in-flight abilities. Heart attacks and supermen are just a
couple of the moves you will be busting out. You can chain various tricks together to get
combo bonuses; the higher the points the more turbo you will receive. Accumulating a set
number of points will unlock a new racer.
There are a
total of seven tracks to race. Each one is large with twists and turns as well as many
shortcuts. There are also some areas that are barricaded that only those with nerves of
steel or a death wish should go through. At the beginning there is only one track to race.
In order to proceed you have to place in the top three to begin with, but soon you will
have to win each race to advance. In your way are five other racers determined to win the
race. The AI for these racers is quite quirky. They will never be too far away from you.
If you crash, theyre on you. No matter what, you can never get very far away. It
might seem as if youre ripping up the track and are about to lap someone, but if you
fall two people are going to zip past you. If you never crash you are a shoe-in to finish
first, so the only person you are competing against is yourself. It just so happens that
five other players are on the same track. The biggest challenge is trying to succeed in
the race while performing tricks to unlock both the next course and the new character. If
you stick to trying to unlock only one or the other at a time, then it becomes too easy
and makes the game too short
Sled Storm also
allows you to race for pink slips. Once you win the championship mode you will then be
able to compete in a race against a rival for ownership of their sled. You can only
challenge a sled that is of equal or greater value. There is a catch; if you loose, your
opponent gets your sled making you go back to the course in which you earned it and unlock
it again. The courses that you will race on are randomized so you cannot race on your
favorite track every time. This is an interesting way to play a snowmobiling game and is a
welcome addition. This rival challenge is something to definitely work toward.
On the
downside, the analog sticks response is way too loose. You will find yourself
straying off course more times than you would do willingly. This uncontrollable
overcorrecting makes it difficult to maneuver through the most vital parts of the track.
Control should be the most important aspect developed for a racing game--not an
afterthought. You could have everything else perfect, but without solid controls the game
just cannot live up to its fullest potential. Those who played the PSOne version will find
the trick system has not been changed. Its not quite responsive enough, but
its suitable to pull off combos if the conditions are appropriate to do so.
If there is any light at the proverbial end of the tunnel its the visuals.
Characters look extreme and they seem to fit the EA Big label. As for the sleds, they make
the figures seem tame in comparison and definitely look like they perform. The one that
you start out with looks and performs like the jalopy it is. As you acquire sleds of more
power their look will also follow suit. Tracks are full of things to look at, and there is
little pop-up. With all of the information being processed the game still moves at a good
speed. Artic Thunder always moved as though it was chaos in a bottle. Sled storm is much
more controlled. The audio is the generic formula often used in racing games now. Engines
sound like snowmobile engines and fluctuate, as they should when climbing and airborne.
Music is fast paced with guitar riffs and a heavy beat. Finishing the audio package is the
voices of both the announcers and race participants. One announcer can be pretty annoying,
but that is by design. I can live with the hair standing on end whenever his voice is
heard.
Those who think about purchasing this game might want to rent it first. Overall the
game is not so horrid that no one would want to play it, but its certainly not
fantastic either. Early frustrations can kill an otherwise solid game, even if there is
something to look forward to. Sled Storm is such a game. Those who play this thinking they
will get another SSX will be greatly disappointed. This is for those who walk the line
between enjoying racing as well as performing aerial tricks. These will be the gamers who
get the most out of this game.