Familiar settings

The game features a reasonable amount of tracks. Disappointingly, many of the courses have been 'cut and pasted' from previous SSX titles leaving only a few original levels designed specifically for Blur. While it is interesting to give the old favorites' a second shot with the freehand controls, longtime SSX fans may feel let down at the lack of original content in the game. Naturally this won't prove much of a problem for gamers new to the series. The tracks are also less varied than previous titles with no themed courses such as the nighttime city track in SSX 3.

Only for hardcore gamers

Blur is undoubtedly a game aimed at the hardcore audience. Anyone who has ever played the series can tell you that SSX games are no walk in the park. This game is no different. The difficulty level in Blur is incredibly high at times. The gameplay can get downright brutal. While some events may not prove too difficult, races, in particular, can be especially unforgiving. You could be in front of the pack by 50 meters and miscue a landing. By the time you've recovered you may be behind by 100 meters. Also, as the game allows you to choose your own path down the slope, it's all too easy to choose a course that sets you back to the 6th place. Blur demands you to be on your game for the entire event, one slip-up can easily cost you the race.

What I've noticed is that the game is easier to play when you're in the lead. It appears to be a lot easier to increase you lead when in 1st place than narrowing the lead when in 2nd - 6th place. The AI in the game isn't cheap; it doesn't speed up when you're in front or slow down when you're behind. Also extremely difficult are the Challenges. Some are relatively easy to accomplish while others demand next-to-impossible feats from the gamer. The difficulty level may be appealing to some gamers while turning away others. It's disappointing that EA didn't add an option to decrease the difficulty for those in want of a more casual experience.

Graphics and audio

Graphically the game has many similarities to the more recent games however it looks noticeably better in Blur. Blur supports 16:9 widescreen as well as 480p to improve the visual experience for those with the technology to do so. The interface is very colorful with buttons almost jumping out of the screen as you move the cursor over them.

The snow is duller than it was in previous games giving the game a slightly more realistic look. Carving through the snow will leave a trail of snow particles flying behind you. The particle effects are exceptional, especially as you get higher up or when you're tricking out in midair. It's refreshing to see snowflakes falling throughout a good deal of the mountain.

The environments are also more dynamic in Blur. Jumping into a tree will cause some branches to break off while jumping onto a piece of track can have you crash into the cave underneath. There are also some triggered events such as a group of rocks crashing down from atop a cliff as you approach. Sadly the game isn't as smooth as one might like. There are quite a few occasions on which the framerate dips, something that's particularly noticeable and ugly in a fast-paced game such as Blur.

The audio track lacks the use of any licensed material this time around, instead featuring a light-hearted composition. Still, as in previous games, the music is dynamic and speeds up as you fill up the Groove Meter. This is an ingenious system that has become a staple of the SSX series and is something that really gets you in the groove as you speed up. Take a crash when zooming down the mountain and you'll notice a sudden drop in the audio department. DJ Atomika returns to cover the radio and provide all the corny jokes you can take as you carve around in freeride.

Bottom line

SSX Blur is a great game aimed at the hardcore audience, although I recommend that everyone give it a shot, at least to give the new controls a run. Not everyone will be in favor of the freehand controls though most gamers will find them to be an improvement to the series. Keep in mind, the learning curve is very steep and you won't pick up the controls on your first go.

The game may not include as many original tracks as one would like but revisiting old favorites with the new controls is an invigorating experience. Blur easily qualifies as a strong addition to the hardcore series and one of the best Wii titles thus far.