SSX Blur

[Cry Havok]

So, I have played this for about an hour and I am middle of the road so far.
The controls are spotty and Uber Tricks are a bitch to pull off. The new 'cartoonish' style is pretty cool and the music is great, as would be expected from an SSX game. I expected a licensed soundtrack but I was pleasantly disappointed when I heard nothing but original tracks, just like SSX Tricky (minus Run DMC's Tricky).
I will have to give this more time over the weekend when my kids aren't around to CONSTANTLY fight while I am flailing like I'm in a girlfight.
I actually had to break up my 2 year old son biting my 4 year old daughter on the leg. Damn monkeys!

[Russ Fischer]

I already hate this game. Fuck the controls. They're unpredictable and awful. Exactly the opposite of what always made SSX great. Fuck the music that stops every time you do. Fuck the lame tracks that, at best, recycle what the series has done before. It's rubbish.

[JGButler]

I don't think anything can top the awesomeness of Tricky. I've logged so many hours on that game it's unreal and it never got mundane. The had that other one awhile back - SSX On Tour or something? It was lame, too.

[Alex Riviello]

Damn. I was hoping for something good with this.

Russ, not even worth a rent?

[gravedigger]

I already hate this game. Fuck the controls. They're unpredictable and awful. Exactly the opposite of what always made SSX great. Fuck the music that stops every time you do. Fuck the lame tracks that, at best, recycle what the series has done before. It's rubbish.

NOOOOOO!

Tell me that's all lies. This game was supposed to be so awesome. Why, God, why?!

[Russ Fischer]

Tricky never got old. Ever. I could still play that game for hours on end.

I had to finish this for a review and every additional moment is one I'll never get back. Rent it if you must, but even the tutorials made me want to break things. I can't think of a single aspect of the control system that doesn't break the game. Trying to get momentum on a half pipe was torture. And why lose the dedicated grind button? The reason it's been a part of every skating/snowboarding game for a decade is that it works.

[Overlord]

Tricky never got old. Ever. I could still play that game for hours on end.

I had to finish this for a review and every additional moment is one I'll never get back. Rent it if you must, but even the tutorials made me want to break things. I can't think of a single aspect of the control system that doesn't break the game. Trying to get momentum on a half pipe was torture. And why lose the dedicated grind button? The reason it's been a part of every skating/snowboarding game for a decade is that it works.

Oddly, I've never heard of this series. What platform(s) is it on?

[Russ Fischer]

Was originally a PS2 exclusive.

This one is Wii-only.

[TheCynic]

dude, ssx3 is way, way better than tricky. it's like tricky x 2 in terms of content.

[AMH]

On the other hand, Bozon at IGN gives it an 8.4 (http://wii.ign.com/articles/768/768874p1.html) after admitting that the controls are an absolute bitch to master.

Gamespot thought it was pretty good too, but less so (http://www.gamespot.com/wii/sports/ssxblur/review.html?sid=6166500) (7.4).

How rushed were you, Russ? I've always found your taste in games to be terrific.

[Russ Fischer]

I'm not done with it (or the review) yet, and I'm willing to allow that I'll grow more used to it and budge some. But an 8.4? That competes with the best in the series, and I just can't see that.

[Cry Havok]

I can't see an 8.4 for this game, EVER. There is no way this is better than Tricky.

[WayDen]

I completely forgot about how great the SSX series was! I think SSX 3 was the last one I played, with the open-mountain races. How was SSX on Tour? I gotta figure I can pick up a copy of this used somewhere for around $10-15, right?

[neaux]

I have SSX and SSX3 for the Ps2. They own my soul as my favorite snow boarding series. If I owned a Wii, I'd have Blur fur sure.

[Justin Clark]

How was SSX on Tour? I gotta figure I can pick up a copy of this used somewhere for around $10-15, right?
For this analogy, the role of SSX 3 will be played by Jodie Foster, EA will be portrayed by a crowd of rowdy drunks, and the PS2 will be played by a pinball machine.

[mediumdave]

I like it...I think. To put this into perspective, SSX 3 is the peak of the series, to me. Tricky was awesome, but I think 3 topped it. I did like On Tour, but that may have been because of the unicorns with electric guitars. I got a big "FUCK YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!" vibe from the game. Blur is...I don't know. I've got steering down. Let me recommend going into the settings and adjusting the control down to almost no analog control. It'll force you to use the nunchuck and you'll get use to it a lot faster. I've got Ubers down. Make the movement with the control, not the IR bit at the end and I'll nail it 4 out of 5 times. It's just...not as BIG as Tricky and 3. It feels more contained, less fun and free. And doing tricks just isn't as fun, I think. Racing is more fun, as long as you concentrate on the race and not Ubering. It's solid, but it's not close to the awesome that was/is SSX 3

[TheCynic]

the three peaks! come on, you can't beat that. amazing game.

[mediumdave]

And now I've reached, in so many words, the other side of the mountain. Fuck this game. I'm cool with the steering, even though it forces me to focus too much time "playing" and not "chilling." Ubers, I can pull 'em off. Not all the time, but most of the time so it counts. No, what has caused me to sell this piece of shit on ebay...the motherfucking slalom. Fuck. That. Shit. I pretty sure no one beta tested that shit. I can see it working with Blur 2, after they've had time to actually develop a game and not use the same tracks and shit, but now, with these controls and these maps...fuck it. On Wed. and Thur. I could've recommend the game...after Fri., I really can't unless you like snapping your Wiimote in half.

[Anger Management]

That sucks. I was going to pick this one up, but if the controls are as bad as you guys describe it, then I'm going to save my $50 and pass on this one. Looks like EA rushed this title, thinking that it will sell a million copies during this Wii drought. I just hope EA's Tiger Wood and Godfather won't turn out as lousy as SSX Blur.

[Cry Havok]

Once I switched the controls to the analog stick only things went smooth from then on. It makes the game a lot easier. Uber's are easy to pull off now. I haven't had the pleasure/displeasure of the slalom yet, so we'll see how I feel after that. The thing that gets me now is the music. I know it is a complete 180 from my first post, but the music is pretty bland. I have taken to wearing my mp3 player while playing Blur. This might be trade fodder or even eBay material. We'll have to see.

[Rich Straceski]

I picked this one up after some trade ins last week, and while I haven't had tons of time with it so far I kind of dig it. The controls are probably something that will keep it from being instantly accessible to everybody. The Downhill Jam game got me excited for the possibilities of SSX on the Wii and it works, it just seems like it will take some coordination and getting used to. So far I'm having fun and I'm even getting a little better at it. But even initially when I was able to get some air and just swung the remote around like a maniac because I didn't know what the hell I was doing, it was enough to give me a good time. The only Uber I'm able to pull off so far is the loopy one (probably the easiest).

SSX 3 seems to be the best by consensus, but for me it's the one I've played least (just never owned it). The first one sold me on the concept, Tricky won my heart and was played to death and then some, and On Tour oozes with an awesome Rock Star personality that goes a long way towards earning it some points in my book. Blur fits right in the mix as an experimental new take on the gameplay and that works for me. So far, so good.

edited for spelling and clarity.