SSX On Tour [PSP]

While the PSP has been praised as a marvellous piece of gaming hardware, the lack of games has been hard to ignore. Lucky for us EA has begun to phase in UMD versions of its huge line which includes the excellent SSX series. In the latest version of EA's downhill racer they've decided to stress a wacky presentation and pump the rock n' roll. Making an entire mountain portable has resulted in some sacrifices, but on the whole the core gameplay of SSX is such a blast that we're happy to hop on the lift one more time.

In case the entire SSX phenomenon has passed you by a little back story might be in order. The series kicked off as a PS2 launch title, which we loudly proclaimed the best piece of software to come out with Sony's second console. SSX Tricky and SSX 3 added more and bigger tricks, longer runs, and ironed out nearly all of the technical wrinkles. So while the series has avoided tinkering with the original formula, it has also held our interest over the years.

None of the changes made to On Tour are earth shattering but for the most part they are positive. This time around players are not just racing champs, they are also high altitude rock stars seeking to build hype and dominate the mountain. Rock and roll has been infused into every aspect of SSX, from the wacky menus and icon system to the excellent soundtrack. The overall presentation looks like a fully animated sketchbook found in the locker of a rock n' roll obsessed adolescent. There are guitar playing unicorns, dancing amoebas, and so many visual non sequiturs that just staring at the menu screen can be a joy.

This edgy artistic approach extends into the gameplay. There are sketchbook icons, an announcer taken straight from an arena rock show, and excellent replays that freeze frame from multiple angles and throw in more crazy illustrations. SSX: On Tour should be commended for its excellent sense of style. While the rest of EA sports offerings are always stupendously functional in their presentation, On Tour is the only title that exudes such personality and fun.

Besides the funky new presentation, EA has also added twin-tip skiing to the mix. The mechanics are basically the same as snowboarding but with different trick animations. Skiing also has a slightly different flow than riding. It's difficult to describe the difference but skiing feels technically more difficult and slightly less intuitive. This addition is great for those of us who have been waiting for an alternative to Johnny Moseley Mad Trix and it adds a little more variety to the races.

New to the series on the consoles is the ability to customize a character. This feature did not make the PSP version instead there is a male and female character to choose from at the beginning of the game and a slew of unlockable riders later.