Ever played a game that was better when you were surrounded by a halo of admiring friends than going solo? SSX, the snow boarding game from Electronic Arts Sports (BIG), commands instant attention at a small party with enticing music and board-grabbing action. The solo player games allow you to develop the characters, giving them greater abilities, access to different clothes and faster boards, and to teach the gamers the wide variations in the trick books. The controls on the PlayStation 2 are also easy to learn (after you get used to the idea that you hold and then release the button to jump). Beginners can catch on easily enough, but the experts can really wow the crowd.

Multiplayer mode is where SSX truly shines. The competitions, especially the speed competitions, easily draw the crowd. Even folks who are not normally into console games are easily drawn in by the sound and graphics on the television screen. If complex jumps, spins, turns, and tricks are completed, the character gets boosts. These boosts can be used to accelerate the character in the competition, giving you an incentive to perform tricks even during the race. You can also push opponents aside, giving greater drama on the slopes.

The keys on the console control fall into a few categories. Directional keys help you steer while you are on the snow. Upon a successful jump, you can do spins in the air with the same directional keys. In addition, the front four keys (L1, L2, R1, and R2) add grab action to the board. For further entertaining rides, add tweaks to the moves. What makes the moves so fun is the combination of all of these things. After completing one spin turn, move in a totally unrelated direction….while grabbing the board….while tweaking…while arcing over competitors. You can also prepare to spin in the particular direction by winding up prior to releasing the jump button.

Jumps are performed on certain places on the map, many of which are marked by read or yellow zones. In addition, you can ride on the rails. Now rails, interestingly enough, are defined by many different things. Straight portions of tree trunks, steel rails, billboard signs, and train tracks all count.

One of my favorite venues is the pinball machine. Imagine that you are the ball, and the various obstacles provide opportunities for jumps, rails, or wipeouts. You have to complete the course three times, giving you familiarity with the map and allowing lots of air time for stunts. Remember to perform tricks in the air tube that serves as the elevator to raise you to begin the course. Shortcuts on all of the venues take you to interesting terrain, giving more variety (and many times more jumps and more rail) for you to play with in the winter wonderland. Many times the fun is to find the shortcuts, marked by the blue glass SSX sign, and to attempt the complicated paths.

There are also two different types of competitions. The first is the speed competition, which is easy enough to understand. The second is the show-off, where points are awarded to characters that successfully perform outrageous jumps. Bonuses are added when they can touch large snowflakes located at difficult positions. For example, the 5X red snowflake is the highest bonus and is usually located at off-track positions. Venues of the show-off competitions also have extra railings added throughout the map to enhance positions for tricks.

Once you have the basics down, prepare to do even more. Different characters have different specialties, ranging from the petite Kaori (faster spin rates in the air to give better tricks) to the husky Jürgen (big muscular fellow that pushes everyone aside). Completing tricks in the trick book and winning medals open up more boards and more clothing for the characters. Long boards are faster, but have slower spin rates. Short boards are great for tricks, but are not as speedy. Continually winning the venues (on both show off and speed competitions) will give you access to better and better boards, regardless of the players’ specialty.

The sound for the game also deserves high marks, from the pumping music to the outpourings of the announcer. The sound of the boards on smoothed snow or glacier ice adds to the joy of the game. With force feedback, the controllers vibrate with every collision and stumble. Overall, SSX is a crowd pleaser and great at small parties. Better multiplayer than single player, this game titles is worth its place in your PS 2 collection.