Being one of a series it is easy to assume that Deadly Descents will simply follow on from the success of its predecessors, but instead it would appear that SSX is receiving something of an overhaul. Unlike its more lighthearted brothers Deadly Descents appears to be, well, much more Hardcore. As part of a team aiming to be the first to explore the most treacherous mountain ranges on the planet, you are launched into extreme real world landscapes where your challenge is no longer only about being fast or looking good but about survival. The survival elements of the game combined with the harsh terrain and aircraft give the new SSX a much more serious, even military feel. Its is clear that this is not the familiar SSX of years gone by, this is SSX for 2011. Whereas the previous titles took place in relatively controlled and regimented landscapes this newest game offers to take you to places so extreme they are only accessible by helicopter. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the helicopter and extreme terrain are all just for show however, EA are already promising that with these new conditions will come new challenges. Battling everything from lack of air, to extreme temperatures and blinding snowstorms Deadly Descents will challenge you not only to survive the elements and max out your speed, but also to look cool whilst you do it. Hardcore.

So there you have it, our first glimpse of SSX Deadly Decents. If you were expecting a simple move on from the original SSX games then I have a feeling you may be disappointed, however if you are a fan of extreme sports then this move towards realism (all be it the type of extreme, exciting realism experienced only by characters such as my older brother and his friends) may be for you. I for one am looking forward to seeing what this new, more Hardcore SSX has to offer. Lets just hope its a well as, and not instead of the real sledging next year.

Until Next Time,
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SSX Deadly Descents is expected in Winter 2011
EA games
Click Here to see the official EA SSX Deadly Descents page

If I had to choose any extreme sports game that I could play for the rest of my gaming life, it would have to be the snowboarding game. Back on the PS1 I grew up with the likes of Cool Boarders. The very idea of doing tricks in the snow while racing against the computer was a fantastic concept to me (bare in mind this was back before any console had on-line gaming), It meant I could gloat with awesome tricks while kicking the computers ass, or indeed any one of my mates who came round for some split screen multiplayer. It was fantastic.

As games consoles evolved so did the snowboarding games, Cool boarders got buried under the avalanche that was the SSX franchise. SSX tricky is still one of my favorite snow boarding games of all time. It brought new life into the snowboarding franchise and was a bit tongue in cheek. It was a fantastic new lease of life to the genre. SSX was and still is the snowboarding Franchise for me, On Tour (which was the latest SSX outing for the PS2 and Original XBox) was a brilliant game and nothing else has really compared since.

I have been waiting for a new SSX game for god knows how long, this is probably due to the fact that my original XBox copy of SSX on tour doesn’t work on my 360. Believe me I have tried Shaun White and Amped but they just don’t cut the snowboarding mustard. But luckily the gods of gaming have been hearing my prayers and a New SSX is on the way. Finally!

Apparently it has been under development for the past 2 years, the team that brought you the Skate series are the main guys behind the new SSX game, which sounds very promising as Skate and Skate 2 were some great skateboarding games. Not much is known about the new SSX game as EA are keeping a bit if hush-hush as per usual but from rumors flying around are that the new SSX game will be going back to its roots with some hardcore snowboarding game play from the likes of SSX Tricky, also there are some new features that may be added to the game, such as helicopter drops and rescues, base-jumping, wingsuit/squirrel-suit flying, skyboarding, para-skiing, ice-climbing and more. So yeah this may be primarily a snowboarding game or just a massively awesome extreme winter sports fest.

This is just all speculation of corse, but this Saturday something is going to be revealed to the gaming world. Expect my thoughts next week.

Garv

But there is a part of me that thinks, there is still some great titles that are missing from the likes of Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network and the Wii store. So today, in no particular order, I give you my top 5 games that I think they should put up for download.

Jazz Jack Rabbit

Think Sonic the hedgehog with a gun shooting up the place over run by turtles. Each planet in the galaxy has been hit with a turtle infestation and it is up to you to save the universe. This game takes the rivalry between the tortoise and the hair to the next level.

Between having my Sega Megadrive and my PSone. I was playing PC games for a good potion of the time. Jazz jack-rabbit was pretty much constantly played. I know it isn’t as good as the blue hedgehog we have come to love over the years but it was something different. And Jazz himself was a pretty cool green bunny with attitude. Yes he did talk but when he talked you could tell he was bad ass, unlike sonic now-a days who sounds like a pre pubescent teen who is addicted to chilli dogs.

In my opinion they should at least bring Jazz Jack Rabbit 2 up for download, it had character selection and updated graphics and mainly a better storyline. so if any gaming giants can hear me, dig this little gem back up!

Quake 2

In my opinion this is still the best quake game to ever exist. PLaying this game and indeed watching my dad play this was fantastic. It was getting to the time where games were taking the more explicit route to the story lines, meaning there was a lot more blood and gore, because the developers had the technology to do it. Quaked 2 opened my eyes to all this. Every now and then I can still hear the cries of human slaves to the strog screaming things like “make it stop”, “It hurts.” and “Kill me, now”.

This title is where quake built its own story line about a galaxy over run by cyborg aliens. True it was reminiscent of the borg from Star Trek, but these beings were far more brutal, far more primitive in nature, and put up one hell of a fight. Just to play this game again would bring a huge smile to my face.

System Shock 2

I know there are a great amount of Bioshock fans out there, and personally I don’t blame you in the slightest, it is truly a fantastic game. But are you just a slight bit curious on how Bioshock got some of its ideas? Where it roots originally came from? Well the answers to these questions lie deep in the depths of System Shock. Having just watched some you tube vids, this game defiantly set the benchmark for Bioshock. So to me it would be pretty silly if they didn’t bring it up for console download.

I don’t know about you, but the very idea of a space station A.I going mad and then manipulating and massacring the human race is pretty awesome, and very creepy. Lets hope the revive this series in one form or another.

Road Rash

The original and in my opinion, still the best motorbike racing game your ever going to play. The original Road Rash on the Sega Megadrive had me racing down roads and smacking people to the ground with lead pipes and 2X4′s. It was the perfect mixture of motorbike racing and violence.

Sure GTA IV The Lost and damned tried to do it with their motorbike racing and baseball bats, but for me it wasn’t as compelling, it wasn’t the same, and it didn’t give you the satisfaction Road Rash did back in the early nineties. I think they did revive it once, but bringing back the original would be far better.

Cool Boarders

SSX Step aside as this title was the original game that started off the snowboarding franchise. SSX would never have been born if it wasn’t for cool boarders back on the PSone. This game could let you customise your character and boards. I spent hours a day writing all sorts of rude things on my snowboard then giggling to myself when I saw said word on the bottom of the board as a took off from a jump. Yes I was an immature little soul, but weren’t we all at some point or another.

If I hadn’t played cool boarders. I would not have bothered with any other extreme sports game. This has to be the title that got me onto things like Matt Hoffman’s BMX and Tony Hawks. So to see this make a welcome come back would bring me much gaming joy.

As you can see, I believe there are alot more games out there that need to be revived. Sure I could probably think of a tone more, and end up writing for a week solid. But for me these are the titles that deserve a come back most. What do you think?

Garv