Does EA Sports BIG know when to stop? Every game that these guys crank out seems to suit the sports arcade market perfectly, whether it be unpredictable street basketball (the NBA Street games), rally racing (the overlooked Shox), wrestling (Def Jam Vendetta), or motocross racing (Freekstyle). But the one that started it all for them was SSX, their notoriously fun 2000 PlayStation 2 release that built a whole new snowboarding game for the world to see. 1080 Snowboarding and Cool Boarders had become a thing of the past once this was slapped into consoles upon the system's initial release. EA Sports BIG then turned around and revamped the formula with SSX Tricky, an upgrade of sorts with tons of celebrity voices, bonus goodies, and the inclusion of Run DMC's immortal "Tricky" song, mixed to perfection with Mixmaster Mike's personal beats. Where to go next? Dare I say even higher?

SSX 3 has arrived for the Xbox console (as well as the PS2 and the Nintendo GameCube), and needless to say, the game is the size of a mountain compared to the minor peaks of the first two releases. Its hugeness redefines the snowboarding game as we know it, and will leave gamers in awe for hours to come from the first drop off the snowbank to the final, well-earned conquering on the third peak...and even further than that. The Canadian development team at BIG have done their homework and have created not only the next chapter in the series, but an environment as real as any mountain itself, with the obvious missing scent of hot coffee in the cabin and the chill down your back from the winter breeze. Instead of giving you a number of preset tracks like the first two games, SSX 3 mixes them all together on one huge mountain, and allows you to go anywhere via a pager, so you don't miss the action, even while you get busy trying to link small combos off the beaten path.

The game has an environment that works like GTA III and Tony Hawk 4. You board from event to event, chatting it up with locals, taking a free run down the slope, or participating in races for medals to unlock new courses and other goodies. The loading time is surprisingly small, focusing on your rider as they stand around in a gondola, looking cool in their winter gear. Then it's off to the action and it never lets go, moving from the simpler (but still tremendous) courses on Peak 1 to the unbelievably difficult (but not impossible) tracks of Peak 3.

One thing that's omitted from the game is the celebrity voice line-up. Only Bif Naked reprises her role from SSX Tricky, but the voices aren't what make the game. The soundalikes get the job done just like the real talent did, and aren't much of a distraction at all. In fact, their yelling out of taunts and self-insults (like when you crash) add to their personality, whether it be the veterans or the two newbies that have joined the cast. The sound effects are rock solid, right down to the variety of grind noises you can make depending on what you're grinding on and the good ol' crunch of some destruction as you fly through a glass window, or take apart some of the environment trying to land your trick. But the truly great addition here is the soundtrack, which isn't done by Mixmaster Mike but instead consists of a number of licensed tracks from such artists as Red Hot Chili Peppers, N.E.R.D, Jane's Addiction, Fatboy Slim, and a few other bands. I'll miss Mike, but the new music is outstanding and well-fitting to the game, keeping you rushing down the mountain in good time. You can either listen to the music via the BIG sports station, edit your own DJ list (but not with the tunes on your hard drive), or just let it all be silent so you can concentrate on your game. Trust me, it's fun with EA's music in full effect.

The graphics look absolutely stunning throughout the game, sprinkling on the little details like lighting environments and special effects when you snag a power-up. There's also some tight animation of each character, who let their movements show off their personality. The frame rate is mostly speedy, although there are points, depending on how many players are on-screen, that it slightly skips a beat. It's nothing incredibly annoying, as you still maintain full control, but it's something that could've been ironed out. The environments for each track and the mountain itself are simply outstanding, from the trail you leave within the snow to the absolute rush you get flying off a ramp and seeing where you're landing below...like three to four miles below at some points. Camera options are good, allowing you to get the best sort of views in the game, and the real-time day/night shifts are very cool, eventually fading out instead of going instantly like in some games. I was really impressed overall with how the game's looks have improved.

As for control, EA Sports BIG has once again tweaked this to fine perfection. The game no longer uses the right analog stick for knockdowns of your fellow boarders, but instead is used for what's known as a press. A press kind of works like a manual, allowing you to tip forward or lean back on your board in a balancing act to piece together combos. The effect is really cool, as you can now build more infinite combos and earn a greater deal of cash to spend on goodies. SSX 3 also fixed up the Tricky trick engine for a fuller effect, called the Uber system. You build up to the first stage by scoring normal tricks, then you must do Uber tricks to get to the Super Uber level. Once you maintain five Super Ubers without toppling the meter (which fortunately doesn't reset after a crash), you can do an even BIGGER trick for infinite turbo and maximum effect. This is a deep, wonderful system that kicks some serious ass as it allows for bigger momentum and some sweet moves as you head to the finish line. I miss the knockdowns, but this new stuff is quite all right. Add to that BIG's fine setup of the controls so you can piece together some nifty grabs, spins, grinds and presses, and you have a game that gives you the ability to do endless combos if you so choose.

You're also got to love the multipliers. You can really build up a cash flow if you can do these the right way. And how about the ability to grind on bigger and badder pipes way up high? Granted, you'll need balance, and the L trigger comes into play, along with the analog stick, to keep you going. One last thing worth mentioning is the recovery button. When you crash, you can tap the X button to quickly get back up and get back into the race. Trust me, you'll want to learn to do this to save yourself several seconds and keep up on your competition. It's a nice touch as well.

As for extras, this game has a ton; I mean a TON. First of all, your earned cash that you get for winning races and linking together some mean moves can score you bonus items like tracks, outfits, songs and so much more. Your gold medals from wins unlock new courses that you can take on, each one that much more deeper (and trickier) than the last. If that's not enough, the game has hours upon hours of secret things to find, like hidden routes and bonus goodie bucks to build up your savings. The two-player mode also deserves mention, as you can take on a friend in different modes, like race and freestyle, to see who handles the mountain better. Both race and freestyle in single player mode will keep you challenged as well, and allow you to work on the combos that you will grow to cherish.

So, aside from some slight frame rate issues and the whole Xbox Live thing, I can't think of a real fault with SSX 3. It's put together exactly the way a sequel should be, with an incredible amount of stuff to do and a wild build-up of fun gameplay and beautiful graphics to keep you hooked. SSX has grown up mightily in the past few years, and you have to wonder just how the hell it's going to improve from here. SSX 3 Tricky perhaps? Or maybe there's an SSX Complex just waiting to be released with SEVERAL mountains. The possibilities are endless, and until the new game arrives down the line, so is the enjoyment that this title provides.