Wow. I'm not sure how they do it but EA Sports Big gets impressively better with each new SSX game they release. The original, launched alongside the PlayStation 2 in 2000, earmarked a new era in snowboarding games, going quantum leaps over Nintendo's own 1080 Snowboarding series and providing a refreshing new spin on the genre. EA topped themselves with the release of SSX Tricky, a multiplatform affair that included better personality, even bigger tracks, and an improved gameplay system that introduced the "tricky" system, where super tricks came into play. Then came SSX 3, evolving the snowboarding theme even deeper with a story mode and a foray of new additions that made the experience the most glorious yet. And to think, EA's not even done yet.

Enter SSX On Tour, which will probably be the last SSX experience we see in this current generation before the series moves in the direction towards PS3 and Xbox 360. But what a way to go- EA has once again pushed the series to a new style level and managed to eke out a new gameplay idea that will involve a few more gamers this time around. The Tour looks to be the best thing going yet for the SSX brand.

The latest build that we were sent still showed a few signs that it needed some work, including a slightly stuttering frame rate, some lacking details here and there, and some quirks with the sound presentation that left the announcer cut off and some "jumpy" tunes. But, in its current build, it still shows a lot of promise. Along with being able to snowboard down the mountain like in previous games, you can also select an extreme skiing style and take a trip down the hill on two pieces of greatness instead of one. The skiiers control about the same as the snowboarders, but have a foray of tricks all their own that makes you want to play around with them as long as any SSX favorites that you've established.

The game features a slick new hand-drawn art style in the menu screens that tries to give it some inventiveness, but the game engine is still based on the SSX 3 one, giving you a huge mountain to work down, with loads of shortcuts and items to find. You'll have plenty of big air opportunities to work out some mega-tricks, and EA's even gone as far as to tighten the control a little bit, so backflips and front flips feel a bit more natural. Linking tricks together is also more second nature than it ever has been, meaning a higher point count and closer opportunity to pull off even bigger tricks, known as Monster tricks. Once you pull these off, some text actually flashes around your player to let you know they've been completed. Very cool.

The graphics, like I said, aren't fully finalized yet, but there are a few things worth noting in this build. First off, EA's incorporated a motion blur effect that actually works pretty well, giving you the sense of speed as you rampage down the slopes. There's also new lighting effects that add to the experience, as well as a camera system that keeps your player in focus and even slows down and goes into multiple angles once a perfect trick is pulled off. I guess EA learned a few new things since SSX 3, and we'll benefit as a result.

Finally, EA's also bumped up the story mode into The Tour, where you create your own snowboarder from scratch and then take them down the mountain to create new allies and enemies, all while experiencing a number of challenges and becoming what's known as a "black diamond rockstar", the most elite of skiers and snowboarders. Of course, the road to greatness is paved with speed bumps, and each challenge must be approached with caution to the wind and your skills at the highest level you can muster. The AI in the game seems pretty balanced and is certainly no pushover.

I can't really call SSX On Tour the best SSX game yet, as the product isn't even finished yet. However, this November, I'll probably be hard-pressed to find any real flaws within it, if EA Canada touches up everything just right. We'll see how the game does in a couple of months, but don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to be a roadie of this Tour.