I cringe whenever someone tells me that developers are working on games with 3D engines for Nokia's N-Gage because the announcement brings back horrible memories of Call of Duty and Elder Scrolls, both of which are reasons why 3D SHOULD NOT be attempted on the system. Therefore, when it was announced that developer Exient was working on a semi-port of EA's SSX 3 I had reason to think that it would be an absolute disaster, but thankfully such is not the case. SSX: Out of Bounds is an enjoyable extreme sports game that, although it's not as slick as its big brother, manages to be addictive in its own right.

In spirit, SSX: Out of Bounds is a port of the highly enjoyable SSX 3. All of the riders as well as game modes are present, so you can play Conquer the Mountain (or travel down any unlocked courses in Single Event) with such famous boarders as Elise, Zoe, Griff, Nate, and Mac. There are a total of ten riders, each with their own personal attributes that can be upgraded as you earn cash through winning events and you can outfit them with all sorts of new boards and outfits.

Graphically, Out of Bounds is a mixed bag. Built from the ground up for the N-Gage, its 3D engine provides fairly smooth gameplay and the developers have managed to bring over much of the excitement of the original, so you'll catch big air, perform sick uber tricks, and grind off just about anything. However, the game isn't pretty. There's nothing about the courses or the riders that'll blow you away. If anything, Out of Bounds looks more like a first generation PSOne snowboarding game albeit just a tad bit slower. However, considering the rest of the N-Gage's 3D games, SSX is rather impressive. Things have a tendency to get choppy, and the pop-up is annoying, but by and large Exient's done a good job.

The graphics aren't stellar but the gameplay truly shines. While not as speedy as the console version, Out of Bounds is still a blast to play because the controls are spot on. The d-pad responds well, and it's easy to pull off tricks using the keypad, because all you need to do is crouch with seven, release it as you go off a cliff and just mess around with all the buttons. No matter what you press, your rider will do something insane. Plus, the game is still all about finding your own way down the mountain and pushing other players out of the way to gain an edge, so even at a slower pace, the game is still quite intense.

In addition to the single-player modes, SSX features multiplayer for up to four people via Bluetooth and you can connect to the N-Gage Arena and download and race against the ghosts of other players. Both features give the game added replay value and enhance the overall experience.

Lastly, SSX: Out of Bounds features a robust soundtrack that includes over 20 songs performed by artists such as Fatboy Slim, Black Eyed Peas, Jane's Addiction, the Chemical Brothers, as well as N-Gage exclusive tracks, Swollen Members being the first name that comes to mind. The music sounds tinny, but it still comes through fairly well.

While it won't knock your socks off, SSX: Out of Bounds is a cool snowboarding game that proves that N-Gage 3D is possible as long as it's being handled by a development house that knows the system's limitations. It's one of the N-Gage's best games, and a must buy if you plan on picking up the system.