The backbone of any good sports game is always its gameplay, and
ESPN: Snowboarding 2002 is no exception. Although there are only four main modes of play on the surface, there is a ton to do within. For starters, you can hit the slopes in the Tutorial mode. This is a great place to start for learning some basic controller commands. Also included is the two-player split-screen Dual mode. These are a great way to get a taste of what's to come in the real meat and potatoes of
X Games: Snowboarding 2002.
To jump straight into the action, head over to the X Games mode. Inside you will find four real world events, and you will be able to choose your boarder from 13 pros including Peter Line, Todd Richards, Kevin Jones, and Victoria Jealouse. First off is the Slopestyle, where you'll encounter many obstacles like fences, rails, pipes, and trees, all able to give you that extra scoring potential. Think of the next mode, Snowboarder X, as the Super G of snowboarding. The most important thing here is speed as you race the competition through each gate on your way to the base of the hill. The Superpipe is probably the most entertaining of all events. Here you get a chance to really show off your skillz and trick ability. Finally, you get your chance to defy gravity in the Big Air event. Hit the ramps and mash your buttons to see how many stunts you can pull off. Of course, to practice up you can always take a Free Ride at any time too.
Even with all of these options, the real heart of the game lies within the Snowboarder mode. To start off, you will hit the slopes after creating a boarder with little to no talent. Your job is to build your rider's abilities by taking free rides, entering competitions, and buying new swag. ESPN Winter X Games: Snowboarding 2002 is so in-depth, that the monetary system even allows for decreasing funds due to hospital visits to fix wounds. (Now if there was only something to help fix your pride.) Earn some money by entering the competitions, and also take a shot at earning the rights to board all over the world (in 30 total courses), as well as becoming a star by earning film gigs.
Everything about ESPN: Snowboarding 2002 is outstanding, including the physics system, although you will still be able to get off some insane tricks. The part about the physics that makes the game tough is that it can be very hard to land tricks at times, whether you're hitting the half-pipe, or grabbing some big air off the ramps. The other thing I noticed with myself is that I tend to be a button-masher when playing X Games: Snowboarding 2002. Because of this, performing tricks seemed to be a bit more difficult than it should be (and has been in other games in the genre). But all in all, this game kicks major butt and is definitely worth trying out.
