ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding 2002

Maybe this will appeal to hardcore snowboarder types who use words like "gnarly" and "rad." But it doesn't appeal to me. When I've got the story-based Dark Summit or the trick-based SSX Tricky to spend my snowboarding time with, I'd rather not spend it pedaling through the myriad menu screens that muddle up this game.

What frustrates me is that I really want to like it. The Snowboarder mode is one of the coolest career modes I've ever seen in a game. You create a boarder, then start out small potatoes and build yourself up by entering competitions. Then, if you're real good-like, you enter bigger competitions. I think. Actually I don't know if you enter bigger and better competitions because the tricks are so limited that I may never find out. There are all kinds of trick competitions and I can't beat any of them with this lame trick set. I understand the simulation aspect and all. But tricks are fun. Let me do them. Let me do crazy things I've only dreamed of while on my couch.

Plus, the turning radius is ridiculous. Is this what real snowboarding is like? Because if it is, I don't want any part of it. This one's deep, but flawed. Try renting it and see if you agree.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.