AMPED ROCKS!!

I have HALO, Project Gotham Racing, NFL Fever 2002, and Dead or Alive 3. The game I play the most is Amped. The graphics in the game are nothing short of amazing and the feel of the game closely approximates the feel of snowboarding (I board so I know.) The games reconstruction of the feel of actual mountains is also frightening. When you are boarding down Stratton, it looks Strattonesque all icy and foggy. Good Stuff.

The sound track is great, of course this is a matter of personal taste. The trick subsystem is deep but there is a steep learning curve (and the instruction manual isn't exactly helpful). There have been complaints that the jumping/tricks system is unforgiving well to that I say it is unforgiving in real life as well. All in all tricks and rail slides are not difficult once you have mastery of the controls.

Gameplay
Generally, you have to snowboard down the mountain and amass a certain number of points in order to open up additional levels, and get certain other goodies. There are two types of points: points you get for just pulling off tricks and media points for pulling of tricks in front of photographers. It is an interesting system and adds to the challenge. You also have "beat the pro" levels where you must follow a pro boarder down the slopes and meet or beat the quality of his tricks. There are also impress the sponsor levels where you have to do certain types of trick for a sponsor. If the sponsor likes your tricks he/she gets amped and hires you.

Multi-Player
Haven't played this enough to give a definitive answer. I have tried the dash till you crash mod with a group of friends and relatives and it was amusing.. In this mod you can board until you crash and then the next player gets a chance to beat your point total.. Up to four people can play. Multiplayer does not utilize a split screen system but instead you take turns playing.

Overallthoughts
If you buy it you won't be disappointed and you won't get much sleep as the challenges of the game are maddening..

Sweet Game