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Amped 3: Trippy, funny, and very good.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: December 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Amped 3 is my favorite video game that features unicorns, action figures being set on fire, Russians, and shiny kitty litter. There aren't any other games featuring enough of this stuff, I must say. But Amped 3 features more kitty litter than you'd ever believe, and it's got some great snowboarding gameplay to boot. Amped 3 is one of the better Xbox 360 launch lineups, and it's the only one that's going to have you laughing and scratching your head in confusion within the same gaming session.

I doubted Indie Built could pull off a great game here. Amped 2, which was generally considered too difficult and too technical, bombed on the sales charts and it came as a surprise to me that anyone wanted to pick up XSN's snowboarding franchise. Well, Indie Built did it, and they did one heck of a job making an enjoyable game. What makes Amped 3 so unique is, well, everything that isn't related to the fantastic gameplay itself. You wouldn't think too much of the game from looking at its bright green box art which features a snowboarder and the prominent, bold, and pink Amped 3 logo. Once you crack open that box and pop the game into your Xbox 360, you'll be thinking differently. Some of the stuff you'll see in this game is more bizarre than anything you'll ever see again. I mentioned unicorns and kitty litter earlier, but those are just two of the seemingly endless items of wonder that are tossed around in this trippy game. I'd like tell you more about the stereotypical anime cutscenes, the cut-and-paste art, or the sock puppets. But I can't. I can't tie any of these things to the Story Mode, and it would be a travesty for me to ruin any of the stuff in this game. It would ruin the "What the heck?" feeling that I was so happy to have while playing Amped 3.

The Story Mode is where most of your time will be spent. There are hundreds of challenges. Some are extremely generic to the genre--score points, go through checkpoints (which in this case are acid-influenced magic circles), or do a trick to impress a sponsor. These goals are the ones I didn't like, and they were the ones that I got really tired of when I was finishing up with the story mode. I especially hated the kitty litter challenges, because I hate picking up random, scattered, unimportant items in games like this. The ones I enjoyed kept me playing, though, especially the crash-your-sled one. The goal here is to launch your player off of his sled and physically harm him as much as possible. Needless to say, this is endlessly entertaining and constantly funny. It's even funnier when you're not riding on a sled, because sometimes you'll barrell downhill on a chair or a portable toilet or other objects. This is what I wanted to see from such a unique, artistic game--fun, creative modes. Sadly, the generic goals don't do the game any justice, but Amped 3 is a lot of fun to play and that's what allowed me to trudge through the ho-hum junk and reach the exciting stuff. Indie Built made Amped 3 easier to play (which is something XSN failed to do with Amped 2) and they did so by making the controls very similar to Neversoft's Tony Hawk series. All of the tricks are mapped to the controller's face buttons and grinds are made easier with an auto-snap system that aligns the player with rails. These two factors alone make playing Amped 3 simple and fun while the difficulty comes from the challenges themselves, not the controls. This alone makes the game much better than Amped 2.

While the art is fantastic and the presentation is impressive, the visuals of Amped 3 are its most disappointing factor. Launch titles are expected to show off the power of a new console, not show any kind of shortcomings. Amped 3 doesn't really impress me visually. If you told me this was an Xbox game and I didn't know what you were playing, I wouldn't think twice about it from looking at the graphics. It certainly doesn't look bad--little touches like powdery snow effects look really nice. It's just that this game's visual calibur is very low when it's compared to 360 beauties like Perfect Dark Zero, NBA 2K6, and Madden 06. The audio factor is quite different--there are hundreds of songs, dozens of artists, and hilarious voice acting to boot. If you're a fan of indie rock, electronica, and hip hop, you'll love the tunes found here. Since the original Amped, I've appreciated the fact that the series has featured so many low-key, unsigned bands.

The Xbox Live factor here is pretty disappointing. There isn't any online multiplayer at all, and the most interaction you'll have with other players is through the Leaderboards, which hold records for every single challenge found in the game. I thought it was fun to see how I sized up against other players but I would have loved to actually hit the slopes with someone else. Maybe they'll do it with Amped 4.

Mentioning Amped 4, I'd love to see Indie Built go for another round. Amped 3 is a fantastic game. It offers fun snowboarding gameplay, an art style that will blow your mind, and a story that will bust your gut in laughter. You don't have to sift through a lot of junk here--there are some annoying challenges, the graphics are ho-hum, and the lack of Xbox Live multiplayer is certainly a let-down. Other than that, I can't complain. Check this game out, it's great. If nothing else, you'll want to get that "What the heck?" feeling I mentioned before.

Best Snowboarding Game Out There!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: December 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When I first saw the screens for Amped 3, I was skeptical. Being a loyal Amped enthusiast though, I decided to pick it up anyway to see if this game lived up to its predecessors. Well...

It DEFINITELY did!!!!!

This game has a whole slew of new features that no other snowboarding game has pulled off yet, like a complete story mode that allows you to basically wander the entire slope via Snowmobile and compete in challenges a la Tony Hawk Underground. The mountains are utterly enormous, and the graphics are very much next gen. Seeing the board carve through the snow is stunning.

The gameplay is a bit simplier from previous Amped games, but that's not a bad thing at all. The other games involved very complicated and unnatural button combos to pull off even the simpliest of tricks. This game still maintains the realism, but the awkwardness is nowhere to be found. 2K did a great job converting this title, as it used to be a Microsoft product.

This game is the closest you're going to get to the slopes on the 360...and that's pretty awesome!

Amped: Doesn't Deserve X-Box 360 Status (Train Wreck)

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 9
Date: December 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I rented Amped 360 after reading the good reviews some people gave it. My analaysis ...

Hardly worth renting, much less buying; especially compared to other games.

Painfully long Load times and annoying appeal-to-7-year-old interface are hard to stomach.

After getting through all of that nonsense ... the game is really 10 steps back from good snowboarding games like the SSX series (I really haven't played any others; there are probably dozens AT LEAST as good as SSX, if not better.

Admittedly I didn't play Amped 360 for very long, but my first impressions were this is a train wreck that you'd be wise to avoid.

Great Snowboarding Experience!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: December 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

My brother got this game for me for Christmas and I was impressed! I've seen a few other games on the 360, but seeing Amped made me realize what a next-generation console the 360 is!

Gliding through the snow really gives you a sense of carving through powdery flakes, and the mountains are huge!! My favorite feature is the ability to snowmobile around an entire mountain, exploring different areas and finding new locations to board. Like I said I got this game on Christmas, but I still haven't explored every inch of even the first mountain. 2k did a great job!

The story mode is also really great, especially if you're into really silly humor. Some of it might seem a little stupid, but that's the whole point! Take it for what it's worth, and it's actually hysterical. Very seldom do I find myself laughing out loud at a video game, but this game has done it on more than one occasion!

Cool graphics, cool story...what else?? Well the gameplay is also greatly improved. If anyone played Amped 1 or 2, you know that the biggest problem was always the controls. They were awkward and complicated, but A3 takes a nice step towards simplicity. The realistic feel of the first two games is still in full force, just without awkward controls this time!

Could you ask for anything more?? Get this game and give it a try...it's really one of my favorites!

Very easy controls a little to easy

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: January 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Ok the first thing i want to say is that the guy Gregory T.schiller needs to be slapped first he gives Quak 4 a 1/5 which is a great game and now this one yeah sure this game is a little stupid with the wiener boy character and such but it is still a fun game and he did not play it i garanty you. The only problome with the game that i have is that the controls are a little to easy like when i try to hop over a box and then land on it and yea i know that is what tail bonk is for but still make it a little more chalenging. Pick up this game it is great.
i am not under 13 i just dont want to get an account.

snowboarding pwease

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: January 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

so 1st off let me express my love for the amped series. i have spent countless hours playing both amped 1 and 2. i recently got amped 3 at my local EB. going against my gut feeling of skipping this title. i do not regret it though.

Positive:
funny story
intresting characters
create your own character
snowmobiling anywhere anytime on the mountain
sledding
different than anything else out there

Negative:
graphics are not great especially for a 60 dollars xbox 360 title

horrible horrible controls-wayyyyyyyyyy to floaty i feel like i have no real control over my character. you now automatically grind anytime your get near something you are able to grind. EVEN IF YOU DONT WANT TO. also it is very very hard to fall, land sideways and you automatically land and straigten out. you have to land upsidown to fall on your snowboard.

so im half and half with this game. in one aspect it is very cool to be able to go up and down the mountain at anytime. almost like GTA on a mountain resort. the story is funny and quirky and fresh. character customization is fun as always. yet the heart and soul of amped...ie the controlls took a huge step back in my book. it really does take the fun away when your character feels like they are on the moon. carving is almost uncontrollable. any precision is forgotten, i always have to constantely go left right left right just to line up a jump. and i just get the major sense that i am on a bike far to small for me with training wheels...and pink little tassle on my handle bars...and the gay little whistle...(analogy)

2k bring back the tighter controls we love!

if your used to the old games i would rent 1st. i honestly am a huge fan of snowboard games so im gonna stick it and beat the game. idk if ill trade it in eventually who knows. anyways its not a must buy 360 title but ya...

hopefully amped 4 will be better

360 must buys: Call Of Duty 2 stay aways from PDZ...DOA 4 and NFSMW are also very fun games

Do not buy this game!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

When I first bought Amped II on the original XBOX I couldn't stop playing it. The controls were easy to master, the game play was fun, quick and dynamic. This game is none of these. The action feels sluggish and frustrated; the load times are ridiculous and it seems the development team spent more time on making the game seem "cool" and not enough on actual game play. This is a HUGE step back from Amped's last release. The overly slick styling detracts from Amped 3, making it all filler without much else. Maybe this is what ten year olds expect from their video games, but I was extremely disappointed.

GREAT under-rated game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: January 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This has got to be the most under-rated game for the 360.

This game is friggin great. Let's start with what matters: The Gameplay. The gameplay is great and the controls are easy to pick up. There are so many things to do and see in this game, from actual snowboarding, to snowmobiling to throwing snowballs. The tricks are easy and I would say an average gamer would be able to master this game.

The Graphics and environment are equally impressive. The mountains are HUGE and it's pretty much a free roam like the GTA series. There is nothing like jumping off the tallest mountain in the game and plunging downward, it really gives a roller-coaster type effect in your stomach. Especially if you play on a big screen TV.

The Cut-Scenes and the story. You have never seen cut-scenes or a story quite like this before in a game. The movies are a true work or art. From sock puppets to plastic toy men these movies will have you laughing at the same time you are wondering what the???@@@@!!!!

I highly recommend this game, as it is my favorite on the 360 so far.

I have no idea what's goin on

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Just got my Amped3 a few days ago and have only been playing a few hours. But man... It's about time someone really thought about what a video game is about.

no it's not about graphics, no it's not sound, and it certainly doesn't need to be about realism. It's about fun.

Yes, amped 3 seems a lot easier than Amped 2 and Amped 1. Yes your boarder has non-intuitive controls, yes the game feels like you're in some strange strange indie music, punk rock world, and yes it's a fricken riot.

It's been a long time since I played a video game and laughed heartily and often. In a world of Robot Chicken, CATS vs. Mr.T, Trogdoor the BURNINATOR and everyone's favorite owl ORLY?! Amped 3 fits right in. Yah it'll be very dated due to pop culture references and such, but it's hilarious!

Why 4 stars? Yah, graphics, sound, realism, physics and such have taken a bit of a back seat, I'd like the world to look at bit more realistic than Amped 2, it'd be nice if my boarder did the tricks the way i'm mushing them into my brand new 360 controller, and yah, when you run over someone with a snowmobile... there should be some carnage... but seriously folks, if you buy a video game to have fun and not to challenge your button mushing, thumbstick whirlin' skills, definitely pick up amped 3 and leave your hang-ups behind...

Fun gameplay and amazingly funny references

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: March 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Amped 3 is the first snowboarding game to come out for the XBox 360. You get to fly through the snowy slopes in full wide screen high definition.

First, it's important to fully accept that this game is made very tongue in cheek. You get cut scenes with drawings almost exactly like Trogdor, you have sequences of 60s-style circles with good/evil George Harrisons urging you on. You get modern alt music mixed in with Blinded By the Light. Sometimes there are Wonder Woman style flashing lights. "The Dueling Serpents of Fangar!"

A lot of the references might go right by people who aren't both classic TV watchers and new website visitors. It's amazing how many subtle funny things are built into the dialogues and cut scenes.

But back to the game. You customize your character - male or female - with the typical array of skin color, body build, hair, facial hair, hat, clothing, board and so on. You have a GIANT mountain to explore that you can explore, do challenges on, follow the storyline on, and just have fun. If you get tired of tracking down cool places to board, you can always snowmobile all over to find a new hidden spot.

Like any game, the key here is to master the controls. Once you get the hang of the different moves, you'll be carving, spinning and sliding whereever you want to go. Dodge in the trees. Launch out over the rocks. The mountain is fully rendered and waits for you. The game is pretty forgiving for beginners, so they don't get frustrated, but also provides enough challenges that skilled boarders will find their ways to have fun.

The graphics in widescren high def are a mixed bag. On one hand, I love the groomed rippled snow and the trails you leave in it. It made me want to put aside the controller and drive up to the ski lifts. The funky stars and circles and other indicators are all true to style. The clouds and sunsets in the background are photo-realistic and lovely. However, the character models are a little plastic looking. Comapred to other games we're playing right now, they weren't up to standards.

It's important to note that the game is about fun - not about training you to be a professional snowboarder. If you slam into a tree, you don't get hauled off to the emergency room. You just bounce off and keep going. If you take a nose dive you just roll and get back up again. I don't really consider this a bad thing in a video game.

Well recommended for snow bunnies everywhere!

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