Amped 2 (xbx: 2003): Reviews

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Amped 2


7.2

based on 34 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 13 votes
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GAMES:

Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding

The ultimate freestyle snowboarding experience, offering the largest, most varied trick library of any snowboarding game. Explore vast areas of wide-open, spectacularly rendered real mountains packed with terrain parks designed by world-famous snow park architect, Chris Gunnarson. Play head-to-head with friends in the various multiplayer modes. When you're ready to take it to the next level, connect to Xbox Live to check rankings and challenge the world's best virtual riders. Feel what it's like to live the life of a real professional snowboarder. Travel the globe, and pull sick tricks in front of sponsors, photographers, and fans. Build your fame, and get photos and demo reels in the latest snowboard magazine or video. Climb to the top ranks of the sport, and become a media superstar all to the sounds of more than 300 killer indie tracks. [Microsoft]

PUBLISHER:	Microsoft
DEVELOPER:	Microsoft
GENRE(S):	Extreme Sports
PLAYERS:	8
ESRB RATING:	E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE:	October 28, 2003

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Gamezilla!

Ignore the tutorial if you can help it, it’s a great way to get your hopes down instead of building them up.

Game Chronicles

A must-have title. It's not as fast or unrealistically fun as "SSX3" but it wasn’t meant to be. This is serious snowboarding that almost takes the sport into its own niche sub-genre.

Sports Gaming Network

Whereas most types of gamers are likely to enjoy "SSX 3," only those with an interest in snowboarding will fully appreciate Amped 2.

GamingTrend

It is not as razzle or dazzle as "SSX 3," but it brings a more realistic snowboarding feel to the table. You can even go online with 7 other people and help each other or compete against each other.

Cheat Code Central

While some will take a while to get used to the different control style, the game is one of the best out there of its kind. Challenging enough for those who love a challenge and fun for those who just want to have a good time.

Next Level Gaming

The backgrounds look as gorgeous as any snowboarding game I've seen, with lots of lush snow, trees, houses and lodges, and other objects strewn about. The mountain courses are linked together, and well built.

IGN

If you're a fan of the original Amped, then you should feel right at home with this game. The improved controls and added gameplay elements only make the game less frustrating and more fun.

GamePro

It's also refreshing that, instead of a wilder arcade-like approach, the game portrays the sport more realistically; it’s a bit more work to pull off a dizzying spin or flip, as it would be in real life.

Team Xbox

Gives you a bit more "professionalism" than the arcade feel of SSX so it’s a nice blend of arcade fun and authenticity.

Da Gameboyz

With great graphics, a more forgiving control scheme, great music and fantastic online play, videogaming snowboarders can't go wrong.

XGP Gaming

Amped 2 continues the tradition established by the original, but adds a few new twists to keep gamers interested.

GameZone

A solid title. This is the Tony Hawk of snowboarding; the tricks are huge, the musical score is unique and solid, and the graphics are extremely well done. This title has ‘steez."

Armchair Empire

It lacks the sheer exhilaration of the SSX series, but scores high marks for a deep career mode and solid level design.

Official Xbox Magazine

Solid, entertaining, and graphically attractive, without ever leaping into risky territory. Unfortunately, that's exactly what's keeping the series from being truly great. [Dec 2003, p.150]

Operation Sports

This is a great online experience!

1UP

Not only does its game system encourage players to think out their moves and concentrate on realistic tricks, but it also does this while still keeping the game addictive as you put more time into it. Quite a feat.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

"Quite challenging" is quite right. Casual freeriders should stay off these slopes: If you're not serious about nailing those sick-scoring combos, you won't get very far in this game. [Dec 2003, p.222]

Xbox Nation Magazine

With all-or-nothing rail and jump placement, the game can sometimes feel shorter and more difficult than it really is, while at other times a bit too easy. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.91]

eToychest

The focus on realism obviously isn't for everyone, but the lengthy career mode coupled with the satisfying Xbox Live support, make for an overall great experience.

Edge Magazine

Amped 2 is Amped with the right trigger gently pressed: it's tweaked. Balance meters take away some of the series' grace, but make it more of a game, like Tony Hawk's tilted downwards. [Christmas 2003, p.122]

Gamer's Hell

Realistic to the extreme meaning it’s almost impossible to land your kickass tricks and do those combos that can blow the competition out the water.

GameSpy

The main problem with Amped 2 is its controls...In practice, most players will find it difficult to learn at best and frustrating at worse.

GameCritics

Rejects spectacle in favour of the sort of satisfaction that results from a slow culmination of small triumphs—a video unlocked here, a trickbook completed there. In the end, though, it's because of this very process that Amped 2 fails to evoke the butterflies-in-the-stomach level of excitement that I get from playing the very best video games.

Gamer.tv

Limited multiplayer options, the paucity of single-player goals and the determinedly difficult nature of the game will discourage more casual gamers looking for a quick alternative sports fix.

TotalGames.net

Call us old fashioned, but shouldn't a game be tougher at the end than the start? Amped 2 does start to pick up after several stages, and once the methods have been mastered there is some serious enjoyment to be had.

GMR Magazine

Factor in the need to half-push the left stick and left and right triggers in order to get style bonuses, and you can see why intuitiveness completely disappears.

Total Video Games

Features a number of flaws at a control level that stop it becoming an essential title.

GameSpot

It adds a couple of new control features to the original game, but it doesn't address the underlying flaws of the system.

EuroGamer

Microsoft's biggest mistake with Amped 2 was not in shunning its chief competitor's vivacious aerial antics, but in failing to mimic its ease of control and combo structure - areas where the "less is more" idiom could most do with application.

Game Informer

Playing Amped 2 is like eating a yellow snowball... Due to its inconsistencies and problematic gameplay, frustration abounds in Amped 2. Do me a favor, avoid the frostbite and stick with "SSX." [Nov 2003, p.164]

Yahoo! Games

Amped 2's thick, slow riding and terrible controls are simply unforgettable, whether the aim is arcade speed or serious realism.

G4 TV

Horrible aerial physics, the trying control system, and the gradual build-up of stats make sure that the "Amped" series still has plenty of room for improvement. Amped 2 plays second fiddle to the "SSX" series as the most exciting snowboarding game on the mountain.

games(TM)

Disappointment, thy name is Amped 2. [Christmas 2003, p.122]

Gamestyle

There are also issues with the questionable collision detection, which often results in your character slamming into a nearby pole that you had apparently avoided.

The average user rating for this game is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James B. gave it a10:
I love this game. Can be frustrating at times trying again and again at challenges, but because it has official pros, videos and all the extras this game is SICK!

LR Jørgensen gave it a 10:
It`s a mother f....ing good game for christ sake!!!!

Matthieu R. gave it a 6:
Sorry, but SSX is, and always has been, more fun. Amped isn't without its merits, but I just didn't get into it as much.

BoB User gave it a 10:
There's learning curve, but once you get a few tricks down... this game becomes much more addictive and fun than ssx3!!!

Adam Z. gave it a 3:
The original Amped set the standard for all future snowboarding games with its great graphics, gameplay, and features. I was assuming that Microsoft would just add a multiplayer split screen feature, XBox Live Support, new tricks, and some new maps. Well, M$ did that, BUT they also completely shredded the control system making the game almost unplayable!!! It is by far the most unrealistic and awkward controls for a game like this I have ever seen! Also, the game is now slow and the aerials feel like you are on a planet with more gravity. Rent this game before you buy it! Some may like it, but I think they should at least gave you the option to change the controller settings. The Analog Sticks are not the answer. All I ask is why Microsoft why?

Quintus gave it a 9:
This game deserves a higher score than 80. It is a definite upgrade from the original amped, and is a true snowboarding sim. the movements are great, and the rail grinding is much more realistic now. Also the career mode really benefits from the added depth, with a checklist of tricks and gaps. The butter move is pretty much useless, but you don't need it anyway. The style meter is my favorite innovation. The level design is a lot more fun this time around. Don't know about SSX3, but i think that's just a cool arcade, where amped2 is all about STEEZ!!

DC gave it an 8:
Deep and more realistic then other snowboarding games. Not an instant pick up and play game as you have to earn your skills in the single player which will take ages to complete. Live can be fun but there isnt that much interaction between players.