Metareview: SSX: Blur [update 1]
by David Hinkle 
{ Feb 27th 2007 at 11:35AM }
Update: Finally, the reviews are rolling in. We've updated the post with plenty of more scores.With SSX: Blur being available at retailers today, the reviews are rolling in kind of late. As of right now, only two online outlets have reviewed the game, giving it very decent scores. Looks like many of you who were hoping for a game from a third-party with the same attention to detail that many of Nintendo's first-party titles receive may just be getting their wish. Many of the popular online outlets have yet to review the game, so keep in mind we'll be updating the post when their reviews go live.
Without further delay, let's check out what some of the critics had to say:
- Game Informer (85/100) says the controls aren't as precise as they would've liked them to be: "The one real problem I have with this game is that the ubertrick system doesn't work nearly as well as it should. The new controls do add something new to the series, but almost the entire time I pined for something more traditional."
- GameTrailers (84/100) finds the experience to be authentic: "It replicates the feeling of sliding down a mountain side with eerie precision and manages to make other control schemes feel dated. There's certainly plenty of opportunity for improvement with the sequel, but with a ton of content and even more fun, it's hard to go wrong with SSX Blur."
- GameDaily (80/100) says that eventhough the game lacks online play, it's still quite fun: "No online play hurts, and the two-player split screen mode offers limited enjoyment, but overall, EA successfully "blurs" the line between realism and fantasy, creating a great video game for all ages."
- 1UP (55/100) finds the game prevents you from really getting into the flow: "No matter how badly you want to get into the game, to find the flow...the game doesn't let you. And that's too bad, because it really does look great, the multiplayer mode is basic yet competent, and there are flashes of true SSX brilliance."
- GamePro (50/100) says it takes too long to figure out the game's controls: "Dedicated (read: sadistic) gamers willing to invest the time necessary to figure out the controls might get a kick out of this one, but the convoluted controls will turn off most players. The lesson here is clear: Wii developers need to start with a blank slate rather than graft old-school control schemes onto the Wii Remote because, as SSX Blur demonstrates, it just doesn't work."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Loban @ Feb 27th 2007 12:30PM
I'll definitely be getting this one. But I'm pretty sure it hits stores tomorrow. It ships today, but won't show up on shelves until tomorrow. I suppose some retailers will put it out though if they get their shipments early.
Spaz @ Feb 27th 2007 1:43PM
Looks to be a fun one. I *still* don't really care about online play, so can I add an extra point to these scores?
Naruhodou @ Feb 27th 2007 2:31PM
Looks fun. I never played SSX before, so I don't really mind the same tracks. I'll grab it this weekend, maybe.
Jimmijam @ Feb 27th 2007 2:39PM
Wii have been starved of a class title for months and months. That alone should sell this game.
Jimmijam @ Feb 27th 2007 2:42PM
(lemme clarify the above statement: Wii have been starved of a class Wii title for months and months. VC otherwise :-)
Player1 @ Feb 27th 2007 3:54PM
What's with the GamePro review saying the controls were tacked on. Wasn't this one build ground up for the wii controls? And as the first poster mentioned, today is the ship date, so it will be at retailers tomorrow (GameStop and EB always list the ship date as the release date).
Mr Khan @ Feb 27th 2007 4:17PM
@ Jimmijam
Sonic and the Secret Rings
thats all i have to say (AWESOME, AWESOME game)
Loban @ Feb 27th 2007 4:21PM
Well, the reviews were looking great until GamePro chimed in. I guess they just don't like the controls with the Wiimote. I can sort of understand, as at times I was wishing for more traditional controls while playing Zelda, but the wiimote controls certainly didn't take away from the experience one bit.
You also have to remember, reviewers don't spend a whole lot of time with a game. They play it just enough to give it a fair review. And in the Wii's defense, I don't think this gives reviewers enough time to get good at the controls and hence, they'd rather just use old controls they're used to. My guess is that once you play SSX blur on the Wii for a while, the controls will be second nature and you won't want to go back to traditional controls.
Loban @ Feb 27th 2007 4:21PM
Mr Khan, does Sonic get better as you can play it? Because I've only played the first few levels and so far I don't like it at all. The controls are poorly implemented and I find it to be rather boring.
Number One @ Feb 27th 2007 6:56PM
Some people still dont have wii's.....
ShaleX @ Feb 28th 2007 2:56AM
Hey Wii Fanboy, I got a question for you to pose to the people.
So, we've heard a few reviews complaining about the fact that sometimes the wiimote isn't responsive. I myself have problems in games like Twilight Princess where i'd flick the remote forward to throw a pot, and instead it'd drop the pot and draw his sword.... or in sonic where flipping the remote backwards and still going forward... and even in this one some museings about the uber-trick system not working.
So here's the question. When people ware off the "wow! new!" aspect of the Wii, will 100% accuracy be expected? Is it possible? Is it something the hardcore fanboys experince and forgive to the point of denial? Or does one thing that us non 150% nintendo fanboys are pulling at straws to complain about?
Now, i'm 100% in the Wii60 camp. Zelda:TP is an outstanding game, and in the case of throwing things, i use the A button when it's something important like a bomb.
Kenny @ Feb 28th 2007 10:01AM
@ShaleX
I seem to be in the minority in that I don't have many problems with the Wii mote responsiveness. I can only think of 2 games where I had a problem. Wii Sports Boxing (it doesn't register a lot of my punches) and Super Monkey Ball -- the main game was fine, but the minigames I had problems with the remote.
The rest of the games have worked fine for me (maybe a couple hiccups, but even in a button-pushing game you can have a character do something other than you "told" it to).
Zelda, especially, I think has used the remote the best (outside of sports games). Very subtle. I love the Zelda controls (and find it surprising some don't). I've never had any remote problems with Zelda -- and I think I've always used "A" to throw... I didn't even know you could throw but moving the remote.
Loban @ Feb 28th 2007 10:01AM
ShaleX,
I didn't even know it was possible to throw stuff in Zelda using the flipping motion of the wiimote, i just always used the A button. Huh, now I'll have to go give it a try.
That being said, I do experience the issues you're talking about. However, I do believe perfection is possible. The accelerometer (Analog Devices ADXL330) used in the Wiimote is very precise and can easily sense the slightest motion. However, it all depends on the game and how the developer uses it. I have no idea why, but some games just work better than others. For example, in my opinion the control in Sonic and the Secret rings is horrible. It's very "jerky" and inconsistent. However, the control in Super Monkey Ball is flawless. It's silky smooth and very responsive.
The pointer function of the wiimote is also hit or miss depending on the game. Even in the Wii menu, it's jerky and inconsistent sometimes. However, in the game Elebits it's perfect.
Kenny @ Feb 28th 2007 10:09AM
ShaleX,
Oops. I should say though that for the future, I think that remote responsiveness should be considered. I think 95%+ is good enough. I can accept some problems... which sometimes could just be me (where I aiming, etc.).
But it's funny that some reviewers complain about the remote in some games (Blur and Sonic) and others don't. I think set-up may have something to do with this. Things like bright lights behind, etc can affect the remotes reliability. I've tested the sensitivity of my remote and I do have a light behind me usually so I make sure it's not shining directly at the IR sensor.
I'm starting to wonder if some people's problems are more with the own setup rather than the game/remote itself.
Loban @ Feb 28th 2007 10:32AM
Or maybe some people just plain suck at the motion controls. I can't believe the wide gap (from really good to really bad) in the reviews for SSX Blur. From GamePro's hatred of the controls to GameRadar's praise and love of them. Something strange is going on here. I'd say it's more about the user than the controls on the Wii. It's less about how good they are, and more about if you can adapt to them.
I guess I'll find out tonight as I'm picking up this game after work today.
Jimmijam @ Feb 28th 2007 1:12PM
Interesting notion about the setup being the possible factor. I agree, the relatively large chasm between the review scores and commentary on the controls seem very fishy...
Hopefully there will be a follow up post on this very subject on this blog. I'd be curious to find out what exactly is the source of this discrepancy, if anything, the information can only help us enjoy our Wii experience even more.
Qazz @ Feb 28th 2007 4:28PM
"I'd be curious to find out what exactly is the source of this discrepancy, if anything, the information can only help us enjoy our Wii experience even more."
Just have a look at Metacritic every once in a while and read the reviews:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/ssxblur
All of the reviews so far (apart from GameTrailers) hate the controls.
Quote from Gamespot's review:
"Sooner or later, you stop caring about the exact trick you're pulling off and begin moving the remote around in a random fashion, watching your character pull off increasingly bizarre strings of moves that often seem disconnected from the controller."
Apparently even the set of moves you can pull (theoretically, since the controls don't work) is drastically reduced from that in, say, PS2 version of SSX3.
So, I'd say this is yet another failure of a "real" game on Wii. Even though it's still selling well, I can't see how games like this can keep up the momentum and interest in the future. Yeah, new Mario/Zelda/etc. are coming, but it's once again down to the Nintendo titles.