Stoked takes snowboarding to new heights and shredding through digital powder has never felt so good!
Design:
Stoked is an open world snowboarding game, a la Amped 3 or Shaun White Snowboarding. There are 5 HUGE mountains to choose from and each mountain has a ton of different paths to take with completely different run lines. Each mountain is so detailed and carefully built to near perfection by the masterminds at Bongfish. They decided early on to make mountains have a natural backcountry feel, so you won't see grindrails in the middle of nowhere. Instead you'll be able to jib on fenches, broken down tree trunks, etc. Each mountain has a very organic feel, but don't let that make you think they're empty and boring, because it's just the opposite. There's a lot to ride and trick off of on all 5 mountains.
Stoked also offers a dynamic weather system, which will provide different riding conditions every single time you go on the slopes, and a full day/night cycle.
Gameplay:
Stoked is very deep when it comes to gameplay. It doesn't come easy. Stoked is very much like Skate. It has the Flick-It control system, which will have you using the analog sticks and bumpers. They did away with using face buttons to make the most realistic snowboarding experience to date and they've succeeded. The controls take practice and patience. This is not the kind of game that you'll pick up and instantly be good at. Stoked isn't about instant gratification, but more along the idea of practice makes perfect.
Stoked also offers 2 different ways to ride -- Hucker or Stylish are the 2 you get to choose from, but there's a catch. Depending on how you ride throughout the progression of the game, you'll get a percentage dedicated to that style. So, if you decide to ride hucker, you'll notice that you'll become better over time at the bigger tricks that are more sloppy, which usually don't net you as many points. This is a very nice addition to the games realistic nature.
Now, onto the objectives/challenges. Each mountain has plenty of different challenges that can be simple and extremely difficult. Each challenge is laid out on the mountain and when you come in contact with it, you simply push X to begin it. The challenges are set up like in Amped. This isn't a game where you have to suffer through some atrocious plot, but it's all about the core gameplay. There's no crappy story here, because there isn't one. It's all about getting fame. You start out as a nobody with crappy gear, but over the course of the game, you'll get sponsored and be able to gear up in some of the best equipment out there.
And like I mentioned earlier, the dynamic weather system lends itself to the gameplay, because depending on the weather conditions and the amount of powder on the ground, you'll perform differently, which adds nicely to the game to make it feel new every single time you go to play it.
Presentation:
Stoked is a beautiful game. It may not be the best looking game out there, but it still wows with gorgeous visuals and a slick artstyle, not to mention the fancy menus. The snow looks very real and packs into the ground when forced with pressure. Also, your snowboarder will get covered in snow when he falls to the ground, but it'll come off over time. It's a very nice addition to the presentation and realism in Stoked.
The framerate can dip a tad at times, but nothing to be concerned about. It's always running at a respectable clip.
Stoked also offers a huge selection of indie music. Most of it is very good and there's definitely something for everyone. If you prefer your own tunes, though, then there is the option for custom soundtracks.
Online:
Stoked offers the best online multiplayer to date for a snowboarding game. It's all very seamless and intuitive. Get together with your buds and ride down the slopes, because it's always a good time. There can be some minor lag, but nothing terribly bad. It works better than Shaun White Snowboarding.
Overall:
Stoked meets the hype. It has taken the crown from Amped as the best simulation experience for snowboarding fans. It hardly ever disappoints. It's one of those games that truly keeps surprising. A small developer (Bongfish) and a small publisher (Destineer) got together and made a better snowboarding game than the large money-hungry companies could and deserve some respect for it. Not to mention, Stoked retails for only $39.99, so it's a no-brainer. Get out there and support this fantastic game.