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SSX Blur

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8.2 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 52 critic reviews
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Based on 57 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Montreal

Genre(s): Extreme Sports

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: February 27, 2007

Summary

SSX Blur is everything you expect from the franchise, delivered in a totally unexpected way. Revolutionary controls take full advantage of the Wii's potential by putting you in total command of your skier or rider, on-the-ground & in-the-air, by translating every motion you make into the skills that create mountain legends. [Electronic Arts]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: SSX 3 SSX On Tour SSX Tricky

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

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...

Armchair Empire

SSX Blur is a icy blast of refreshingly cool gaming, as you shred down snowy slopes with a Wii Nunchuk in one hand and a Wiimote in the other, watching the wintry scenery blur right by at an extreme speed.

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Console Gameworld

One of the best games for Wii thus far, which challenges on a hardcore level, and pays off with time and dedication.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

SSX Blur looks great and plays brilliantly. The controls don't try to make you feel like a boarder - they just make you feel in touch with the game, and that's what the Wii is all about. [Apr 2007, p.76]

NGamer UK

Huge, meaty, substantial. It's a Wii title without a minigame in sight, yet it's as well suited to a quick thrash down the slopes as it is an all-night sesh. A winter sports game for all seasons. [Apr 2007, p.36]

Games Master UK

A brave experiment and one that's really paid off. Looks great, too. [May 2007, p.64]

Action Trip

Unless you suffer from extreme ADD and you simply cannot spend more then 15 minutes learning a new game without being immediately rewarded, then I strongly suggest you check this game out. You won't find anything like on any other game system.

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Game Chronicles

Blur makes great use of the unique controls of Nintendo’s new system without seeming like they were trying.

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Game Over Online

A fantastic first entry for the series on the Wii. EA has done a lights-out job, and for SSX fans, this is a great sign of awesome things to come. The game is flat-out hard, and again, it will take you quite some time to master. When you do, though, it is just plain fun.

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Nintendo Power

Like 2005's "On Tour", Blue lets you choose between boards and skis, but the rails and narrow passages of the environments are definitely built for shredding. [May 2007, p.84]

PGNx Media

One of the most entertaining games on the Wii. If it weren’t for the recycled tracks, which come from earlier SSX games, this would be a must have. The ubertricks are a little annoying to pull off and unfortunately required to get far into the game, as well.

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Game Informer

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.

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GameTrailers

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.

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IGN

SSX Blur for Wii isn’t a game for everyone, as its level of pure difficulty and motion control mastery is one of the highest on Wii. Still, for true gamers out there, SSX Blur comes as the ultimate challenge on Wii thus far. Ubers are an art form in and of themselves, track design is ruthless, and the Wii control is innovating, but not perfect yet.

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GameZone

Anyone who thought the last SSX was too easy will be excited by the motion-heavy mechanics, which require more than a few shakes and waves to trigger all those cool moves the series is known for producing.

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Gamer's Hell

With a career mode that will take hundreds of hours to complete 100% of the way and multiplayer support for up to four players, SSX Blur will undoubtedly compliment any Wii gamer’s collection.

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VideoGamer

I would have liked to have seen a bit more customization, and it's unfortunate that the grab tricks got the shaft this time around, but those minor blemishes hardly prevent SSX Blur from being one of the Wii's first must-have titles of the year.

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G4 TV

Although the controls feel slightly unwieldy and unresponsive at times, SSX Blur is still generally a lot of fun. The open mountain, tons of events and unlockable goodies, and motion sensitive controls go a long way to revitalizing the snowboarding genre.

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GameDaily

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.

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Computer and Video Games

Our only major gripe is that much of its content, i.e. gameplay modes, many of the tracks, and of course all the characters, are from previous SSX games. With the usual selection of half-pipe, racing and trick modes, there's not a great deal of new content in here for SSX veterans to discover, outside of mastering the new control system.

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NintendoWorldReport

It's one of the first Wii games to go beyond a gimmick and show players what the system is truly capable of.

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Gamer 2.0

Don’t let the controls drive you away from this game, as there are more goodies to be had if you just spend some time with it.

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games(TM)

SSX Blur is a genuine triumph and fits in perfectly with the series. [Apr 2007, p.104]

Play.tm

In the case of SSX Blur and snowboarding, the console's motion controllers really do succeed in adding a sense of freedom and, if it's applicable to a videogaming representation of a sport, a certain naturalness to proceedings, unconfined by long-established methods of control.

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Nintendojo

Primary weaknesses of the title, beyond the learning curve, are blander-than-expected course designs, pyrotechnics and character personalities, in addition to the use of many minimally refreshed, recycled courses from older SSX titles. However, thanks to those new controls, SSX Blur is a fresh start for the franchise and sets a foundation for bigger and greater sequels, just as the series had in the last console generation.

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Pelit (Finland)

SSX Blur does not use the full potential of the Wii controls. I want to twist, shout, jump and run around the TV screen, not just tilt the wiimote a little bit. The game looks and sounds great. [Apr 2007]

Worth Playing

Its tricky control scheme is likely to be a divisive element, but those willing to spend considerable time with the tutorials should find SSX Blur to be a rather solid experience.

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Kombo

While the general controls are fun and easy, the uber moves are too difficult to pull off. This will be the biggest turn-off for most gamers. The game is just too difficult in this regard.

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GameSpot

SSX Blur has its moments, both joyful and frustrating, but it winds up being a solid entry in the SSX series.

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GameBrink

Maybe it was the developer switch or maybe it’s just that the Wii controls don’t fit the game, but SSX Blur is unfortunately a clunker. That being said, if you can get past the controls there is a ton of content to experience and unlock.

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Gamers' Temple

Once you master the controls you’ll enjoy the game for a while, but it will eventually you’ll find it hard to keep your interest in the game due in large part to the randomness of the tricks and the impossibly difficult to pull-off uber-tricks.

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Game Almighty

It’s important to stress that this game is not going to replace Wii Play on your kegger nights. SSX Blur requires a good deal of time to become competent at, and will reward you well for doing so. If you need a game that’s easy to pick up and play, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a solid evolution of an established franchise that was in need of a change.

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WHAM! Gaming

Overly finicky controls are the biggest ding against this decent but not superlative version of SSX for Nintendo's winsome Wii.

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Play Magazine

The control scheme just doesn't feel as tactile and appropriate. The courses feel awfully familiar, despite being a little less flashy. The energy level doesn't seem quite as high, the presentation doesn't grab you with as much gusto. [Apr 2007, p.42]

Operation Sports

The series is solid, but too little of this game is truly new, save for the functionality provided by the Wii's unique control scheme - and that doesn't quite work right.

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GameSpy

I really liked the game when I got over the controls' initial crazy learning curve, but after a while, my overall interest began to wane.

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PALGN

It's a shame that the only real issue we had with Blur was its controls. If you can get over this the game is a blast, although not the SSX franchise's peak.

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Edge Magazine

Blur will take you on a fantastic holiday, then, but perhaps not the most relaxing one. [May 2007, p.88]

DarkStation

Other than the frustrating experience with the Wii controls, Blur seems like a rather decent game.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

We want a full-on SSX game for the Wii – one that feels like "SSX 5," not just a very competent spin-off. Blur will just about do until then, though.

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GamerNode

By attempting to innovate the way the game is controlled, the overall quality of the title is far removed from what would be expected from an SSX diehard. EA really needs to hit the drawing board much harder for any future SSX Wii releases.

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Eurogamer

The net result of all this control confusion is that SSX Blur demands just as much mastery as its predecessors, but sets the bar for entry much higher, and never gives you the sense you're fully in control of clearing it.

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Gaming Nexus

Instead of making controlling your snowboarder easier, the Wii's new motion-sensing controls have made SSX much harder than it needs to be. What once was one of the best extreme sports franchises has been reduced to one of the most disappointing games of the year.

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Yahoo! Games

Many of the tracks and events have simply been lifted from earlier entries, and the controls aren't reliable enough to consistently deliver the elation that characterized the best SSX titles.

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AceGamez

Players with infinite patience and the strength of will to complete the game will be well rewarded, but those expecting the same level of intuitiveness and accessibility as other Wii or SSX games will be more than a little frustrated.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Patient players, prepared to persevere will be happy with Blur, but those expecting the same level of intuitiveness and accessibility as other Wii or SSX games are likely to be very frustrated.

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GameShark

The game for me was just ok – it didn’t have the same sort of wow factor I had with previous games in the series – it just felt like more of the same except with a new (sometimes frustrating) control scheme.

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DailyGame

So much promise, yet it's all dashed on the ice due to sloppy,unresponsive and frustrating controls.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

As a "My First SSX," Blur is passable. But for longtime SSX fans, this installment's much too limited coursewise, the track design is as poor as "SSX on Tour's", and instead of innovating, the unreliable motion controls get in the way. [Apr 2007, p.80]

1UP

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.

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Cheat Code Central

It all boils down to the controls. When you have the capability to utilize the innovative controls of the Wii, sure use them to the fullest extent, but don't leave the casual gamer in the powder while you do it.

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GamePro

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.

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Game Revolution

Maybe SSX Blur sums up the first Wii generation - a small-scale game with some interesting but awkward new control ideas, showing the difficulty for developers and players alike in adjusting to Nintendo’s new wave.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 57 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ryan K. gave it a10:
This is an excellent game! Some advice for those struggling to get it: For the first 15-30 minutes in this game, do the TUTORIALS! The game's controls work very well, but take coordination to master. Once you've got the basics, you'll see that this game is an excellent addition to the Wii library, with very little "Waggle" controls (the worst thing about most wii games). The graphics are decent for the Wii, the gameplay is challenging and interesting, and the feeling of leaning into the turns is fully intact. The audio feedback system is great, and as always, DJ Atomica is helpful and hilarious. In the options menu, you can customize how much the motion control affects your turns. You can make it up to 100% analog stick. (The default is 50% analog stick/50 motion control). I've been playing this game with very few weeks off since it came out 2 years ago, and it's still in my top 5 for the Wii. The multiplayer mode is adequate, but limited to only a few modes, and 2 player simultaneous. The single-player mode is mesmerizing, once you've got the hang of it, with plenty of variety in riders, modes, environments, and moves. With 12 Character Careers to complete, you may be playing for a very, very long time, and that's a good thing! You're not going to be an expert the first time you try this game. In fact, if you don't master the tutorials, you'll probably never enjoy this game. The first day you try snowboarding for real, expect to spend it falling on your backside. The same goes for SSX:Blur - there's a learning curve.

Bill O gave it a10:
Great controls, outstanding graphics for the wii. Snowboarding without the pain. I would like to see a version with balance board controls. It took me about 15 minutes to get the basic controls down, and much longer to pull off uber tricks. One of my favorite games in the last 5 years.

Benihana B. gave it a6:
Not a bad game. Controlls are an issue, I can never seem to pull of the uber tricks consistantly. I still like SSX Tricky 2 and 3 for the game cube better... After all, this is just the same game as 3 with a new harder controller.

Simon G. gave it a7:
By itself, not a bad game at all. But if you compare it to SSX 3, which is the one I consider the best in the series, it really feels like it's missing some vital elements to be fully enjoyable. These few things are; characters voice-overs (this greatly affects the mood of the game and what made SSX so cool since the beginning), hand plants (why remove tricks), fully customizable outfits (come on, no sexy outfit for Elise?), tons of unlockables (there were so many silly and useless things in SSX 3 that was adding a lot of deep), better mountain navigation (for some reasons boarding in the mountain is less fun), easier ways to unlock other peaks (it's really bad that you have to play with several characters to unlock new peaks), better collectible system (I don’t know about you, but the collectibles don’t feel like they’re rewarding). Other than that, the music mood in Blur is great; nice effort to make it evolves on the player’s performance (way better than EA Tracks). Apart from the hard to master gestures for Uber Tricks, the controls are there. The visuals are truly faithful to the series; good character models, nice snow textures and lightening effects. I doubt this will happens, but I'd kill for an online multiplayer SSX; from what I heard the series is not going any further. Overall good game if you're willing to put some effort into learning the controls.

Steve W. gave it an8:
This is an excelent game. I want to clarify the controls a little more for people who are reading these reviews. People can just pick up the game and play it for the first time and enjoy the tricks by doing any random in air movements with the wiimote and nunchuck. Therefor its fun for guests you may have over to play. The Uber moves are challenging to pull off and thats a GOOD thing. Who wants to play a game that can easily be beaten. Also, there is a seperate menu in the game that allows you to practice the uber tricks until you master them. I've had this game for a few months now and its still a keeper.

Duncan L. gave it a9:
The controls DO work. With patience and time you'll be pulling off extreme moves.

Bram l. gave it a9:
This game is just awesome, sweet graphics, superb music, incredible gameplay, and a huge replay, lots of unlockables, one of the best wii games atm imo.

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SSX Blur

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