Live Like a Pro

It ain’t easy being a snowboarding celebrity. With photographers and film directors watching my every move on the top courses in the world, it gets a little overwhelming. And let’s not forget the sponsors. If I eat snow on one too many tricks, they’ll hit the lodge for a cocktail. It’s a mountain of pressure. SometimesI just like to kick back and relax and get back to my roots, when snowboarding wasn’t about fame and fortune but about fresh air and pushing my board to the limit.

One of the greatest things about Amped 2 is the ability to play the game the way you want. Customization is all the rage these days, and the kind folks at Microsoft Game Studios thought long and hard about the fans when they were designing the sequel to the original. Whether you’re a seasoned hot dog or a mere wannabe, there are a host of options to make your Amped 2 sessions right for you. Aside from the tutorial and multiplayer options, virtual boarders can show off their new tricks in two main modes: Career and Free Ride. Here’s a look at each mode.

Play the way you want.

Get a Job, Kid
After you’ve finished that report for your boss on “Ways to Improve Productivity by Crushing Morale,” it might be time to live vicariously through your alter ego. The game’s Career mode allows would-be pros to start a career as a promising shred star. After you’ve covered the basics in the extensive tutorial mode, the game immerses you into the world of a snowboarding professional. The arcade tricks are there, but aside from linking combos and styling for the snow bunnies, there are more pressing matters at hand (such as paying the rent). To advance your career, you need to look sharp for the camera. You’ll see spinning camera icons hovering over selected jumps and rails. These are locations where bystanders and potential fans take shots. The more people you win over and the more tricks you accomplish, the more trails and challenges you unlock. Aspiring film students and snowboarding scouts will be watching your moves, so look alive!

Get a job or just have fun!

Living for Free
After you’ve finished unlocking every slope and challenge, it’s time to take a break from your new career as a role model and spokesperson and blow off some steam. Free Ride mode lets you hone your skills by practicing tricks at your own pace. Time limits are off, so have fun with it. Explore new trails, find those elusive snowmen, and work on your combos. Mastering the butter to create your own tricks is essential to racking up the score, so take your time and do it right. When you’ve covered every inch of powder, tuck those skills into your bag for later. There’s no rush, so kick back and hang out with the “little people.”

Whether you’re living the life as an X Games star, or just tooling around the slopes wreaking havoc, there’s more than one way to enjoy Amped 2. Earn your fame, but don’t forget to take a vacation now and then.

By Jim W. Gettys