'Sled Storm' has speed but no air

Sled Storm
Rating: T for Teen
For: Playstation 2
By: EA Sports Electronics Arts has always been the leader in simulation sport games. Its football, soccer, basketball, golf and hockey have always been right on the mark with realism. Other companies lead the more arcade feel of far-out and unrealistic sports gaming. Now with EA BIG, those other publishers have competition with the fast speed and amazing tricks that this brother company brings to the table. Already with hits such as "SSX Tricky" and "NBA Street" leading the way, the new "Sled Storm" is sure to entertain any video game fan. Similar to "SSX," "Sled Storm" is essentially racing up and down snowy mountains on a snowmobile. You get to pick one of the outlandish characters and jump higher and ride faster to open up new levels, characters and sleds. With a vast array of tricks to choose from, this part of the game is the most fun. And in so many other games that have the option of tricks, you just go though the race without pulling off any air. But in "Sled Storm" you must perform back flips and "Supermans" to win a race because the bigger the trick, the bigger the speed boost you'll get, and you will need it. With six immense and interesting tracks to open up -- some are through a volcano or a creepy snow-filled amusement park -- you'll be playing this game for a while, which is one of the downfalls. It's a downfall because each race takes anywhere from eight to 12 minutes to complete, and while this might be a plus for some people, it can also be a negative. No matter what happens during the three laps, you always seem to be closing in on the competition. Make a mistake and you can catch up in no time, but ride flawlessly and second place will still be right behind you. Almost all the races are determined on that last turn in lap three, and playing for nine minutes just to lose at the last second might raise some tempers. An overall good game, and really good for people who like a challenge and can stand spending hours and hours riding the same track to get that new sled. For casual gamers, make sure to rent it before throwing down the cash.