The Utter Insanity Can't Make Up For Sub-par Gameplay
Amped 3 is freaking insane. Just look up the Quick Look video and you'll know what I'm talking about. It seems like the developers of this game just tried every random thing they could think of for the cutscenes - random raps, fake commercials, stop-motion animation, parodies of other video games, making fun of EA, etc. You get the picture.
This craziness really adds charm to the game, but at its root, Amped 3 is just an okay snowboarding game. The graphics are nothing special, the soundtrack is pretty typical of an extreme sports game, and the combo system is more or less directly taken from Tony Hawk's brand of board antics. Unlike THPS, though, Amped 3 just isn't all that compelling. Aside from the nutty cutscenes, there's little motivating you to finish the game. It gets old really fast, as you are tasked with doing the same objectives on a similar terrain to move on, whether it be getting a certain score, performing enough of a certain type of trick, or following the footsteps of another boarder.
Were the insanity better translated to the gameplay, artstyle, etc. of the game, it would have been a lot more interesting. Since it was a launch title for the 360, it's ultimately forgiveable. But it's ultimately forgettable, too.
Except for those incredible cutscenes. Like seriously, just check out the video.
