Dark Summit
Dark Summitby THQ
Platform: Xbox
ESRB Rating: Teen
ASIN: B00005QWUG
Check price @ amazon.com
Features:
• Mission-based snowboarding
• 45 challenges and missions
• A huge mountain to unlock and explore
• Long, expansive runs to shred
• Physics-based board simulation for responsive controls
Amazon.com: Extreme sports just got a little more bizarre with this game that mixes snowboarding with espionage. And somehow, it works. The plot involves the efforts of boarder Naya as she investigates the wacky activities at the decidedly snowboarder-unfriendly Mt. Garrick. Naya must complete a long series of stunt-based missions in order to gain enough lift points to get to the top of Mt. Garrick. In general, the pacing isn't nearly as fast as snowboarding king SSX, yet Dark Summit's weird cast of characters and emphasis on combos and timing makes for a deeper game.
Despite the cartoony physics, you'll find the controls very responsive and you'll soon be pulling off some cool-looking stunts. The visuals won't raise new standards for the Xbox, but they are nicely detailed and move fast.
Curiously, while you can earn points to buy snazzy clothing and boards, none of them affect actual gameplay. Also, the repetition when trying to complete your goals will terrify impatient speed-seeking snowboarders.
Still, while not quite as quick and stylish as SSX, Dark Summit delivers a strong just-one-more-try feel that challenges players while still being fun. For those with the skills and patience, Summit is a arcade snowboard ride of a slightly different kind. --Mark Brooks
Pros:
Plays like most snowboarding games... but different enough to stand out
Nice snow-capped graphics that move quickly, and a potentially very long mountainside to snowboard down
Cons:
Repetition caused by failed missions will scare off a few snowboarders looking for sheer speed
Early levels could stand a bit more imagination in their design
Amazon.com Product Description: Dark Summit invites you to explore and uncover the mystery atop Mt. Garrick through 45 mountain-based challenges and missions. This is the first action-adventure snowboarding video game with mission-based objectives. It offers a huge mountain to unlock and explore, from the bunny slopes to the summit, and an innovative reward system based on the player's status on the mountain. There are long, expansive runs to shred, and a physics-based board simulation for tight, responsive controls and realistic carving, shredding, and jibbing. High-tech equipment upgrades include boards, bindings, and gear. The multiplayer modes including competitions in mountain challenges, the half-pipe, and more. The six playable snowboarders in multiplayer mode each has his or her own physical characteristics, personality, and attitude.
Customer Reviews:
awesome, June 4, 2002
Reviewer: hunter smith from fairbanks, alaska usa
this game is james bond mixed with snow boarding totaly dope
Best Game Ever, April 7, 2002
Reviewer: An 8-year old gamer
This game is one of the coolest games that I have ever played. It 's very fun and if you like snowboarding this is the right game for you. You are trying to stop the evil corporation and you are not allowed to snowboard there, but you do. So they try to stop you from ruining their plans. The evil coorporation uses skiiers to try and stop the snowboarders.
Very inventive!, January 3, 2002
Reviewer: Nomi from las vegas
This game is quite interesting and diffirent. The graphics are freash and clean the gameplay is new. THIS IS NOT YOU TYPICAL SNOWBOARDING GAME! if your looking for one get Tricky!The gameplay is more missions i.e-knock someone over than apposed to races. The game lack is the atmosphere its OVERLY OVERLY dark and boring. You dont want that in a Action/adventure/sports game! there for i give it a four. real fun a DEFINITE rental!
A Mediocre Effort, January 3, 2002
Reviewer: slow-hand from Glen Allen, VA USA
This is a decent game- nothing more, nothing less. The graphics are OK and the gameplay is sufficient for snowboarding. I congratulate THQ on at least trying to put a different spin on an overexposed subgenre of sports games, but the hokey storyline and ease of reaching the summit left me unsatisfied. The cartoonish aspect is a turn-off for me, but it would make a good game for those in the adolescent crowd who are uninitiated to the world of snowboarding games. Overall, I would give it a true rating of 2 1/2 stars... and I wish I would have bought "Amped."
VERY FUN BUT EASY, December 29, 2001
Reviewer: allen from Philadelphia, PA USA
this game is very fun, but unfortunatly it is very short and very easy, this is not a game to buy bcuz if u r a good xbox player like me u will finish this game in about 3-5 hours and b bored after that while playing again or multiplayer. If u want to buy it its okay but first RENT THE GAME and then buy it to c if for you it is easy or not
Dark Summit, December 12, 2001
Reviewer: youaretrippin from Top of the World
This is not a snowboarding game! Animations and tricks are totally lame, and main character looks like a she-male (not that there's anything wrong with she-males, I just don't want to play as one in a snowboarding game).
Very little replay value in this game. If you want a kids snowboarding game, get SSX instead. If you want a real snowboarding game, get Amped.
A different kind of game (that actually works), December 11, 2001
Reviewer: Brendan Lucey from Decatur, GA USA
Dark Summit is not quite what I was expecting as the third choice of an xbox package deal. I thought that I would be performing tricks and racing down a hill over and over which is fun if the eye candy is good enough. Luckily, I was wrong. The game has a decent storyline and keeps you doing new things and trying out new tricks. A solid game. The only issue I have with it is that the multiplayer doesn't let you have a trick competition, just racing and demolition.
Doesnt match up to ssx tricky, December 7, 2001
Reviewer: Speedy Petey from Chicago, Illinois
This game is very enjoyable but it doesnt match up to ssx. this game is great but my advice is to skip this and buy ssx tricky which is the best snowboarding game.
Enjoyable mix of sports and story, December 4, 2001
Reviewer: hbj200 from New York, NY USA
I, for one, like the mission-oriented approach of this snowboarding game. The storyline is good if not remarkable, and it makes the gameplay very enjoyable. You are not just going for pure speed for 30 minutes of gameplay, but have tons of features to explore.
Game graphics is decent but unfortunately does not show off Xbox's capabilities. (C'mon, Microsoft, help Xbox developers do a better job!)
Not really a snowboarding game, November 21, 2001
Reviewer: A gamer from Ithaca, NY
The story line is kinda lame and the majority of the "action" doesn't really relate. I like Tricky SSX much better.
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