DARK SUMMIT
© 2002 THQ

Mania Grade: B+
Platform: GameCube
ESRB: Teen
Genre: Sports
Players: 1-2
Save: Yes
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Publisher: THQ
Suggested Retail: $49.99
Graphics: B+
Sound: B+
Gameplay: A-
Replay: A-
Fun Factor: B+
Reviewer's Wild Card: B+

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DARK SUMMIT (GC)

When I first read about DARK SUMMIT, I can't say I was thrilled. Basically, the concept is a bit dumb: Military forces have closed down the summit of Mt. Garrick, and a man named Chief O'Leary is doing his best to keep all snowboarders off the mountain. So, it's up to you to expose the conspiracy and threat by snowboarding around the mountain and exploring. Not your average snowboarding game, eh? I must say that first opinions about games are sometimes wrong.

DARK SUMMIT is a very fun game. The graphics engine doesn't seem to have any slowdown from what I can tell, and the characters are animated really well. The mountain designs are sometimes beautiful, although I don't think in my time of real-life snowboarding I've ever come across toxic dumps in the middle of the slopes. And in how many other games do you have to find bomb parts and launch avalanche cannons?

It doesn't take too long to learn how to control your snowboarder, but it can take forever to master. Don't expect that you'll just be out by yourself snowboarding around, attempting to master tricks, because you won't be. Chief O'Leary has some nasty surprises in for you. While attempting to gain lift points for tricks (which, by the way, those points you score help you get to the next level), you'll have his minions on skis chasing you down the hills. They aren't incredibly smart, but one wrong move will land you in a load of trouble, and you'll have to try again. With around 45 missions in the game, don't think you'll beat the game in one sitting. While some missions are a breeze to get through, other missions will make you feel like you'll never complete them.

Multiplayer-wise, there aren't many options. There's, of course, a race mode where you race with a friend to the bottom of the hill to see who the fastest is. There's also a wrecking ball mode where you try to destroy as much stuff as possible on your way to the bottom, and a half-pipe battle where you try to score more points by doing better tricks. I was expecting some type of co-op mode, but nothing of the sort is found.

While it isn't a true snowboarding game, DARK SUMMIT proves to be one of the most original games that has been released in a while. It's not perfect, as a few more multiplayer options would have been nice, but it's a fun game for people of all ages.