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DARK SUMMIT
Xbox video game, THQ, Inc., $49.99
Dark Summit for the Xbox is a game that successfully combines mystery/adventure with the sport of snowboarding. High atop Mt. Garrick, the military has closed the summit and is trying to rid the mountain of all snowboarders. You, as female boarder Naya, have been recruited to win back the mountain by defeating the military and exposing its secret agenda. In order to earn points and advance through the 45 missions and challenges, Naya must learn to complete a variety of snowboarding tricks (flips, grabs, jibs, combos, etc.). Be warned, though, as NayaŐs enemies become increasingly more aggressive with each step forward she takes in unraveling this mystery. A practice mode is available for those who want to work on their tricks or simply want to enjoy the slopes and scenery without participating in the full adventure. If head-to-head gameplay interests you, there are 3 two-player modes to choose from: Wrecking Ball (players compete to destroy the most objects on their way down the slope), Race to the Bottom (players compete for the fastest time down the slope) and Half Pipe Battle (players compete to pull off the most number of tricks during a run). A very unique game, Dark Summit deserves a spot in any Xbox game collection.
The game is presented in a fullscreen version (4:3) and is not enhanced for 16x9 widescreen monitors. The overall video quality is excellent. Graphics are sharp and human characters exhibit natural movements. Colors are rich and dark with fully saturated hues. There is deep contrast, solid black levels, and no flaws in the video presentation that we could detect. We were pleased to find that Dark Summit provides for seamless gameplay and graphics once a run is underway (i.e. there are no pop-up graphics or pauses to load new scenery during a run).
Video Rating: 9 out of 10
Dark Summit is encoded in Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround and that configuration is the basis for this review. The rear surround channels are very active and used for both music and sound effects. Discrete channel information is present in the forward (L, R) and rear (L, R) speakers. The LFE channel is aggressively utilized and adds considerable punch to the gameŐs music.
Audio Rating: 9 out of 10
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The types of tactile effects that can be experienced in this game range from light to heavy impacts. The best tactile effects can be found in the heavy beats of the techno music soundtrack and in the exploding bombs.
Tactile Sound Effects Rating: 9 out of 10