Players also have the option of practicing or exploring courses in freeride mode. Development SSXs development started on the Dreamcast. When Electronic Arts decided to end its relationship with Sega, the development was moved to the PlayStation 2. The game was announced on February 17, 2000, and had an estimated development budget of $8 million. Reception The game received universal acclaim according to Metacritic, a video game review aggregator. Eric Bratcher of NextGen called it "The best game on PS2 to date. End of story." In Japan, where the game was ported for release under the title on October 26, 2000 (the same release date as the North American PlayStation 2 launch), Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40. GameSpots early review praised the game's smooth graphics and direct controls, while also drawing attention to the game's dynamic soundtrack, which adjusts the intensity of the background music based on the player's current performance. IGNs review drew attention to the game's deft balancing of tricks and racing, saying that a mastery of both is a requirement of success in the game. The game's tracks were seen as a strong point, calling the Tokyo Megaplex course "a festival of lights, color and one of the most ingeniously designed levels that have ever been in a game." Both reviews mentioned the presence of some graphical slowdown but stated that it was a rare occurrence and only a minor issue. Edge gave it eight out of ten and said of the game: "You'll win races by fractions of seconds, and you'll lose them by less, but either way you'll find yourself tearing down another hillside within minutes. It's addictive and instinctive, and it's that seemingly rare thing: a PlayStation2 title that values entertainment over image." GameCritics cited the scope of the game's tracks as a strength, and said that there is little revolutionary in the game's overall premise of snowboard races. The pre-wind jump system was also criticised, in that to ensure a good jump, the player must sacrifice the ability to steer long before they reach the ramp. The site praised the simplicity of the trick system, and called the game "an all-around solid title". The game won the title of the PlayStation 2 Game of the Year at Electronic Gaming Monthlys 2000 Gamers' Choice Awards and Readers' Choice Awards. It also won the "Best Sound" and "Best PlayStation 2