gave recognition to the way it layers in with the racing, saying that "it contributes heavily to the intensity and excitement of playing SSX 3". Non-video game publications sang the praises of the game. Noah Robischon of Entertainment Weekly gave the PS2 version an A and said that all of the smooth music, "along with the 'Uber' and 'Super Uber' combo tricks, will have you stumbling away from the console at 4 a.m., your fingers aching and your voice hoarse." Playboy gave the GC, PS2, and Xbox versions a score of 100% and said: "While other snowboarding games run out of steam mid-shred, the SSX series continues to gain momentum." The Game Boy Advance (GBA) version of SSX 3 was more poorly received, gaining a score of 63 out of 100 based on 14 reviews on Metacritic, indicating mixed or average reviews. On GameRankings, the GBA version received a score of 57% based on 12 reviews. A review by Computer and Video Games called the game slow and sluggish, and its controls unresponsive. Craig Harris of IGN said that the graphics engine has difficulty "keeping up with all that the designers throw at it". In a more positive review, Frank Provo of GameSpot wrote that it "duplicates many of the same features found in the console versions", stating that the game's 3D graphics engine is "unrivaled by anything else currently available for the system". Bedigian of GameZone said that this version was "not even close to the exciting console versions". SSX 3 won the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' Console Action Sports Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Licensed Soundtrack awards. By July 2006, its PS2 version had sold 750,000 copies and earned $28 million in the United States. It was the first game in the SSX series to sell 1 million copies. Next Generation ranked it as the 83rd highest-selling game launched for the PS2, Xbox, or GC between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined sales of the SSX series reached 3 million units in the United States by July 2006. SSX 3s PS2 version also received a Gold sales award from the ELSPA, indicating sales of at least 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom. References Further reading External links SSX 3: Behind the Scenes at YouTube 2003 video games EA Sports Big games EA Sports games Game Boy Advance games GameCube games