The new SSX is so gorgeously accurate that it uses topographical data from NASA to help render its global landscapes, which range from Patagonia to the Himalayas. And after some recent hands-on time, we found the slopes to be just as deliciously awesome to ride as they look.

We’ve previously mentioned SSX’s three different gameplay modes: Race It, Survive It, and Trick It. We hopped into the third option, picking franchise favorite blondie Elise and taking time to choose our outfit and board before hitting the slopes. As you progress through the campaign, you’ll unlock gear that will better prepare you for downhill domination on any mountain within a helicopter’s reach.

The controls were simple enough: LS to steer, RS or A to jump, RT to get a speed boost, and LT to grind. What really stuck out once we started carving up the snow, though, was just how smooth the experience was. Snowboarding in SSX feels like coasting down a glass mountain on an ice cube. It’s not actually that simple, of course; you’ll still crash if you’re not timing your jumps and tricks correctly.

And that’s one of the other things that impressed: when you soar off a jump, you’ll see the ground below but will swear you’re about to wipeout directly into a snow bank. Hang on an extra few seconds, though, and you’ll find yourself swiftly landing and careering through a tunnel or just-revealed half-pipe. 

Along the way, you’ll weave through trails and grinding rails on the way to building your Tricky meter. Though if EA can pull off this massive revival, it’ll be the biggest trick of all.