I pre-ordered SSX Tricky, the sequel to the awesome PS2 launch title, SSX knowing very little about it, other than that it was a new SSX game and that it was on DVD, meaning more storage space for enhancements, characters, etc.

If you liked SSX, you’ll like SSX Tricky. The game isn’t a huge departure from the original released last year. Basically, SSX Tricky is a tricked-out version that pushes realism further away and embraces some mind-blowing new tricks and a few new features that enhance game play.

With the media move from CD-ROM to DVD, EA Sports Big were given more room for music, sound, commentary and most importantly the tracks. While none of these were slouches in the original title they all have been tweaked and enhanced in Tricky. A few of SSX’s characters have returned, but many new faces are now present, all with different characteristics and riding styles. Another character-related enhancement is the fact that you now have relationships with the other players. A shove during a race can translate into making a once-neutral rider in to an aggressive enemy who will take shots at you as you descend the slopes.

A lot of the original courses are back for Tricky, but in all honestly, most are almost unrecognizable. Tricky also adjusts the course based on the mode. Obstacles not present in the race mode pop up in the freestyle, offering more chances for big points.

The biggest enhancement in Tricky are the new uber tricks. The boost meter along the right-hand side of the screen fills as tricks are performed, the bigger the trick, the more boost you earn. When the meter fills up, the uber tricks become available. You are alerted to these events by samples of Run DMC’s “Trick to Rock a Rhyme.” I was thrilled initially, when I heard the samples, but in all honesty, the frequency of the samples now grates on my nerves. The uber tricks are quite amazing, but purposely outlandish. One in Mac’s arsenal of uber tricks consists of him doing a mid-air handstand on his snowboard, before spinning it. A word to the wise though, make sure you have some major air before attempting one, as they take a lot more time than any of the standard tricks.

Other than the samples of Run DMC getting tired, my only other complaint is also uber trick related. Uber tricks are initiated by holding a shoulder button (or sometimes several shoulder buttons) and then hitting the square button. The square button, is also used to tweak out holds to earn more points. But because of this overlap in controls, I find myself often accidentally initiating uber tricks when there is not room, nor time to successfully complete them.

While the control overlap is definitely a major annoyance, the rest of the game is pretty much flawless. The frame rate is smooth throughout the game while at the same time, the courses are extravagantly large and impressive both graphically and architecturally.

The character renderings are a bit more cartoon-like this go-around, but it fits Tricky perfectly, as the new trick capabilities are exact real-world themselves.

Snowboarding games never did much for me, but both SSX and now SSX Tricky are not the normal snowboarding title. They’re loads of fun and seem to be enjoyable by the avid and the casual alike gamer alike. EA Sports Big did a wonderful job of creating an enhanced SSX game that isn’t just a simple rehash of the original. SSX Tricky is not a complete overhaul, but tons of fun regardless.

Either SSX or SSX Tricky are crucial titles for any gamers’ PS2 library. Personally I have both and think both are worth every penny spent on them.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 10th, 2001 at 10:01 am and is filed under Game Reviews, Gaming, PS2 Review, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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