SSX TRICKY: THE NON-SNOWBOARDERS' GUIDE
by
Jamie Stafford/Wolf Feather
[email protected]
FINAL VERSION
Initial Version Completed: November 26, 2001
Final Version Completed: February 9, 2002
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JOIN THE FEATHERGUIDES E-MAIL LIST: To be the first to know
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SHAMELESS PLUG: For those wondering what JP (the French
character) is saying, please see my SSX Tricky: Qu'est-ce
qu'il dit? Guide. On GameFAQs (
http://www.GameFAQs.com/),
this is listed as JP Speech Translations.
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CONTENTS
Spacing and Length
Permissions
Introduction
GameShark2 Codes
Circuit Descriptions
Starting the Game
General Tips
The Subjective Section
Oddities
Contact Information
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SPACING AND LENGTH
For optimum readability, this driving guide should be
viewed/printed using a monowidth font, such as Courier.
Check for font setting by making sure the numbers and letters
below line up:
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PERMISSIONS
Permission is hereby granted for a user to download and/or
print out a copy of this driving guide for personal use.
However, due to the extreme length, printing this driving
guide may not be such a good idea.
This driving guide may only be posted on: FeatherGuides,
GameFAQs.com, f1gamers.com, PSXCodez.com, Cheatcc.com,
gamesover.com, Absolute-PlayStation.com, RedCoupe,
ps2replay.com, InsidePS2Games.com, CheatPlanet.com, The Cheat
Empire, gamespot.com, ps2domain.net, a2zweblinks.com,
Gameguru, cheatingplanet.com, neoseeker.com, ps2fantasy.com,
gamespot.com, and vgstrategies.com. Please contact me for
permission to post elsewhere on the Internet.
Should anyone wish to translate this driving guide into other
languages, please contact me for permission(s) and provide me
with a copy when complete.
Remember: Plagiarism in ANY form is NOT tolerated!!!!!
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INTRODUCTION
First, a very important disclaimer: I know absolutely NOTHING
about real-life snowboarding. That said, I absolutely LOVE
SSX Tricky!!!!!
October 26, 2000, while waiting in line to pick up my
PlayStation2 console and a pair of games I had reserved, I
noticed the box for the original SSX. While it looked
interesting, I decided to just keep to the games I had
reserved. It was not until March 2001 that I finally bought
SSX, and it was love at first slope!!! I have always been
quite partial to auto racing games, so the racing elements of
SSX spoke volumes to me. The need for tricks at first seemed
daunting reading the game manual, but the controls were quick
and easy to learn and the tricks easy to perform. In fact, I
loved the original SSX so much that I had to sell off the
game a month later since I was not getting much academic work
done.
In October 2001, I reserved SSX Tricky, fully expecting it to
be even better than the original. And I was certainly not
let down :-) While slightly disappointed that only two new
courses were added, overall, I was impressed with the changes
made to all venues - Pipedream and Snowdream in particular
are extremely different in the "sequel." The addition of
Ubertricks provides incredible visuals, especially the
"signature move" Ubertricks for each character; further, the
available Ubertricks are board-specific. Also available is a
jukebox to listen to the music used in the game. But what I
really enjoyed most were the "Making of..." movie clips,
detailing the creation of the game; this is made possible
because SSX Tricky is a DVD-based game, and I hope many other
PS2 games will follow suit.
Since I have never been snowboarding, I cannot compare the
game with the real-world experiences it simulates in over-
the-top fashion. However, I hope this game guide offers
useful tips and information to other non-initiates who simply
want a great time.
One note of caution: SSX Tricky is rather addictive!!! Make
sure that you play this game when you have A LOT of time to
spare. A single run can take up to six minutes to complete
(multiply by three if you are in a World Circuit race
competition), and even after each run is complete, the desire
to go do it again is extremely strong.
For those who have never played the original SSX, I suggest
at least renting it or borrowing a friend's copy.
Essentially, SSX and SSX Tricky are the same game, but I
believe the beauty of SSX Tricky is truly only appreciated by
having familiarity with the original SSX.
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GAMESHARK2 CODES
The GameShark2 is a way to cheat at games using specific
codes. The GS2 can be purchased at any gaming store, and
also at online stores such as Amazon; the GS2 and its
accessories can also be purchased at the GameShark web site
(
http://www.gameshark.com). However, I will not list
GameShark2 codes for SSX Tricky in this guide, both because
they would take a lot of space in the guide, and because it
would likely be a copyright violation.
While GameShark2 codes are available, they are not really
necessary. SSX Tricky is challenging without being
impossible. Where the codes may be handy, however, is for
acquiring all boards and all outfits for each character; this
allows for customization possibilities without taking away
the challenge of competing for Bronze, Silver, and Gold
Medals.
Each of the game's twelve characters has a number of boards
and outfits, of which two boards and one outfit are initially
available. I thought it best to input the appropriate GS2
codes immediately. Initially, this was simply to have all
the customization options available, but I also found it
useful for quickly identifying each character's main strength
as demonstrated by the boards (Alpine, BX, and Freestyle) in
that character's "arsenal." Cycling through the boards, for
example, I noticed that Marisol is a speedster on the slopes
(all but two boards are Alpine boards), while Kaori is strong
in tricks (almost all her boards are Freestyle boards). This
does not mean that Marisol is inept at performing tricks in
Showoff competition, or that Kaori cannot win races, but the
boards do visually demonstrate an advantage in a particular
area.
GameShark2 codes are available for SSX Tricky to unlock all
tracks in Single and Practice modes, and to unlock all riders
in all modes of play. On a character-by-character basis,
codes are available to unlock all boards, unlock all outfits,
win all Gold Medals, learn all tricks, achieve maximum stats,
and gain Master rank. The GameShark2 codes can be found on
the SSX Tricky code page at the GameShark Web site
(
http://www.gameshark.com/playstation2/objects/377142_106.htm
l).
Certainly, codes are not necessary to acquire new outfits and
boards. By completing chapters in each character's Trick
Book and by winning a given number of Gold Medals in the
World Circuit events, a character gains new outfits, boards,
and rankings (Newbie, Rookie, ... Master); as more Gold
Medals are acquired, new characters become available.
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CIRCUIT DESCRIPTIONS
This section is designed to give readers an overview of each
circuit at a glance. This is not a section-by-section
detailed description of what to expect; this is rendered
somewhat difficult due to the alternate routes available at
almost all venues. Note that the descriptions here are
primarily for Race mode; Showoff mode will also have plenty
of manmade jumps, rails, and other things added for bonus and
trick purposes.
Garibaldi: Now the first venue on the SSX circuit, this
brand-new circuit presents plenty of trick and Ubertrick
opportunities with its many jumps. The alternate route
bypasses almost all of the main circuit, and itself has a
number of jumps over nasty gorges and fast-flowing icy
rivers. As a Showoff venue, Garibaldi's many jumps and
grinds make it FAR too easy to score a Gold Medal here
(only 55,000 points are required for the Gold Medal), even
if playing SSX Tricky for the first time. As a Race
venue, the many jumps allow you to quickly perform six
Ubertricks to gain Infinite Boost, which will allow you to
easily win a race so long as you can keep from falling
repeatedly.
Snowdream: The first venue in the original SSX is now the
second in SSX Tricky. Located in Japan, this incarnation
is also a bit different from the original game. The first
part of the circuit provides the most opportunities for
tricks, but generally not enough airtime for the really
spectacular Ubertricks. While the initial jumps are
really small, they can still provide an enterprising
player to pull off tricks to boost ahead of the pack, or
catch up if necessary. Trick specialists such as Kaori
can still perform enough Ubertricks early in a race to
quickly gain Infinite Boost, which can then be used to
essentially coast to victory.
Elysium Alps: One of the longer runs of the game, many
players will find it difficult to complete Elysium Alps in
under five minutes. There are plenty of opportunities for
tricks in the initial and final thirds of the circuit,
while the middle section depends on your route and just
how much forward momentum can be generated; the middle
stage's "high road" has gaping jumps over the twisty, icy
"low road." The alternate route on the first stage of the
circuit is really only for advanced players, although a
well-placed "fall" can provide a good opportunity to
perform multiple Ubertricks before landing back on the
main course.
Mesablanca: Snowboarding in the desert!?!?!?!?!?! Overall,
Mesablanca has fewer trick opportunities than the
preceding venues, so speed is generally a better option
here. However, trick specialists can perform enough
Ubertricks to gain Infinite Boost by the time they reach
the wooden bridge. If you do not have enough forward
momentum for the final jump, you will definitely lose if
in a close race.
Mercury City Meltdown: From the very beginning, this urban
setting features split paths which continually cross each
other throughout the first half of the circuit, so beware
of cross-traffic. Being a city site, there are also
plenty of fire hydrants, traffic signal poles, downed
lights, buildings, bus shelters, light poles, etc., which
will all slow you down - if they do not knock you to the
ground. Jumping across the highway is much easier in SSX
Tricky than in the original SSX. Because of the tight
twists and turns and the many obstacles, it is very easy
to find yourself both in the lead and bringing up the rear
several times in a race here; use knockouts and shortcuts
to your advantage!!!
Tokyo Megaplex: This Japanese venue feels very much like
being the ball in a pinball machine. The configuration
has changed since the original SSX, but is still rather
similar. The most impressive additions are the sections
of updraft vents; riding one or two of these will thrust
you far up into the air, and can give you plenty of time
to pull off amazing tricks, and possibly even TWO
Ubertricks (including a "signature move"). Even those
characters which are not trick specialists can rack up
rather high point totals in Showoff, so long as each
Checkpoint is reached before time expires. For races, the
many suspended twisting grinds and halfpipes can give a
tremendous advantage, but require expert usage of the
left analog stick.
Aloha Ice Jam: If snowboarding in the American Southwest is
odd, snowboarding in Hawaii is even stranger. Still, this
is a unique circuit, and one of the most difficult on the
SSX circuit. The circuit begins with a tight, long, left
hand turn with a bone-breaking drop-off to the outside.
Once clear of the initial corner, the main section of
Aloha Ice Jam features a number of gaps to jump and tight
high-speed corners. After another gap, the ice cave
section at the end of the circuit has even tighter twists
and turns with a few jumps in low-ceiling areas. Once out
of the ice cave, icebergs line the path to the Finish
Line. Even trick specialists will have a hard time in
Showoff here, as the point totals needed for each medal
can be rather difficult to achieve due to all the tight
twists and turns and the low ceilings.
Alaska: This second new venue is by far the most difficult in
SSX Tricky. This is due partly to the general lack of
trick opportunities, and partly due to the fast, mostly-
ice surfaces. Especially hard to master are the ice
tunnels at the end of the Alaska venue; if you are not
careful, you could very quickly find yourself on the
ceiling... and quickly succumbing to gravity if you do not
have enough forward momentum. The circuit is generally
narrow, tight, and twisty, so the best way to make a pass
is probably by using a well-placed stiff-arm; Zoe and
Psymon seem especially adept at Knockdowns, although even
little Kaori can bring an opponent down to her size.
Untracked: Available only in Freeride mode, you are the first
to touch this pristine mountain. A helicopter drops you
off at the top of the mountain, and picks you up at the
bottom. In the meantime, enjoy the powder!!! Untracked
has also been heavily changed since the original SSX;
unfortunately, this means that there are fewer big air
opportunities, thus fewer chances to perform Ubertricks.
Pipedream: Pipedream is a trick specialist's orgy!!! There
are more than enough opportunities to perform tricks here,
especially in the various bowls scooped out of the ground.
However, the Pipedream Showoff event has a VERY high medal
threshold, so always keep an eye on the time. Most
importantly, keep track of which direction is downhill; if
you spend a lot of time doing tricks in one of the many
bowls, you can easily lose your sense of direction, which
will be key when you need to reach the next Checkpoint
before time expires. The best place to score massive
points to attain a Gold Medal is in the two halfpipes;
the first is on the leftmost side of the middle section,
while the best one is in the center of the circuit just
before the Finish Line.
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STARTING THE GAME
When starting the game for the first time, watch the
introduction. After Elise's initial comment, the rest of the
introduction shows a lot of action from virtually all
available venues, including many of the game's Ubertricks
(including some "signature moves"). Besides being quite fun
to watch, the music is rather catchy!
Once past the title screen, press the Square button to enter
the Options screen, and make any changes to customize the
game to your liking. Then select a character, customize
board and/or outfit, and head for the slopes!!! I personally
suggest trying ALL venues - in both Race and Showoff modes -
in Practice first, even for those intimately familiar with
the original SSX; some of the circuits have had significant
changes made, and two circuits (Garibaldi and Alaska) are
completely new.
When ready to enter the World Circuit competition, opt for
Showoff mode first. The first circuit you will encounter is
Garibaldi. The idea here is to perform so many tricks that
you win a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Medal; however, the score
you much achieve for Gold is so low that virtually all
players should acquire a Gold Medal here on their first try.
If you do win a medal, enter your name in the Records screen
(if applicable), and distribute the character points you just
earned to Edging, Speed, Stability, and/or Tricks; each
circuit gives a maximum of six character points, which must
be spent wisely. My personal preference is to first spend
character points on Tricks, as the next few competitions
suggested are also Showoff venues.
After the Garibaldi Showoff, move on to the Snowdream Showoff
venue. Again, the threshold for the Gold Medal is rather
low, so most players should be able to acquire a Gold Medal
here on the first try. Again, enter your name in the Records
screen (if applicable), and distribute the character points
you just earned. Again, I prefer spending points on Tricks.
Next in Showoff mode is Elysium Alps. This is a very lengthy
venue, so time is just as important as performing tricks.
The threshold for gaining medals is now significantly high
that a Gold Medal (or even a Silver Medal) is not guaranteed
here. Still, once you do acquire a medal, enter your name in
the Records screen (if applicable), and distribute the
character points you just earned. Again, I prefer spending
points on Tricks.
By now, you should have earned enough character points to
either easily win or be quite competitive in the Garibaldi
Race series, so go there next. (Besides, the Mesablanca
Showoff can be a bit difficult, so you really need all the
character points you can get first.) In World Circuit
competition, each Race event is actually a series of three
races: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. You must
finish in the first three positions of the Quarterfinals and
Semifinals to advance to the next heat; you are also rewarded
with an initial boost level for the following heat (winning a
heat gives a full boost meter for the next race in the
series). This can be used to your advantage by knocking down
a competitor between the starting gates and the first jump,
thus enabling you to perform one or more Ubertricks at the
very first opportunity.
The nice thing about Race events at Garibaldi is that, even
without the Showoff jumping platforms and grinds, there are
still plenty of opportunities to perform big-air tricks and
Ubertricks. If using a character which is not naturally fast
(such as Kaori), you can still perform enough tricks and
Ubertricks to keep the boost level consistently high, which
itself will make you rather fast.
Should you win a medal in the Garibaldi Race Finals, enter
your name in the Records screen (if applicable), and
distribute the character points you just earned; personally,
I still prefer assigning character points to Tricks. Then
move on to Snowdream and do it all again. When finished
there, move on to Elysium Alps and do it all yet again!!!
By this time, Mesablanca will be open for both Race and
Showoff competition. Continue on at your own discretion -
you should by now have enough character points to be quite
competitive for all the rest of the venues.
Of course, with twelve characters in SSX Tricky, you will
need to master ALL events with ALL characters at ALL venues
to complete the game. This is not a game you will be done
with in just a few days!!!
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GENERAL TIPS
Tricks are extremely important on many circuits, as they give
you the boost you need to keep up your speed. Thus, holding
your tricks as long as possible is very important as you sail
through the air and try to cheat gravity. However, if you
crash and fall while performing a trick, you lose boost (if
you have any to lose), so use the size of your shadow on the
ground to judge when to let go of a trick and prepare for
landing. Note that some Ubertricks take longer to perform
than others, which can mean the difference between
successfully pulling off an Ubertrick and crashing and
falling on cold snow and ice. Also, some Ubertricks
(especially the flashier Ubertricks) may change depending on
the type of board (Alpine, BX, or Freestyle) the character is
using.
Each character has at least one of the three types of boards
used in SSX Tricky. Alpine boards are the longest, and are
best for speed, which is especially important in Race and
Time Challenge modes. Freestyle boards are the shortest, and
are the best to use for tricks, especially in Showoff mode.
BX boards are the "middle ground" between the two extremes,
and are generally good for most events and venues. Many
characters have a specialty, indicated by the number of
boards they have of each particular type. Character size
combines with the chosen board and the character's skill
levels to produce the character's overall ability.
It is very important to be able to quickly read the racing
surface just ahead, especially when competing on a circuit
for the first time. Many jumps are indicated with painted
stripes across the circuit. Ice allows for extremely fast
speeds if you can keep a straight or gently-curved racing
line, especially important in cornering. Bare rock can also
be used, depending on the angle, but will generally slow you
down.
If you are in a Race event and you are not using an Alpine
board (the fastest type of board), try to perform as many
Ubertricks as possible in the initial stages of each heat.
As soon as you gain Infinite Boost, use it constantly until
you win; this should keep you out in front of the rest of the
competitors. Note that gaining Infinite Boost is EXTREMELY
difficult at Alaska; however, it CAN be done.
To perform really impressive tricks and Ubertricks, you need
to gain as much air time as possible. This is done in two
parts. First, prewind your tricks as early as possible.
Secondly, let go of the prewind button as late as possible on
a ramp to get a great launch into the air; if you were
prewinding a spin or flip, you will start performing that
portion of the trick immediately. It also helps to use boost
as long as possible leading up to a jump; more forward
momentum will throw you higher into the air, thus giving you
more time to perform tricks and Ubertricks.
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THE SUBJECTIVE SECTION
Favorite venues (Race):
Alaska
Elysium Alps
Garibaldi
Mercury City Meltdown
Favorite venues (Showoff):
Elysium Alps
Garibaldi
Mercury City Meltdown
Pipedream (available in Freeride and Single Event only)
Snowdream
Tokyo Megaplex
Favorite characters (play):
Elise
JP
Kaori
Marisol
Moby
Psymon
Zoe
Favorite characters (chatter):
Kaori
Marisol
Psymon
Zoe
Favorite characters (personalities):
Kaori
Marisol
Moby
Psymon
Zoe
Favorite characters (Ubertricks):
Kaori
Marisol
Psymon
Favorite parts of SSX Tricky:
3-D interface
Introductory movie
DVD section
Favorite outfits (by character, by order unlocked):
Brodi: Yin Yang
Elise: Lady Law
JP: MC Maitre D
Kaori: Super Excellent
Marisol: Vintage Rioja
Moby: Jones' Tones, Master
Psymon: Nightmare, Master
Zoe: Rawk On, Naughty Girl, Royale Trinity, Master
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ODDITIES
This is something I first posted on the SSX Tricky Message
Board on GameFAQs (
http://www.GameFAQs.com/) on December 2,
2001:
Something I started noticing over the weekend is that when
the characters are yelling at each other in the close-up
at the end of a race, their eyes are often everywhere
OTHER than each other's face. This seems to be especially
prominent when the two characters are of differing levels
of vertical height (such as Kaori and JP), but the one
which really caught me a bit off-guard tonight was Marisol
yelling at Elise while staring at her chest!!!!!
A useful but perhaps unethical oddity is the 'select trick.'
In SSX Tricky, pressing the Select button will reset the
current character at a particular point on the circuit,
supposedly near the character's previous position. However,
as has been well-documented on the SSX Tricky Message Board
on GameFAQs, some 'select tricks' actually place the
character far forward of her or his previous position. This
can be used (potentially unethically) to put a character into
the lead and potentially to win a race; a prime example of
this is pressing Select just before the final jump at
Mesablanca, reappearing about a meter before the Finish Line
while opponents are still in mid-air navigating the final
jump.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions, rants, raves, comments of appreciation, etc.,
or to be added to my e-mail list for updates to this driving
guide, please contact me at:
[email protected]; also, if
you have enjoyed this guide and feel that it has been helpful
to you, I would certainly appreciate a small donation via
PayPal (
http://www.paypal.com/) using the above e-mail
address.
To find the latest version of this and all my other PSX/PS2
game guides, please visit FeatherGuides
(
http://www.angelcities.com/members/feathersites/). The
latest version will always be immediately available at
FeatherGuides, while other Web sites may lag behind by
several days in their regularly-scheduled posting updates.
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