Sometimes you don't want realism from a video game. You don't even want the semi-tricked out physics of an admirable game like Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, sometimes you just want something wild, colorful, and absolutely endlessly fun. That's what SSX is. EA's cartooney snowboarder was a surprise hit last year when the Playstation 2 debuted, so it's not really surprising that they'd follow up with what looks like SSX 1.5 rather than a full sequel, it's only been a year after all. But anyone who's tried SSX Tricky knows that isn't the case, as Tricky packs in a lot of new stuff, tweaks the play a bit, and adds a lot of extras. And you know what? It's just a bit better on the Xbox too.

Tricky includes all the original courses (with some interesting changes) and two brand new ones. Five new boarders have joined the group and in a gimmicky turn, a real-world celebrity voices each of them. They all have different styles and amusing attitude-ridden personalities. There are a bunch of new tricks you can unlock and perform, as well as new outfits, boards, and the music has been totally revamped for better DTS stereo support, this is something really noticeable with the high fidelity sound the Xbox offers.

Tricky Modes

Once again the game offers four basic modes. Practice mode uses a massive ski jump to teach you every single trick, this basic tutorial is something that should be offered by every trick game. When you're ready, you can tackle single race events, time attack, or freestyle mode on any unlocked track. The freestyle mode is almost a game unto itself as the tracks are a bit different, packed with more rails to grind on, jumps, and opportunities to soar hundreds of feet in the air. Then there's the meat of the game, the World Circuit, which has you take each character in best of three races in each location. Winning first-third unlocks new characters, outfits, boards, locations, and scores you skill points you can use to modify your rider to better suit your style of play. Two player split screen multiplayer rounds it all out. The World Circuit mode even tracks how you treat your opponents. Push, collide, or smack them around too much and they start getting mad at you. Foil their opponents and they become friendly. A friendly opponent won't attack you, but an enemy will and will do so relentlessly. Gaining too many enemies over the course of a circuit can lead to defeat at their hands, no matter how well you race. It's a brilliant system and a wonderful addition to the game.

If you perform enough tricks or smack enough opponents you'll hear Run DMC burst into a remixed version of "It's Tricky", and that's your signal that you've got 20 seconds to perform your Uber-Trick, which leads to big points. Better find a ramp when you hear that. Also, given the fact that the unlocked content can only be unlocked in the World Circuit mode (you can practice any trick all you like but you can only unlock it by performing it in the Circuit), you have a compelling reason to play the whole game.

The Uber-trick, the locked tricks, the timing, the rivalries, and the brilliant layout of the courses (plenty of dangers, and plenty of shortcuts) the game offers a substantial amount of strategy. Do you attack and go for the big points, possibly slowing you down and maybe even losing the race? Or do you just go for the win so you can keep advancing?

Tricked Out Visuals

The controls are well laid out and extremely smooth and responsive. The real trick here is the timing, and memorizing how much air you'll get from the different jumps. The left stick is used for control, the pad below it is used to spin in mid-air, and the right stick is used to push or smack your opponents as you pass them. Most tricks involve the triggers and various button combinations, thankfully leaving out the hard to reach black and white buttons at the top. Given the staggered placement of the sticks on the Xbox pad I'd say the control scheme is superior to the PS2 version, but players more familiar with that pad will have to adapt.