SSX TRICKY: THE NON-SNOWBOARDERS' GUIDE by Jamie Stafford/Wolf Feather feather7@ix.netcom.com FINAL VERSION Initial Version Completed: November 26, 2001 Final Version Completed: February 9, 2002 ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== JOIN THE FEATHERGUIDES E-MAIL LIST: To be the first to know when my new and updated guides are released, join the FeatherGuides E-mail List. Go to http://www.coollist.com/group.cgi?l=featherguides for information about the list and to subscribe for free. ============================================== 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. ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== CONTENTS Spacing and Length Permissions Introduction GameShark2 Codes Circuit Descriptions Starting the Game General Tips The Subjective Section Oddities Contact Information ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 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: 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ============================================== 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!!!!! ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 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. ============================================== 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. ============================================== 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. ============================================== 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!!! ============================================== 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. ============================================== 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 ============================================== 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. ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 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: FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM; 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. ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ======================================================================= Wolf Feather Jamie Stafford ======================================================================= Just as there are many parts needed to make a human a human, there's a remarkable number of things needed to make an individual what they are. - Major Kusanagi, _Ghost in the Shell_ ======================================================================= What isn't remembered never happened. - _Serial Experiments Lain_ =======================================================================