First great SSX, fun and spectacular arcade snowboard. Über Trick combos are memorable, characters are endearing. Perfect delirious and musical atmosphere. Less complete than SSX 3 but the original that started it all. Guaranteed nostalgia.
Your verdict
Category
Sports1 player3+
Description
Extreme snowboarding with the SSX franchise's iconic characters and the Tricky Tricks system enabling mind-bending figure combinations for spectacular scores. Published by Electronic Arts, released in 2002 in the United States and Europe. Nine iconic riders including Zoe, Mac, and Eddie, nine circuits, the Über-Trick system, the EA Trax soundtrack with Run-D.M.C., and local 2-player multiplayer.
SSX Tricky review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The runs no longer pretend to be mountains: they are laid out as fairground courses, with pipes to cross, complete loops, rails suspended over the void and shortcuts marked by painted arrows. Natural relief is now only a pretext for placing modules, as in a park built from scratch.
One sung track is reserved for Tricky mode alone: when the gauge fills, the current piece cuts out and that chorus takes over entirely, until the run of tricks ends. The rest of the time the selection stays instrumental, so the sudden arrival of a voice signals the state of grace better than any display could.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Pushing tricks to the point of absurdity over an infectious soundtrack makes for jubilant arcade riding, built for chasing scores and feats. The frantic courses and Uber tricks keep the adrenaline surging, controller in hand. The cartoon spirit has aged a touch, but the immediate punch of the gameplay and its breakneck pace remain devilishly enjoyable today.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Everything here pushes toward excess: impossible tricks, roaring descents and a gauge that, once full, unlocks supernatural acrobatics. The fun springs from this constant one-upmanship, where every ramp calls for a wilder chain. A high-octane soundtrack, colourful characters and spectacular runs complete the picture. Gleeful, unabashed arcade snowboarding.
SSX Tricky, an emblematic entry of EA's arcade snowboarding series, marked by its outsized tricks, colorful characters and infectious energy. Still common, its collector interest rests on this status as an embodiment of festive early-generation arcade play rather than scarcity, the Japanese and Korean versions being harder to find. A valued piece for an extreme-sports set on the console.
Is SSX Tricky still worth playing in 2026?
Released on Xbox at launch in 2001, EA Canada's project remains the gold standard of the console's arcade snowboarding. The eccentric tracks, the Uber Tricks earned via the adrenaline meter and the iconic soundtrack with Run DMC's It's Tricky deliver immediate energy. The handling is as accessible as it is deep and the split screen multiplayer still lights up an evening with friends. The modelling has aged and a few challenges lack variety. Recommended today for any extreme sports fan and for nostalgics of couch coop nights from the early 2000s on Microsoft's first console.
