While not a 'side quest' in the traditional sense, mastering all of a character's Uber Tricks is a crucial side activity that significantly enhances your gameplay and trick scores. Each character has four unique Uber Tricks, and successfully performing and landing them is key to filling your Tricky meter and achieving high scores.
Tips for Mastering Uber Tricks:
- Practice Mode: Utilize the 'Practice' game mode on any course. This allows you to repeatedly attempt Uber Tricks without the pressure of a race or trick event.
- Learn the Inputs: Each Uber Trick requires holding both grab buttons (Square + Circle on PS2) and then a specific direction on the Left Analog Stick (Up, Down, Left, Right). Memorize these inputs for your favorite characters.
- Gain Sufficient Air: You need significant airtime to execute and land an Uber Trick. Look for large ramps, half-pipes, and natural jumps.
- Perfect Landings: Crucial for maximizing points and refilling your Tricky meter. Try to land with your board flat and facing downhill. If you land sideways or at a bad angle, you risk bailing.
- Chain Uber Tricks: Once you've landed an Uber Trick, your Tricky meter gets a significant boost. Use this to immediately perform another Uber Trick on the next available jump, creating a high-scoring combo.
Mastering all four Uber Tricks for a character not only makes you a better player but also contributes to your overall completion and mastery of the game.