Side Quests & Activities

Beyond the main World Circuit, SSX Tricky offers a vibrant array of side activities and collectibles that significantly enhance the gameplay experience and provide additional challenges. These optional pursuits are crucial for unlocking all characters, outfits, and truly mastering the game. Engaging with these activities will not only extend your playtime but also refine your skills on the slopes, offering unique rewards and a deeper dive into the world of extreme snowboarding.

While SSX Tricky doesn't feature traditional "side quests" in the RPG sense, it excels in offering a wealth of engaging activities outside of the core race and show events. These often revolve around mastering specific tricks, exploring hidden areas, or achieving challenging score thresholds. This section will guide you through these supplementary challenges, detailing how to uncover their secrets and reap their rewards.

Understanding Side Activities in SSX Tricky

Unlike games with explicit quest markers, SSX Tricky's side activities are often integrated directly into the gameplay or unlocked through progression. They primarily fall into these categories:

• Character Unlocks: Earning medals in specific events or achieving certain milestones to make new riders playable.
• Outfit Unlocks: Customizing your rider's appearance by completing various challenges.
• Board Unlocks: Accessing new boards with different stats to improve performance.
• Trick Unlocks & Mastery: Discovering and perfecting the game's extensive trick system, including the coveted "Uber Tricks."
• Hidden Areas & Shortcuts: Exploring each course for secret paths and advantageous routes.
• High Score & Time Attack Challenges: Pushing your limits to dominate leaderboards (both in-game and self-imposed).
• Collectibles (Implicit): While not physical items to pick up, mastering all Uber Tricks or unlocking all outfits can be seen as a form of collection.

Key Side Activities & How to Tackle Them

1. Unlocking All Characters

One of the most rewarding "side quests" is expanding your roster of playable characters. Each character brings unique stats, personalities, and Uber Tricks to the slopes. Here’s a breakdown of how to unlock the full cast:

Elise Riggs

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit on any course with any character.
• Strategy: This is typically the first character you'll unlock. Focus on a character you're comfortable with, like Mac or Moby, and aim for clean runs, landing Uber Tricks for maximum points in Showoff events, and taking shortcuts in Race events.

Marisol Diez

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Elise.
• Strategy: Once Elise is unlocked, play through the World Circuit again with her. Her balanced stats make her a good choice for both race and showoff events.

Eddie Wachowski

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Marisol.
• Strategy: Continue the chain! Eddie is a trick master, so focus on Showoff events with Marisol to prepare for his style.

Seeiah Owens

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Eddie.
• Strategy: Seeiah is another trick-focused character. By this point, you should be proficient in chaining Uber Tricks.

Psymon Stark

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Seeiah.
• Strategy: Psymon is known for his aggressive style. Mastering the previous characters will have prepared you for his unique Uber Tricks.

Brodi Johnson

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Psymon.
• Strategy: Brodi is a powerful all-rounder. Keep honing your skills across both event types.

JP Arsenault

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Brodi.
• Strategy: JP is a speed demon. Focus on mastering shortcuts and maintaining momentum in Race events.

Kaori Nishidake

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with JP.
• Strategy: Kaori is agile and great for tricks. By now, you'll be a seasoned veteran, ready to tackle any challenge.

Luther West

• Unlock Condition: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with Kaori.
• Strategy: Luther is a heavy hitter. This is the final character in the chain, requiring you to have mastered the game's mechanics.

2. Mastering Uber Tricks & Beyond

The heart of SSX Tricky's trick system lies in its Uber Tricks. Each character has four unique Uber Tricks, and performing them successfully is key to building your Tricky meter and unlocking the ultimate "Tricky" state. While not a "side quest" in itself, fully mastering all Uber Tricks for every character is a significant undertaking that offers immense satisfaction and improved gameplay.

How to Perform Uber Tricks:

1. Fill the Tricky Meter: Perform regular tricks, grabs, and grinds to fill the yellow "Tricky" meter at the bottom of your screen.
2. Enter Tricky State: Once the meter is full, you'll hear "It's Tricky!" and your board will glow. This is your window to perform Uber Tricks.
3. Execute the Command: While in the air and in the Tricky state, press the designated button combination (usually a shoulder button + a face button, or a combination of two face buttons) for your character's specific Uber Trick. Refer to the in-game trick list in the pause menu for exact commands.
4. Land Cleanly: Crucially, you must land the Uber Trick perfectly to earn the points and keep your Tricky meter active. A clean landing means hitting the ground with your board flat.

The "Tricky" State & Infinite Uber Tricks:

The ultimate goal is to chain enough Uber Tricks to fill the entire Tricky meter, turning it red and activating the "Tricky" state. In this state, your character can perform infinite Uber Tricks for a limited time, allowing for massive score accumulation in Showoff events and quick Tricky meter refills in Race events. Mastering the art of chaining Uber Tricks is essential for high scores and competitive play.

Tips for Uber Trick Mastery:

• Find Big Air: Look for large jumps and ramps on each course to give yourself ample time to execute and land Uber Tricks.
• Practice Specific Tricks: Each character's Uber Tricks have different timings. Practice them in "Freeride" mode until they become second nature.
• Combine with Grabs: Some Uber Tricks can be combined with additional grab inputs for even higher scores. Experiment!
• Watch for Landing Zones: Always be aware of where you're going to land. Adjust your trajectory mid-air if necessary to ensure a flat landing.

3. Unlocking Outfits and Boards

Customization is a fun aspect of SSX Tricky, and unlocking new outfits and boards provides both aesthetic and statistical benefits. These are typically tied to character progression and performance.

Outfits:

• Unlock Condition: For each character, you unlock new outfits by achieving Gold Medals in the World Circuit.
  • Outfit 2: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with the character.
  • Outfit 3: Win a Gold Medal in the World Circuit with the character a second time.
• Strategy: Simply play through the World Circuit multiple times with your favorite characters. This not only unlocks outfits but also helps you master their unique playstyles.

Boards:

• Unlock Condition: New boards are unlocked as you progress through the World Circuit with any character. They are generally tied to the total number of Gold Medals you've accumulated across all characters.
  • Tier 2 Boards: Unlock after a certain number of Gold Medals (e.g., 3-5 Gold Medals total).
  • Tier 3 Boards: Unlock after a higher number of Gold Medals (e.g., 7-10 Gold Medals total).
  • Ultimate Boards: Often unlocked after achieving Gold Medals with all characters or reaching a very high total.
• Strategy: The most effective way to unlock all boards is to systematically unlock all characters (as described above), as this naturally requires earning many Gold Medals. Each new board offers improved stats in areas like speed, air, and stability, which can significantly impact your performance.

4. Exploring Hidden Areas & Shortcuts

Every course in SSX Tricky is brimming with hidden paths, secret jumps, and advantageous shortcuts. Discovering and utilizing these is a crucial "side activity" that directly impacts your ability to win races and achieve high scores.

General Exploration Tips:

• Look for Breakable Barriers: Many shortcuts are hidden behind thin ice walls, wooden fences, or snow drifts that can be broken through. Look for visual cues like cracks or slightly different textures.
• Follow the Arrows (Sometimes): While the main path is clearly marked, sometimes a subtle arrow will point towards a less obvious route that leads to a shortcut.
• High Ground Advantage: Often, keeping to the higher parts of a course can reveal hidden ledges or jumps that bypass large sections of the track.
• Replay in Freeride: The best way to explore is in "Freeride" mode. Take your time, experiment with different lines, and don't worry about winning.
• Listen for Sound Cues: Sometimes, the sound of breaking ice or a subtle whoosh can indicate a hidden path.

Examples of Notable Shortcuts (Course Specific):

• Garibaldi:
  • The Ice Cave: Early in the course, after the first major jump, look for a breakable ice wall on the left. This leads to a winding ice cave shortcut.
  • The Avalanche Path: Towards the end, after the large half-pipe, there's a path to the right that can be faster if you maintain speed.
• Tokyo Megaplex:
  • The Rooftop Grinds: After the initial drop, look for grind rails that lead to higher platforms, bypassing the crowded lower sections.
  • The Glass Tunnel: Near the end, there's a section where you can break through glass panels to enter a speed-boosting tunnel.
• Alaska:
  • The Glacier Crevasse: After the first major drop, look for a narrow path to the left that dives into a crevasse, offering a quicker route.
  • The Hidden Ramp: Towards the middle, there's a jump that, if hit correctly, can launch you over a significant portion of the track.

Common Pitfall: Don't assume all shortcuts are faster. Some require precise execution or a high speed to be truly beneficial. Practice them to understand their nuances.

5. High Score & Time Attack Challenges (Self-Imposed)

While not explicitly listed as "side quests," pushing your limits in Showoff and Race events to achieve new personal bests or dominate the in-game leaderboards is a significant and enduring activity in SSX Tricky.

Showoff High Scores:

• Strategy: Focus on chaining Uber Tricks to maintain the "Tricky" state for as long as possible. Utilize every ramp and rail. Learn the optimal lines for maximizing airtime and grind opportunities.
• Recommended Characters: Eddie, Seeiah, Kaori, Psymon.
• Key Skill: Landing every trick cleanly and knowing when to bail to avoid losing your Tricky meter.

Race Time Attacks:

• Strategy: Master all shortcuts. Maintain maximum speed by minimizing airtime on jumps (unless performing a quick Uber Trick for a boost), avoiding collisions, and optimizing your lines through turns. Use Uber Tricks strategically to gain speed boosts.
• Recommended Characters: JP, Moby, Mac.
• Key Skill: Course knowledge, precise steering, and efficient use of the Tricky boost.

By engaging with these diverse activities, you'll not only unlock everything SSX Tricky has to offer but also transform into a true master of the slopes, capable of pulling off the most insane tricks and dominating every race.