Although the GameCube has yet to be released, there are already a healthy number of extreme sports games in the chute. Activision is readying Tony Hawk 3 for Nintendo's purple console, 1080 Snowboarding 2 is under development by Left Field studios, and now Electronic Arts is preparing the pseudo-sequel to SSX-- SSX Tricky--for release around the GameCube's launch. With all these options, it might be easy for an average game to get lost in the shuffle, but with SSX Tricky's pedigree, it's not likely.

Nintendo will get a piece of the action, this year. SSX for the PlayStation 2 featured an incredible amount of depth for an arcade sports title, and the series is taking an evolutionary step with SSX Tricky. The sequel is set one year after the original, and things have changed on the SSX circuit. The primary gameplay mode is still the world circuit, but the seven tracks that are returning for another go have been drastically tweaked so that there are more shortcuts, hidden lines, and big hits to launch off of. Old tracks such as Snowdream have been so drastically altered that it's nearly impossible to recognize them. Two completely new tracks have been added as well: Garibaldi in British Columbia, Canada, and the cliff face-filled Alaska course that EA Sports Big promises will be the most difficult SSX course yet. Six of the eight riders from last year's installment have returned, with Jurgen and Hiro sitting out due to injuries sustained during the off-season. The new riders include the saucy Spanish club girl Marisol, the backwoods redneck Luther, the afro-sporting Eddie, the Zen surfer Brodi, and Psymon the psycho. As in last year's game, attribute points and new boards are awarded for progressing through the world circuit.

The single-event mode lets you compete against other riders on the course of your choice. The practice mode includes an updated version of the trick tutorial that actually shows you each trick, so you don't have to figure them out on your own. The trick book is now broken into five chapters with 10 tricks in each one, making it much easier to sort through. When you land a new trick that will be added to your trick book, it's immediately recognizable, thanks to both auditory and visual cues. It will even prompt you as to the next trick to add to your repertoire. Last year's show-off mode was rarely played by most, but several changes have been implemented in SSX Tricky to remedy the situation. The biggest change is that each course will be altered to suit the mode, meaning there will be more obstacles, hits, and downslopes strategically scattered throughout the courses to facilitate going off. As if all these gameplay modes weren't enough, SSX Tricky will also include more than 45 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage. You can watch Mixmaster Mike cut it up on the wheels of steel, voice actors laying down the rider comments, and much more.

Addictive and deep gameplay is what made SSX such a stellar game, but EA Sports Big isn't afraid to experiment with new ideas. Increased rider interaction and a healthier story mode are the biggest additions to SSX Tricky, and if the specs are any indication, both should help make this sequel even more immersive than the original. Opposing riders now come with attitude attributes that determine whether they're friends, buddies, or rivals. Each rider has a tolerance meter that determines how he or she will treat you while riding down the hill. If you're constantly harassing another rider with a rival attribute, and his or her tolerance meter peaks, the rider will do one of three things: talk trash, follow you down the hill interrupting your lines, or outright attack you. Computer AI has also been tweaked so that making it down the mountain first requires more than just finding the best shortcuts. SSX's already impressive trick system has also been revamped.