[8] In SSX Tricky, players can choose among twelve characters, participate in races or trick competitions, and earn rewards.

[9] Additionally, the game includes a behind-the-scenes making-of video, which is labelled DVD Content in the main menu.

[8] Its PS2 version received a 92% score on Metacritic,[13] sold over 800,000 units worldwide, and like other games in the series achieved Platinum status.

[21] It features twelve characters: the returning Elise Riggs, Mackenzie "Mac" Fraser (NTSC version), Kaori Nishidake, Zoe Payne, Moby Jones, and Jean-Paul "JP" Arsenault, plus new ones like Psymon Stark, Edward "Eddie" Wachowski, Seeiah Owens, Luther-Dwayne Grady, Marisol Diez Delgado, Broderick "Brodi" Ford, Martin "Marty" Stieber (PAL version), who replaces Mac, and Kim Yuri (NTSC Korean version), who replaces Kaori.

[22] Winning medals in a variety of events unlocks new courses, characters, and boards, as well as improved the boarder's abilities.

[31] EA Canada intended to add new areas, shortcuts, and subtly change the landscape of the environments of the original game.

[32] At some point in development it was decided to make the title into a full-fledged sequel, renaming the game SSX: Tricky.

"[14] Reviews like that of IGN's Aaron Boulding complimented the added features, such as Uber tricks and rivalry with other boarders.

[17] Some reviewers, such as Shan Satterfield for GameSpot, thought that the improvements over the original were so good that SSX Tricky was billed as the best snowboarding game to date.

"[73] The voice acting, which included Lucy Liu, David Arquette, Macy Gray, Oliver Platt, and Billy Zane,[22] was praised by reviewers, including GameSpy's Michael G. Moen, who commented that the use of celebrities like Liu helped bring the outrageous characters to life.

Each course had specific songs paired with it to match the mood and when riders reached maximum boost or were knocked down, the music reacted accordingly.

[20][83] In 2020, Steven Rechtschaffner, the producer of SSX Tricky, expressed his interest and the possibility of a remake of the game.