Skate or Die 2 is a side scrolling game, though the player can return to previously visited areas. The hero has a variety of skateboarding moves and weapons at his disposal, the controls for which can be programmed by the player. The hero's primary weapon is his paintball gun, though he can also throw eggs and firecrackers at his opponents. The game also has a bartering system. During the journey the hero can pick up CDs, cassette tapes, French fries, and tacos. These items can be traded with Rodney and Lester for new tricks and skateboards.
There are also a total of five skateboards in the game. The one the player starts with is slow and does not jump very high, but by meeting up with Rodney the hero can acquire two progressively faster and higher-jumping skateboards, with each one replacing the hero's current board. Later in the game Rodney can sell the player two boards that do not replace the current board. One is fast but has poor jumping abilities; the other jumps high but is slow. However, if the player does not acquire the boards on the first level, then Rodney will not appear in the third. This held true with Lester, as well: The player would have to buy the three moves he offered in stage one for him to appear in stage three.
Rather than make the player complete the story portion of the game in order to unlock the Double Trouble halfpipe, the game offers the player the option to skip the story and play the ramp as a standalone portion of the game by pressing "Select". The option is displayed on the title screen, as well as described in the instruction manual.