Gameplay continues the same basic method introduced in the original SSX. The main tracks are remixes from the previous game like Merqury City, which takes place in a New York City-based downtown area, and Tokyo Megaplex, a course resembling a giant pinball machine,[19][20] plus two new tracks, Garibaldi and Alaska.[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. Hiro Karamatsu and Jurgen Angermann did not return, which was justified as suffering off-season injuries.[22] Winning medals in a variety of events unlocks new courses, characters, and boards, as well as improved the boarder's abilities. New outfits may be earned by completing a character's trick book, by doing a number of specific tricks during play. Three kinds of boards are available to players: trick-oriented Freestyle boards, all-around BX boards, and racing-oriented Alpine boards, which are not meant to be ridden backwards.[23]