Publisher Electronic Arts (EA) is well known for sports games like Madden, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, NHL, FIFA and SSX. Not surprising, the publisher decided to add a skateboarding game to its portfolio. EA’s intention was to create a realistic skateboarding videogame, based on real world physics, environments and tricks. Or in other words, to build a game very much different from Activision’s Tony Hawk videogame franchise.

Welcome to SKATE.
Set in the fictional town of San Vanelona, the game offers a huge area of skate-able terrain already unlocked from the very beginning. San Vanelona is broken up into distinctive areas, which are connected seamlessly and without loading interruption. It takes roughly 10 minutes to skate from one end of town to the other. The game is populated with moving pedestrians, vehicles and even security guards who charge $50 for skating in non-skate areas, such as Malls and Plazas, if the player gets caught. Skate can be played for hours without the need to enter any of the career mode challenges. Especially younger and casual players will enjoy this non-pressure and relaxed aspect of the game. For those looking to unlock all locations, including X-Games events and Indoor Skate Compounds, get ready for some of the most difficult virtual skateboarding ever. On their way to fame, players must master what EA calls the “Flickit Controls”. Flickit Controls use the Left and Right Thumbstick to control Feet and Board and the Triggers to control the Hands for craps. Tricks must be wound up before execution, just like in the real world. For example a very simple Ollie (popping the board into the air) requires the Thumbstick to be pulled down from the center, which causes the skater to bend his knees, followed by a rapid upward flick of the Thumbstick, making the player pop the Ollie. This system is relatively intuitive, however the controls are very similar for each trick, often resulting in wrong and accidental tricks. Another feature to get used to is the low and non-adjustable camera angle. Skate includes a large variety of tricks, however as a real world skater I must wonder whatever happened to Inverts, No Complies and Boneless tricks??? Good thing that EA is known for sequels – I am sure we will get a more polished version of the game next year. In the mean time, let’s focus on the positive and the freedom Skate offers.

If your kids are remotely interested in Skateboarding, they’ll want to give this game a try. Skate is packed with product placement and includes a rather crude humored intro video. The ESRB rated it “T” for Teen, which all things considered is a safe choice, but depending on your kids, you can let the younger ones take a turn with you, especially in Party Mode.