P.Review - Skate 2
Skate 2
Developer: EA Vancouver - Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts
System: Xbox 360 (reviewed), Playstation 3 (demo reviewed)
Rated T for Teen, includes Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Violence and Suggestive Themes.
Publisher: Electronic Arts
System: Xbox 360 (reviewed), Playstation 3 (demo reviewed)
Rated T for Teen, includes Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Violence and Suggestive Themes.
Things have changed, but one thing remains the same: You're the dude of New San Van.
Understandably, Skate 2 is a skateboarding game for next-gen consoles. EA made the Skate franchise to "give" Activision "the business" and shake things up, making the kickflip button not a button at all, but in fact the entire right-stick. Board control with an analog stick changes a lot of things, but makes the skating experience more realistic, in comparison to Activision's Tony Hawk franchise. Activision really hasn't put out anything amazing since Skate appeared on the scene, meaning our time with button-mash skateboarding games may be over.
First things first, Electronic Arts have really stepped up their gameplan when it comes to creative content. "Skate.", the first game that really irked me from EA, brought to play the ability to make your own videos, and share them not just over an online video game platform, but via the internet through conversion into a Youtube-like copy. Many of EA's sports titles have taken this and used the technology to make their franchises better, but I'm very sure that this all started with Skate. Skate 2 includes such a feature, and I'll be using it in this post to get the message across.
Skate 2 is beautiful. If you have an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3, check out the demo and download it, just to see what I mean. The main characters, for the most part, are real people (with the exception of Slappy, Sammy, Mike and Freeway, who are support characters in the San Vanelona world). Real world skaters, like PJ Ladd and Robby Drydek, are "in the game", as if EA Sports had something to do with it. The world itself is adjusted slightly from the first game, but for the most part, if you're transferring from one game to the next, most of the key locations that you might remember are there to be explored through again. One of the returning venues is the Mega Compund, which unlocks rather early, but is expanded with the Fun Park attachment, in-game. Definitely enough changes to see plenty of new things though, like the harbour front "Lighthouse Park", which screams marble and concrete. As well, ambient music (although it's an option) starts pumping out hidden speakers when you're in prime skating zones. The soundtrack is very diverse, from Dragonforce to Cut Chemist. The only downer is the lack of dialogue in some cases. I really wish there were more interesting conversations between skaters, but when you have two high-profile skaters with their own challenges, it's hard to complain.
The game is broken down in a free-roam career mode, where you can compete in challenges of various modes, like jams, deathraces, S.K.A.T.E. challenges, Own The Spot missions, and competitive events. There's also a not-so-new but advanced mode for casual or hardcore players alike: The Thrasher Hall of Meat. Basically, by mashing both stick buttons and both triggers, you force a bail, and can uniquely crush, mash, or otherwise break a ton of bones in your rag-doll body to score points, and maybe unlock some stuff if you're really good at it. Thankfully, no trips to the hospital required, since you just respawn anyways, but this time around, after you get up from a bail, your clothes get dirty, and your body and limbs show signs of scars. A subtle touch, but very suitable if you wreck hard enough into a solid cement embankment.
Since the game is all about skateboarding, Black Box have added new ways to create tricks, and have added the ability to get up off your board and run around. To be honest, the controls while on foot need a lot of work, and seem to not fit in with the game itself, besides getting to places that you otherwise can't while riding a skateboard. Being able to caveman into tricks (run, then jump, then while in air get back on your board and start a line) is definitely a nice idea, but it isn't effective enough to score mongo points like the game asks you to. Also new are some different footplants that can happen anywhere, as well as hippy jumps and hippy flips. Hippy Jumps are rather easy, while Hippy Flips are for the skilled vets who really want that video they share to be bragging rights. Also, while on foot, you have the new ability to move objects around to make your own unique lines. Some rails, ramps and benches can be moved to new places to form a private skate park of your own, and then you can do whatever you want with it. Unfortunately, this works well, but in some cases, has some awkward side effects.
What this all comes down to is the online modes. Online you can skate with up to 5 of your friends in a single skating area. In Freeskate, you can actually just hang out and skate, or you can do little side-missions to keep you challenged, or get the people in the room to co-operate and nail a certain team objective. There's 6 ranked modes as well, for those so inclined to challenge Xbox Live or Playstation Network players in some friendly competition. EA Nation handles the online end, and has an interesting ranking system to determine who the pros are and who aren't. You can never go down in ranking, but obtaining Legend status is only for those who diversify their skills in multiple disciplines, not just one. You might be awesome at Hall of Meat, but if you suck at all of the other events, you aren't deserving of being a Legend, but you can still try to achieve those goals and make it.
Skate 2 is possibly the best skateboarding game to date. Real world skaters, a half-fictional enviroment, appropriate physics (when it's being good) and lots of fun to be had. With 4 player support, and an easy to read, in-game tutorial set and trick how-to guide, it's hard to put Skate 2 down for a rest. With that, I give it my only really positive approval score: BUY.
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