After being addicted to the original Skate for a few months the choice to pick up Skate 2 was a no brainer. While I have only had it for a few days I have put a good amount of time into it already on both single player and Xbox Live.
If your curious about how this sequel matches up against its original successor i have some good news. They have taken everything that was great about the original Skate and improved upon it. One of the first things you will notice is that you are now able to get off your board and move around. This opens up huge possibilities in the game, from running up stairs and climbing over ledges in your way. You will also notice that many objects are not glued to the ground, meaning they can be knocked over, moved around and literally dragged across the entire Skate world of San Vanelona. They have even hidden rails and ramps around for you to build your own sweet lines.
Speaking of San Vanelona, this is the same world that was used in the original Skate. While all your favorite spots are included once again, they have changed some of them around, mostly for the better, and also added entire new locations. So in other words, the skating terrain is highly improved upon.
Graphically speaking, the game looks better. They have added even more textures and detail to the landscape and characters you encounter. Tricks looks smoother, which means sticking that perfect landing provides even more satisfaction than before. Not only that, but the trick library has increased with new additions of “old school” style, like the hippie flip and footplant. sure, you may roll your eyes at first, but i guarantee you will be “kickin it old school” once you figure out how to pull it off.
Online Skate 2 features all of the classic games you remember with a few more you might not. Such as the Hall of Meat, a highly entertaining game of “who can hurt themselves the worst by hucking your ragdoll body down a flight of stairs” game. I literally played this for an hour and with some people I never met and we were all laughing like best friends. Not only is it competitive, but its great for beginners as well because sometimes not having any skill means you come out on top!
Some other great additions to the game are the ability to create a spot and share it online. This is one aspect of the game I have not yet been able to divulge myself into yet, but it sounds like a great way to kill a few hours. While were on the subject of sharing, lets talk film. If you remember how great the filming and replay system was in Skate then you should be pumped. They have added a few more camera options and editing features. This means you can come even closer to making clips look similar to real life. However, be prepared to dish out a few hundered Microsoft points in order to use all the camera features…
So your probably thinking now, what are the cons. Well to be honest there are a few. The ability to move objects around is awesome, but sometimes it can be a pain in the ass. You will find yourself tripping over them more often than moving them. This is due to the quirkiness of moving around on your feet. The game was built to be on the board, which make sense, so when on your feet you will find you can’t maneuver as well as most 3rd person games. However, im definitely able to look past this because of all the other great features.
The bottom line? If your a fan of the original you will love this game. If you never played the original because you never liked “those Tony Hawk games” I suggest you download the demo. This game is fun even if you have never picked up a skateboard in your life. Add in the ability to create your own lines, film them and then upload them for the world to see and this game has huge replay value.
