Skate 2 kickflips my heart
2007’s Skate was, by no exaggeration, groundbreaking. EA’s decision to compete with the mega-successful Tony Hawk
franchise wasn’t all that surprising, but the method in which they chose to enter the fray. Rather than mimic Activision’s powerhouse, they instead chose to take a more realistic approach. There would be no tailslides across power lines, vert sessions at Area 51, or 1080 degree spins above the stage at a KISS concert. Instead, Skate kept itself grounded in reality. Much like EA’s recent Fight Night and NHL titles, tricks were preformed primarily with the right analog stick. Suddenly, hardflips were, you know, actually hard. This take on the skateboarding genre was a hit, driving gamers away from the musty smelling Tony Hawk. Skate was so successful in fact that Activision finally decided to go back to the drawing board to find a way for Tony Hawk compete with the new kid on the block.
Skate 2 is the kind of game I hate to love. The kind of game that has me waking up earlier and staying up later. I simply lose myself, time melting away from the clock. I find myself itching for my next play session, craving it like a junkie eager for his next fix. Much like a junkie, there are periods of such sheer frustration that you’ll simply step back, realize where you are and what you’re doing, and think to yourself “Man, I should really stop”. That moment of clarity is fleeting though, because before long you’ll have your hands back on that controller, ready to take another hit.
Frustration aside, Skate 2 is still the first great game of 2009. The game opens with your character being released from prison, where you served time for trying to skate the San Vanelona dam. Reda, your guide and cameraman from the first game, awaits whisks you away on a tour of New San Vanelona. Apparently, during your time on the inside, the city has undergone some pretty radical changes thanks to a skater-hating organization called Mongocorp. Of course, all this flimsy storytelling exists solely to explain why the city has such a vague familiarity to it. Anyone familiar with the first Skate will recognize certain returning spots and characters, but for the most part, this is an entirely new city.
The new terrain comes packaged with a new bag of tricks. The A and X (Square and X on PS3), which previously only controlled your pushing, can now be used to perform footplants or one-footed grabs. In addition, handplants have been added to the vert skating repertoire, can be tweaked out just like any grab. But perhaps the biggest addition to Skate is the ability to get off your board and walk around. Once off your board, you can ascend stairs or drag certain rails, benches and dumpsters around to create your own customized skate spot. This is both a blessing and a curse, as the off-board control is atrocious. I suppose you could argue that the walking is designed this way on purpose to discourage you from walking around, but for the most part, it tends to just add to the games more frustrating moments.
For the most part, the structure of Skate 2 is identical to the first game. You’ll still find yourself mingling with pros like Danny Way and Rob Dyrdrek, performing tricks for photographers, and entering into contests. You’ll still pick up sponsors from time to time, unlocking new gear and skating areas. Spot Challenges return with some changes, such as the ability to view the highest score on your friends list so you can attempt to best it.
Skate 2 brings some enhancements to the online side of things as well. You can challenge other players to several challenges that mirror the ones found in Career, such as Deathrace and Best Trick. An online freeskate mode has been added as well, allowing you to just simply enjoy a skating session with friends and other players. If you get bored with just skating, you can always propose certain area-specific activities of competitive and cooperative nature. EA’s Skate.Reel returns with the added ability to upload user-created graphics to be used on your board or clothing. Perhaps the most interesting addition to Skate 2's online is Create-a-Spot. Using this feature, players can create their own Spot Challenge and upload them for others to try. Each spot has its own leaderboard, assuring you'll never run out of scores to beat.
Unfortunately, the moments of disc-snapping anger have kept Skate 2 from getting a perfect 5-star rating. There is a fine line between challenging and sadistic, a line that it seems to tightly straddle a bit too often. Even as I write this, there are a couple challenges left incomplete in my skater's career, mostly due to a lack of patience. But once you push those nagging challenges aside and just skate, Skate 2 is one of the most addictive games you will ever play.
