Game: skate.System: Xbox 360
Release date: September 14, 2007
Developed by: Electronic Arts
Published by: Electronic Arts
For nearly a decade the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise dominated all skateboarding video games with very little competition. Beginning in 2007 however, with the release of skate., Electronic Arts' answer to Activision's juggernaut, the market for skating games became much more contested. skate., sometimes marketed as the "anti-Tony Hawk," outsold its seventh-generation counterpart, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, by a ratio of nearly two to one. No longer does Activision have a monopoly on skateboarding video games. skate. is here, and here to stay; two sequels were released in 2009 and 2010.
skate. takes place in the fictional town of San Vanelona, where players control a custom-made amateur skater with hopes of reaching the pro level. Through the city, players can participate in a variety of events: filming challenges, where players complete a line of tricks for promotional purposes; "own the spot" challenges, where players challenge veteran skaters on their home turf; and many more. Skating challenges, along with other important landmarks, are located on an onscreen mini-map.
Nothing listed above is especially new or noteworthy. Where skate. makes its mark is in its control scheme. Unlike other skateboarding games (including Tony Hawk) where players initiate tricks with button presses, players in skate. complete tricks and stunts by pulling and pushing analog sticks. This "flick it" system takes some getting used to for players comfortable with button presses, but the end result is an innovative and intuitive control scheme that gives players a greater sense of control over their avatars and skateboards.
One of the most distressing features in skate. is its ubiquitous product placement and in-game advertising. For example: every time a player encounters a pro skater, an introductory video shows up-close shots of his sneakers, board, wheels, shirt, etc.
Although skate. looks and plays great, its overbearing product placement and steep learning curve keep it from greatness.
Score: 85/100
