The game lacks basic stuff like setting your character’s stance (regular is the only stance) and labels some tricks with weird names that seem made up, which all seem to indicate the developers don’t actually skate. Weirdly I can’t quite figure out whether Skate City has or hasn’t. I’ve played many skateboarding games over the years and it’s always immediately obvious when a game has not been developed by real skaters, or real skaters haven’t been consulted. There are also some bizarre inconsistencies with the feeling of legitimacy in the game. There are 3 levels in total (with a hint of a 4th), but the levels are expansive and cleverly loop in Endless Mode to offer a lot of replay value. Character customisation is somewhat lacking: limited visual options and a lack of real brands makes this area a little disappointing, but for a low budget title it’s impressive they even included this. The game does a good job of introducing new gameplay types and mixing things up with race events (with you competing against an AI skater), high score events (where you have to beat a certain score) and escape events (where you have to outrun a security guard).Īll of these award SC coins, which can be used to buy new items for your character, or unlock new levels. In the one area where the game outdoes SkaterXL considerably, the game is fleshed out with plenty of well designed challenges and goals to keep you busy for hours. Whilst the moment to moment gameplay doesn’t deliver, the amount of things to do is impressive. Having said that, OlliOlli developers Roll7 seem to have figured this out for OlliOlli World, so it can be done on a 2.5D plane. ![]() Skate City features absolutely no transition: all 3 of the game’s levels are all based on street spots, and continuous travel from left to right, so transition doesn’t really make sense in this context. The camera is so far away and detached from the action that even the most complex trick feels a little apologetic, and the UI and sound effects always feel like they are scared of interrupting you.Īlso, my common measure of whether I will enjoy a skateboarding game is whether there is transition skating, and whether that transition skating is any good. In Skate City it’s all just a bit pedestrian. A simple ollie down stairs in OlliOlli is surrounded with fast paced, adrenaline pumping sound effects and huge UI that amps up the experience. Skate City’s realistic tone is also it’s downfall – the simple controls coupled with a slower pace and smaller sized obstacles just simply makes skating feel a little muted. Special tricks can be unlocked (including the game’s only grab trick), but the trick list is a little shallow. It’s a cleverly simple system, but whereas OlliOlli hides surprising depth in it’s controls, Skate City doesn’t offer much more than what you may find from an initial play through. Spins are mapped to the bumpers, and leaning on the nose or tail for manuals or nosegrinds/50s is handled with the triggers. The game offers a control scheme somewhere in the middle of OlliOlli and SkaterXL, with directional analogue stick positions assigned to different flip tricks. Whereas OlliOlli is heavily inspired by the likes of THPS with its massive combos and gloriously over the top levels, Skate City apes the realistic approach of games like SkaterXL and Session with a slower pace and an emphasis on realistic skateboarding. The game follows a 2D route through a 3D environment, similarly to the newly announced OlliOlli World. To sum up the type of game this is: it probably has more in common with the aforementioned OlliOlli than any other competitor. Originally an Apple Arcade exclusive that launched in 2019, the game comes to consoles in all it’s 2.5D glory, offering a light campaign mode and 3 expansive levels based on real world locations. ![]() There are countless others I haven’t listed, but the latest game to come out is Skate City, which made its Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch debut on May 6th. ![]() EA is in the early stages of bringing the legendary, much requested Skate franchise back, and we’re also being treated to a new game in the OlliOlli franchise. Yes, we have entered somewhat of a new skateboarding video game boom, spearheaded by SkaterXL, Session, and of course a new entry in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise. ![]() Not sure if I’ve said this before… but SKATEBOARDING GAMES ARE BACK, BABY.
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