Fuilares skate. Review

SKATE. - the spiritual successor to the Skate series To start off, I’ll say that I like skateboarding games and I used to own a board myself, so I’m fairly familiar with the scene. So how does SKATE. look so far? Well, compared to the previous entries, the game is “different.” That doesn’t mean it’s bad, or good for that matter, but there are a few things worth knowing before you jump in. Let’s begin with a bit of history about the series. The Skate franchise was known for its pseudo-realistic approach to skateboarding - it’s not the typical arcade experience like the games under the Tony Hawk brand, so it may not appeal to everyone. To perform tricks here you really need to work the right analog stick - even a simple ollie requires a quick flick down and up. The world of Skate is also open, without strictly predefined missions, unlike Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and that can be refreshing. Does that mean there’s nothing to do in the game? Not at all. The map is full of challenges - from scoring X points with trick combos, to collecting bearings, to throwing yourself off a building into a dumpster stuntman-style. So there’s plenty to keep you busy. But how does the game and gameplay itself hold up? Gameplay As I mentioned earlier, this isn’t your typical arcade game, and it takes some effort before you start pulling off decent combos. Once you get the hang of the controls, though, performing tricks is genuinely fun and satisfying. Important note: a controller is required - you can’t play this game with a keyboard. How does it compare to Skate 3? In my opinion, the movement and tricks are well replicated, and players familiar with the earlier entries will feel right at home. That said, I do have some complaints - the game currently has far less content than the older titles. The classic Hall of Meat mode, where you’d ragdoll into bones-breaking stunts, is gone. There is a new mode that tries to mimic it, but it’s just that - an imitation. Skater customization also feels lacking - you can’t create a fully unique face, only pick from predefined models, which I see as a major downside. At the start, clothing options are very limited too - to unlock more you either have to complete missions or spend real money. For now, these are the only paid elements in SKATE. so for a free-to-play title, it’s not too bad. However, if you’re into skate culture, want to hear pro skaters, play as them, or see brands like Thrasher as in the previous entries - you’ll be disappointed. None of that is here. You have your one skater and can’t just swap them. That said, the game is still in early access -things could change, and the developers might eventually add branded content. It’s worth keeping that in mind. Compared to its predecessor, it feels stripped down, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Graphics The graphics, map, and objects are solid in my opinion - the game doesn’t try to be ultra-realistic like the older titles, but at medium-high settings it looks nice. What I really don’t like, though, are the character models - they look straight out of Fortnite and, to me, they don’t fit the rest of the game. That’s the one thing I’d definitely fix. For weaker PCs, technologies like DLSS and FSR are included, and the game isn’t too demanding overall, so it should run on most modern systems. Personally, I have a laptop with an i7-10th gen and an RTX 2070 Super and the game runs above 70 FPS on medium-high settings. Audio It’s… there. Honestly, that’s the best way to put it. The skateboard sounds and background effects are fine, but the music didn’t grab me at all. That’s a shame, because skateboarding games usually come with great soundtracks, but after playing for more than four hours, nothing really stuck out like in the older games. There is music in the background, but in my opinion the soundtrack doesn’t stand out at all. Summary As a free-to-play early access game, it’s definitely worth downloading - it’s not bad. At this point, though, I’d leave my opinion as neutral. As a fan of the older entries, I feel like there’s a lot missing, but I’m hoping the developers will expand it step by step and add more content. I also hope for some big changes in character models, since I simply don’t like how they look now. You can also play with friends - I saw there are co-op missions, though I haven’t tested them yet. Still, if you enjoy multiplayer fun, there’s no harm in trying, since it’s free anyway.