SkateBIRD Reviews
Players looking for a new skateboarding game may get some enjoyment out of this, but keep in mind you most certainly will find issues with the movement. If you’re willing to put up with some frustrations, there’s something here for you, but if you’re easily bothered, maybe wait for a sale.
SkateBIRD is a creative addition to a genre lacking in variety, and its fun concept has clearly been realised with a lot of love. However, despite its potential, the best parts of the concept are underused, with neither the miniature skaters nor the addition of wings bringing much to excite. While the core gameplay is functional, the play feel is not fluid and the level design and laborious structure are always working against the fun. To top it off, the rudimentary graphics are needlessly hazy. More of a turkey than a pretty boy, then, unfortunately.
Skatebird would have benefited from a little more time in the nest. The game's technical problems make it hard to appreciate the positive aspects of its world. There's definitely room in the market for a more casual skateboarding game, but it needs to have the fundamentals worked out first, and Skatebird isn't there yet - though it has promise if future updates smooth out the experience considerably.
A whimsical bird-focused take on skateboarding seemed delightful, but in execution, frustration dominated my playtime, whether it was struggling to find missions or battling with the loose controls. Charm is the saving grace that led to me having short-lived enjoyment. Overall, SkateBird is way more reminiscent of the janky but sometimes enjoyable games that came out in the wake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater's success than the original product itself.
Although it has an innovative premise and is visually very cute, the overall experience of SkateBIRD is frustrating. The controls and camera are confusing, and the physics doesn't work as it should. It's a game with a very original concept and could be a lot of fun, but it lacked polish.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
SkateBIRD is a fun and simple skateboarding game that instead of following the tenets of its counterparts with licensed content, rather goes for a free and comedy-filled approach to its settings, and it works very well thanks to a sharp gameplay that feels just right. Not all is perfect, however, and its camera issues can get frustrating, while its main mechanic for performing more complex moves is mostly unnecessary, but SkateBIRD does a good job at delivering a no-frills and enjoyable experience that fans of skateboarding will undoubtedly enjoy.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
SkateBIRD is a hard sell, because this is not a very cheap title and it is not very fun. This is a rather failed attempt at being a unique title within the skateboarding genre of video games, as it fails in its controls, camera, and its extreme requirements to unlock things. It does do some things right, though, and I do have to commend it for being a funny experience despite its flaws. The music is great, the birds look amazing, and most of the parks are well designed, and this could be a worthy pickup at a discounted price. However, these poor birds have had their wings clipped, and they will not be flying off the shelf any time soon.
Despite its amusing concept and charming vibes, Skatebird can't get far when it actually gets on the board.
Skatebird had potential, and I hate to drag it down, but I simply did not have an enjoyable experience with it.
SkateBIRD’s attempt to create a Tony Hawk-esque style skateboarding game with birds, is largely underwhelming and struggles to impress. With unresponsive controls and a camera that seems to flip all over the place, SkateBIRD fails to provide any reasons to be worth picking up.
I can't get past just how anti-fun the controls, mission design and world design are. Aesthetically it's perfect, I love it, but it seems most of the effort has gone into nailing the cute gifs and not the slick heelflips.
I’m glad that I played SkateBIRD, and it hurts that I’ve had to give it this score. I firmly believe that as games are an art form, game developers should be trying things, even if they don’t ultimately succeed. SkateBIRD is a brilliant idea and it takes a big, heaving swing at it. Sadly, though, it’s a strikeout. However, with that being said, if the developers get another innings, I would play a SkateBIRD 2 without a moment's hesitation, and I would fully expect that the developers would deliver having had this experience.
I simply can’t recommend SkateBIRD. If you want a good skateboarding game, this certainly doesn’t provide that. If you want something kinda janky to laugh at, it’s not good for that either. However, if you’re curious how a skateboarding game could arguably feel worse than the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater, you can check this out for $20 on Steam. All its content will probably take about 10 hours to get through, though I can’t imagine there’s very many people that will actually make it through all of it.
A sometimes wonky skating game that makes up for its jank with birbish moxie.
I understand why some may be perched on the fence like Tiny Hawk, and maybe you are better off waiting for the holiday sales and the physics to improve. But I'm easy to please, and Skatebird is exactly what I expected. Sure, there are some frustrating moments, but it's a creative representation of the sport I love. It's fun and quirky. And with a quick learning curve and by paying homage to one of the greats, I think most folks could enjoy this arcade skater.