Skater XL Reviews
If you can stick with it, learn the controls and dedicate enough time to understand skateboarding you'll find out Skater XL is the ultimate skating videogame.
Skater XL is a unique take on a market that certainly isn’t saturated.
Skater XL doesn’t have to be for you. It’s a simulator with innovative physics-based mechanics in a genre that has long been built around arcade-style unrealistic tricks, racking up points, and nailing huge combos. If you’re looking for that classic experience, you’re best waiting for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2. But, if you’re somebody who loves customizing and living your best-simulated life with no need for objectives to complete, this is absolutely the game for you.
Sure, there aren’t many that exist right now, and Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater may give both Skater XL and Sessions a run for their money this upcoming generation, but as it stands, Skater XL forgoes the Fakie and Pop’s a sweet Ollie above the rest. I’m excited by its potential, and the surprises Easy Day have in-store for this title. Now, get out there and grind.
If you are looking for a pure skateboarding sim and can handle the controls, you'll have your fun with Skater XL. Everybody else should stick with Skate and Tony Hawk because of the lack of content, graphics and some bugs.
Review in German | Read full review
I find Skater XL disappointing in almost every respect. Wanting to sustain the entire game around its control and the hope of living off the mods of the community is not only disappointing, but even unethical when it comes to monetizing something that will be more aware of the work of others than of the own study. If you want to skate, I recommend that you look at other tracks.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While not big on content, Skater XL provides a fresh take on the skateboarding genre with hours of mindless fun pulling off any skate trick you can think of based on its excellent physics engine and variety of spots to skate. If you like skateboarding even a little bit, pick up this game.
Skater XL has some great trick animations that prove the developer understands the sport and brought that experience to the video game medium. Sadly, nothing else holds up as the environments and playability fall apart the moment you realize there’s nothing to do. The game excels for those who enjoy creating their own fun, but for the price point, I cannot recommend a game that still feels like it’s in Early Access after game crashes and numerous bugs. Anyway, at least the soundtrack is dope.
Actually, I just want to give Skater XL a high score. The controls are innovative and the game flows smoothly. It is a shame, however, that the game is virtually soulless and actually leaves you completely free in what you can do. Now you can see this as a challenge, but I expect that many gamers will see a Skate on the case, but are disappointed when they actually play the game. Game is actually not the label I would give to Skater XL. Rather, it is a good tech demo that has the potential to become a real game, provided there is sufficient support and further development. And when I think of a tech demo, unfortunately I do not think of a price tag of 45 euros. If the game is going to be significantly supplemented, then I am willing to revise my score, but for now it is what it is.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
If you are a fan of simulations games, or the authentic skateboarding experience, or even the Skate franchise, then you will definitely be a fan of Skater XL.
Skater XL introduces an innovative and very satisfying control system, but that's all: it feels more like an early access game, still lacking any meaningful content like a story mode or challenges/missions. It's also in need of a visual overhaul, as the skate parks feel too empty and lifeless, skaters lack any expressivity and the overall graphical fidelity is quite low.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There is a ton of potential in it's current state, but needs some additional content to really flush out the game. The core gameplay is incredible, but is it enough to keep players coming back? I would love to see a future roadmap for additional content. If players know that more content is coming, then I truly believe Skater XL will live up to the potential and be a standout skating simulator for years to come.
This game becomes needlessly complex, it is hard to recommend even to fans of skate, overall the Californian locations are forgetable at best. It makes me wonder if it should be released as early Access, as it lacks content specially for a game subbed “XL”
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Skater XL is a game full of good intentions, but not only is it completely devoid of content, but it’s also devoid of a community that was supposed to come up with new levels and assets for other players to enjoy. Sadly, I see no reason for people to give this game a shot nowadays.
Overall, for my Skater XL review I’d say the game absolutely delivers in reviving the genre and simultaneously being something new all on its own and it even includes a killer soundtrack to really get you into the groove. A small studio putting in the amount of work necessary to not only make this game beyond fun and true to the cores of skateboarding is nothing short of incredible. At times, the movement does feel a little fixed but only to the extent of doing exactly what it takes to fulfill a challenge, I’ve noticed, but other than that and one or two smaller details I believe the game is quite smooth.
Despite a legitimately innovative and satisfying control and trick system, Skater XL just feels incomplete.
There's a lot going right with Skater XL, and some more work on it could have led to a much more impressive game.
Despite its shortcomings, SkaterXL is rewarding in a way that no other skating game has been yet and I’m looking forward to playing more.
Skater XL is undoubtedly a very robust experience in terms of gameplay and probably the most sophisticated of its kind. However, it suffers from the lack of content, objectives and certain elements, in addition to having serious level design problems in the few available scenarios, still having a very raw collision system and a below average audiovisual construction, even for an independent production.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Skater XL feels incomplete. There's not a lot of content, and the game is lacking a personality, a vibe to engage the player. In a year that has Skate coming to mobile, the Pro Skater games being re-released (again), and Session also working its way through Early Access, you should hold off on Skater XL.