Skater XL Reviews
In sum, Skater XL tries to fill a void in the world of skateboarding video games by offering a valiant blend of the familiar and innovative. The music and aesthetic are warm and welcoming to build a carefree experience for the player. The settings are bright, crisp, and appealing, but the controls and game layout that Easy Day Studios decided to embrace seems misguided. The freedom to explore and create your own lines may be liberating for some, but the lack of direction can leave players cold. Most sandbox games offer something tangible to work toward, to build, to interact with, etc. This same sort of goal isn't in Skater XL, which makes the experience feel blasé. While the game's website touts that there are no specific inputs for tricks as a selling point, this sort of freedom is a nasty combination of overwhelming and undefined. Games generally work when the player is either presented with goals to reach or a world to explore, but Skater XL doesn't provide enough of either to be a fulfilling experience.
Skater XL at its core is decent fun, but its lack of worthwhile objectives and lacklustre performance sees it fail to stick the landing
Either way, it's a tough sell, but the reward for effort and perseverance is a good one, the bigger question: how committed are you?.
First representative of a lost genre in years, Skater XL will clearly disappoint those who hopes for dense content. Clearly focused on its core simulation mechanics, the game offers a true experience of what skating might feel, but lacks on every other level, with very few stages, a meagre soundtrack and many technical flaws.
Review in French | Read full review
Easy Days Studios strived to achieve a great and realistic control system for Skater XL, and they nailed it. On the way to get it, though, they forgot to build a proper and fun game around it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Skater XL is the most realistic skateboarding simulator we've ever seen, but also the hardest. If you love skateboarding you'll probably enjoy it a lot (specially if you skate in real life), but if you don't, it's difficulty and barebones content won't seduce you.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Skate XL cleverly mimics real-life skateboarding, but the minimal amount of gameplay means it's only ever going to be for real-life skate fanatics.
Skater XL is a strong proof of concept but it’s currently 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.
A skate game with good performance and a good playable base, but with little content.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Despite trying to capture a more realistic skateboarding system, Skater XL's high points are brought down by some rough areas which could use some work. With more updates and fine-tuning, it does at least have the potential to be an XL package rather than an XS snoozefest.
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.
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.
As a whole, Skater XL does feature good gameplay but it will take you a long time in order to get good at it. If you are a casual gamer, you'll struggle to play the game. The main thing holding the game down is a lack of content available at launch. If you're interested in the game, it's best to wait until it's on sale before you buy it.
Skater XL is definitely going to be a polarising game for some – the intuitive and deep control methods coupled with the expansive open-world environment make for a great time to just chill out and skate around, but some players may miss the ‘action’ of the game or feeling a necessity to reach a goal. While challenges will keep you going to better yourself, some may be turned off by the limited game modes and replayability. All in all, Easy Day Studios have crafted a truly interesting skateboarding experience that gives players the ability to skate without leaving their home.
While Skater XL's learning curve is steep, for those who stick with it, there is some fun and satisfying skateboarding action to be had.
Skater XL softens some of the more technical aspects of the sport, but empowers players with the ability to pull off stylish tricks with a swish of the analogue sticks. Even with a lack of content and polish, Skater XL stands on its own four wheels in a soon-to-be-crowded marketplace, providing players with an experience that prioritises fun over simulation.
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
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.
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.