Skate

[Number45]

I've never been able to get into a skating game before (Not that I've tried that hard), but the fact that this is getting universal praise along with the more organic controls (I always found Hawk games daunting in that respect) mean I'm definitely going to give this a try.

Hopefully there'll be a PSN demo at some point.

[watusi]

i'm lookin forward to this more than anything else at the mo. These impressions are gettin me excited about playing it. Cheers!

[Yoshimax]

@ Keith fair point - I'd probably have took the PS3 one to get it early but the timing is bad now and I don't think the sixaxis sticks are up to it for pulling off the shove-it's etc.

Online wise it couldn't be any worse than 360 with it being the EA service

[charlesr]

Hopefully there'll be a PSN demo at some point.

Let's talk some more about the controls for those who haven't demoed.

On the 360 pad, A is push with the right leg and X is push with the left, so thats X and SQUARE on the PS pad. So that gets you moving. Don't think it makes much difference but you do get to choose if you want your skater to be regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right), so pusing with the right leg for a regular rider whilst riding normally might make more sense and with the left when riding fakie/switch (backwards). Not thought about it much, so I'll experiment.

Then most of the rest is on the sticks. To get airbourne, flick the right stick down then up (nolly) or up then down (olly), holding after the first bit for more height. If you want to get airbourne while flipping the board along its length, do the same, but on the 2nd bit, just move the stick sideways slightly too e.g. (down, then up and right a bit).

Alternatively you can shove the board around under your feet so the nose becomes the tail by pulling down and then around the edge of the stick socket and back up.

Then all you have to do is land on something right to grind it. No need for a button to grind. Simple.

Your hands are controlled by the left and right triggers. Press either or both to grab with respective hands or both. You can do this while on the ground too, but it's harder to balance or land.

While getting airbourne, the left stick starts body rotations. The left stick also does the pumping move I mentioned in an earlier post.

You can tweak tricks with the B button (O for PS pad).

That's it. It sounds easy and is intuitive, but can take a little while to dial in.
Tutorials are dotted around all over the place, so they aren't expecting you to learn it all in the first 10 mins.

The first time you land a grind, guaranteed you be like "aces. again please"

[charlesr]

OK, to get you more excited, the servers seem to be working properly today so, click the pic to see a vid I made Excuse the similar air tricks. It was part of a challenge in which I had to get 8s air and do 3 grabs and do 720? spin.



I was particularly pleased with my unecessarily flash entrance into the pipe.

[dogen]

Man, I'm really looking forward to trying this when it drops in PAL-land.

I tried Tony Hawk Project 8 a few months ago, and it was the first Tony Hawk game I've played since TH3 (which I loved at the time). But I dunno, I just expected it to be so much more sophiticated, given the number of sequels and that fact it's next gen. It just felt so hollow and cheap.

Skate sounds like a god send though. I'm just a bit bummed I wont be able to play online or take part in uploading footage. We can't get broadband out here.

[charlesr]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've just been playing online for the last hour. Unfortunately dogen, I can't say you aren't missing out.

It's bloody brilliant. Totally top.

Was doing a ranked spot battle game against a bunch of americans, who were to, a man, completely polite and chatty. You take in turns to do a small 10-20 second bit of scenery, with the best single trick score to win. 3 attempts. I would NEVER have believe standing around watching 5 other people skate was so much fun. Seriously that was hilarious.

Everyone was commenting on each other's runs and giving encouragement on the way in, laughter if there's a face plant, and mad praise if you pull off a good sequence. There's something you don't see on live very often.

I spent half the time pissing myself laughing and now my sides hurt.

Being objective, I don't know how long it would continue to thrill (spot battles), but I've got my money's worth right there in 1 amazing hour of entertainment. Oh and one of the spots I MUST find in the game. It was truley amazing - my stomach dropping away as fast as the ground was

[Shotski]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've just been playing online for the last hour. Unfortunately dogen, I can't say you aren't missing out.

It's bloody brilliant. Totally top.

Was doing a ranked spot battle game against a bunch of americans, who were to, a man, completely polite and chatty. You take in turns to do a small 10-20 second bit of scenery, with the best single trick score to win. 3 attempts. I would NEVER have believe standing around watching 5 other people skate was so much fun. Seriously that was hilarious.

Everyone was commenting on each other's runs and giving encouragement on the way in, laughter if there's a face plant, and mad praise if you pull off a good sequence. There's something you don't see on live very often.

I spent half the time pissing myself laughing and now my sides hurt.

Being objective, I don't know how long it would continue to thrill (spot battles), but I've got my money's worth right there in 1 amazing hour of entertainment. Oh and one of the spots I MUST find in the game. It was truley amazing - my stomach dropping away as fast as the ground was

That to me sounds exactly like a proper skate session, ok i've got to get a 360 now.

[charlesr]

One of the guys playing, said he bought his 360 for Skate.....

[H.I.]

I used to dream about creating a game like this, 20 years ago. Didn't think the Commodore 64 could handle it though!

[endo]

Really can't wait for this now... Charles- liked your video, the flip blunt entrance, very nice

The online spot challenge thing sounds absolutely ace, exactly what you'd want from a skating game.

Is it out next Friday here? Hopefully someone will do an Argos with it.

[arcnas]

This game is just sublime, i think its one of the best things ive played for a while, after a few hours on it, its not out in the UK until the 12th October now, its been put back 2 weeks.

[charlesr]

I forgot to mention. I tried some of the online racing. It didn't appeal to me and was glad I spent more time on the spot challenges. There's a variety of downhill areas that are suitable for racing. You have to jump over kerb and stuff to get the fastest line, but most of it isn't steep enough so there's a lot of pushing.....

[TwistedG]

Found a nice trick where you end up doing what looks like a somersault over the ramp. Only played the demo a few times so excuse me if this is old hat by now....

Approach a steep ramp with plenty of speed (suggest the ramp in the demo to the right of the big glass arch), ollie then perform a grab and push up on both sticks, hold this while you go head over heels and spot the land on the other side of he ramp. Think it's a 360 melon you perform?? Will post a video when I get chance...

[charlesr]

Try riding along and grabbing with both hands (pull both triggers) and then hold B. Instant luge