Post 21 - Skate 3 Impressions

SKATE 3 IMPRESSIONS (Mini-Review)

I hate to admit, but even though I loved the first skate game, I skipped over Skate 2. The walking controls were just awful and I felt like the series had not yet reached it's potential. However, with Skate 3 I think we're getting there. First off Skate's gameplay remains almost unchanged from the second entry. This time Darkslides have been added (which is something I was waiting for since the first game) and the walking around controls, while still far from perfect, are a lot better than in Skate 2.

The environment is quite likable. Everything looks extremely beautiful with occasional pop-ins and screen taring, but nothing so major that it pulls you out of the experience entirely. The only thing about the environment is that there's no weather changes and no cycle between night and day, which would have been an interesting addition. Aside from that the graphics are solid, but not revolutionary, and also the addition to create your own custom graphics IN-GAME rather than on the website would have been nice too.



Story. So far the game barely has one. You've created your own brand, and now you want board sales. Simple enough right? Well unfortunately this form of storytelling leaves you selecting through menus and attempting challenges through out the majority of the game to actually give you emotions and cut-scenes. To me, the idea of creating your team and brand is a GREAT idea, but the story should have been more like Tony Hawk Underground. To me, that game had one of the best skateboarding stories ever. I loved how you started out as nothing. Met locals, events happened, you showed off, got big, all that stuff! It was awesome! I mean you even had a rival and missions that didn't always focus around skateboarding. You felt like you were playing an actual character! Which is something we don't see anymore.



Alright so here come the improvements and all the cool little details about Skate 3. Skate 3's newest and coolest feature comes in the form of team based challenges that you can both attempt with your own customizable A.I team mates or with your friends online! Now, I haven't had a chance to play online yet so I just played with my A.I team, and will tell you. Nothing pisses me off more than when trying to attempt a Jam competition to see who can wrack up the most points, and all four A.I boarders are crashing into you left and right just as you're about to finish that Melon flip. However, saying that. It's not always your A.I team mates that hit you. It's normally the other team. My team mates are actually quite competent. I was surprised. Another cool feature that I absolutely loved, is the ability to call up your A.I team mates, or pro skaters, or locals and just go out skating with them. Up to now I rode down Observatory road and the Super-Mega-Death-Park with my team, and nothing has ever felt more freeing. It was an amazing experience that I can only imagine gets better when you play online. Also, another really cool feature was being able to play as Issac from Dead Space in Free Play mode.

As far the sound goes, the way your board shreds against rails and rolls across concrete sound PERFECT! The soundtrack is also very different. Featuring rap, punk, metal and all sorts of other stuff from many known artists.

Overall Skate 3 is the best one in series. If you liked Skate 1 or Skate 2, definitely pick it up, but be warned, it doesn't stray far from that path of the previous titles. If skateboarding is your life, don't think twice. BUY NOW! As for everyone else, give it a rent to see if it's different enough from the first two to justify the price tag. I own Skate 1, and the second Skate 3 drops below 49.99 I'm buying it!

Graphics: 8.5 out of 10
Sound: 9.0 out of 10
Gameplay: 8.5 out of 10
Story: 7.0 out of 10

Overall: 8.2 out of 10

Should I pick it up?
Yes, however you might want to wait for a slight price drop.

How much should I pay?
49.99 - Try and get it used if you can. It won't be valuable one day.