Summary
TheSkatefranchise is set to make a comeback in the form ofSkate, which will hopefully either meet or exceed the peak game of the series:Skate 2. It’s been fifteen years since the second entry in theSkatetrilogy was released, but it still manages to hold up against modern skating games likeSession:Skate Sim. As EA’sFull Circle works onSkate, one can only hope that it takes some inspiration fromSkate 2, whose personality, perfectly balanced gameplay, and world design all combine to create a truly special gaming experience.
Released in 2009,Skate 2arrived during a period of fierce competition in the game industry. It launched in the middle of the seventh console generation, during a year which saw the release of games likeUncharted2,Assassin’s Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and many more. It says a lot, then, thatSkate 2managed to carve out a space for itself among its competitors, landing with casual players and skating enthusiasts alike. It was quickly considered one ofthe best skateboarding gamesever released, iterating on the sim-style skating mechanics of its predecessor and continuing to provide a more grounded alternative to the behemothTony Hawkfranchise. ThoughSkate 3would make many objective improvements and introduce some interesting new ideas,Skate 2still represents the pinnacle of the franchise, andSkateshould use it as a blueprint.
Skate 2 Is 15 Years Old, But It Feels Brand New
Skate 2’s Physics Strike a Perfect Balance
Other skateboarding games ofSkate’s era were built around an over-the-top philosophy, with the central focus being to land and chain together as many tricks as possible, with little concern for realism. There’s nothing wrong with this, but theSkategames pride themselves on their grounded, thoughtful movement and trick systems. Indeed,physics are a major focus of theSkategames, andSkate 2does it best.
The firstSkategame was, arguably, focused on realism to a fault. The game was more focused on the street level, and while street skating (as opposed to park and stadium skating) is a major focus of the series, the slower, more deliberate movement of the game lacked variety and excitement. Conversely,Skate 3turned the dial until it broke, allowing the player to reach breakneck speeds and perform highly improbable maneuvers, like riding completely upside-down on a flat ceiling or magnetizing to sheer surfaces. This can makeSkate 3feel morelike aTony Hawkgame, lacking the weight and consequences of its two predecessors.
Skate 2splits the difference perfectly. It cranks up the intensity and speed from the first game, but contextualizes it within its level design and never breaks immersion;Skate 2still feels connected to its skating-simulation roots, encouraging deliberate play through its physics. This can makeSkate 2both slower and more challenging thanSkate 3, but ultimately much more rewarding, as players can focus more on pulling off technical tricks and movements within the perfectly tuned confines of the game’s mechanics.
San Vanelona Is the Best Map in the Skate Series
Conjured as an amalgamation of Vancouver, Barcelona, and San Francisco, San Vanelona combines many of the most iconic elements from these three world-famous skating cities.WhileSkate 3’s Port Carvertonfeatures some interesting areas, it ultimately fails to recreate the sense of cohesion and believability offered by San Vanelona.Skate 2’s map, thanks to its clever, varied design and memorable locations, manages to be one of the most exciting and interesting sandbox open-worlds of its time.
San Vanelona’s design is another area whereSkate 2shows its ability to balance its style and design to achieve great success over the other two entries. Unforgettable areas like the sprawling Mega Complex are just over-the-top enough to be a worthwhile escalation of the firstSkate’s map, while still being believable within the game’s grounded setting. Just like its treatment of physics,Skate 3goes a bit too farwith its overworld, offering a map that is occasionally too exaggerated, with a greater emphasis on massive skateparks rather than interesting, street-level spots. At the same time, Port Carverton is a bit more bland than San Vanelona, not doing enough to compete with the latter’s textured, gritty atmosphere and style.
When comparingSkate 2andSkate 3, the differences in multiplayer need to be mentioned.Skate 3did away with local multiplayer altogether, following the early 2010s trend of games focusing solely on online multiplayer. Local multiplayer has since seen a resurgence in popularity, which further speaks toSkate 2’s timelessness, and makes it an even better blueprint forSkate.
How the New Skate Should Learn from Skate 2
While it’s alreadyclear thatSkatewill be differentfromSkate 2in a number of key ways, it would still benefit from adapting certain vital elements from the series' middle entry. For one thing, its map design should be inspired by the San Vanelona of the second game, even if it does take a few more minor notes from Port Carverton along the way. Additionally,Skateshould stick to the franchise’s roots as a grounded, skate-simulation game, eschewing the less believable elements present in the third game. Other, smaller elements ofSkate 2thatSkateshould build on include:
With modern,Skate-inspired skateboarding simulators likeSession: Skate Simon the market,Skateis going to have a lot more competition than its predecessors. Because of this, it will have to stand out while reminding players whySkateis such a seminal franchise, and following the lessons set bySkate 2is the best way to do that.
