Again in 2020, a mysterious trailer popped up on YouTube for an ethereal skateboarding recreation, aptly named Skate Story. The teaser was transient, however its distinct summary fashion and mysterious premise instantly grabbed me. It didn’t damage that I’ve been a lifelong fan of the skating style because of Tony Hawk’s and, embarrassingly, Disney’s Excessive Skate Journey.
That preliminary trailer was 4 years in the past, however Skate Story has managed to stay in my thoughts for the period and has solely seemed higher with every new, rare displaying. It’s spent loads of time within the oven, however after lastly getting my arms on it for half an hour at Summer time Sport Fest’s Play Days, I can say with confidence that it’ll be greater than definitely worth the wait.
Screenshots From Skate Story
My demo appeared to happen proper at the beginning of the sport, as our glass demon skater protagonist decides that they’re going to got down to eat the moon. Naturally. After accepting a mysterious contract, our hero is then granted the raddest of forbidden autos and our quest to kickflip by the Underworld and style the house rock begins correctly.
A Lovely Day In The Underworld
One of many first issues that stands out about Skate Story is its glorious presentation, which mixes summary visuals with an unimaginable soundtrack by Blood Cultures for a real feast for the senses. It’s uncommon {that a} recreation’s artwork fashion and music work so properly collectively, however there have been a number of occasions throughout my demo that I set free an audible “wow”.
Skate Story is not any slouch on the subject of gameplay, both. Getting in, I already knew I used to be going to like the way it seemed and sounded, however I had no thought how the skating itself was going to really feel and the way it could be structured. Wouldn’t it be arcadey like Tony Hawk’s or extra life like like EA’s Skate?
From what I performed, Skate Story takes notes from each, however leans extra in direction of Skate. There’s loads of weight to your actions and every trick you pull off feels extra deliberate than in Tony Hawk’s. Skate Story fortunately doesn’t have the identical sophisticated right-stick wiggling inputs as Skate and as an alternative simply has button combos, but it surely nonetheless seems like the principle inspiration.
The principle factor that Skate Story appears to take from Tony Hawk’s is its pace, which will get a bit wild in among the ranges I performed.
Studying Slowly In Skate Story
It doesn’t matter what Skate Story’s inspiration is, the vital factor is that its skating feels nice. You’ve obtained loads of management over your glass demon’s momentum and actions, and pulling off even probably the most fundamental of tips feels nice due to it. The truth that you’re fabricated from glass and liable to interrupt into items for those who mess up positively performs a job in that, however I’m glad that Skate Story nailed its mechanics as a lot because it did its presentation.
One of many explanation why skating feels so satisfying is due to how step by step tips are rolled out to you. When your glass demon first jumps onto their skateboard, they’re a whole novice who solely is aware of easy methods to push themselves ahead and might’t even do an ollie. As you make your method by ranges, although, you’re introduced with new tips that open up what you are able to do.
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At first, this strategy took me off guard as I slammed each button to try to achieve some air, but it surely makes each profitable kickflip and pop-shuvit a memorable second moderately than one thing you are able to do right away with none thought. Skate Story’s creator, Sam Eng, advised me as I performed and cheered at getting the kickflip that it’s meant to characterize how tough skating is in actual life, one thing I can relate to as somebody who desperately needed to be a skater boy however couldn’t even stand on a board.
Since I solely had half an hour with Skate Story, I didn’t get far sufficient to find how different tips would possibly play into the extent design, however I can solely think about that studying easy methods to grind and successfully utilizing it will be a a lot larger deal right here than in different skating video games. Studying easy methods to skate looks as if it’s going to be as a lot part of the story because the precise plot, which has me very impatient to seek out out extra.
And Now For A Fully Totally different Underworld-Set Skating Sport
Talking of the plot, one of many issues that shocked me about my time with Skate Story was how invested I used to be in its world and characters. Though the story itself is purposefully summary within the half-hour that I performed, everybody my glass demon bumped into was written with a lot wit and allure that I didn’t care that I didn’t know why I used to be speaking to a bunch of philosophising statues and ghostly rabbits.
Even when the Skate Story demo left me with my justifiable share of questions, my essential takeaway was that I merely didn’t wish to cease taking part in. 4 years seems like a very long time to attend, but when my time with Skate Story is indicative of the total recreation, then it’s going to be greater than definitely worth the wait.
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