skate. is minimal in nature. The first indication of this is the title of the game being in all small letters and ending with a period. This is Electronic Arts, via EA Black Box, starting up a new IP to take on Activision’s Tony Hawk series. This game comes out a month before Proving Grounds, the next game in the long running series. skate. brings something very different to the table, almost being the polar opposite of Tony Hawk. This game isn’t about gravity-defying tricks; it’s about real world skateboarding.

It is obvious from the live-action beginning that EA wants to show off that they have a lot of pro skaters in the game. The character you play gets hit by a bus after doing a trick and pro skateboarder Danny Way is there to take you to the hospital. The ambulance races to the hospital as you are introduced to the other pro skateboarders like Paul Rodriguez, Jason Hill, John Rattay, Mike Carroll, etc. who have different roles in the live-action beginning. The short film is really well done and definitely gets you into the mood to play the game.

Once Carroll fixes you up in the operating room it is time to create your skater and get him ready to skate some lines. The Create-a-Skater mode is similar to the other EA games that allow you to create your player. The options are varied and you can even buy clothes, accessories and skateboard equipment from real world companies like Alien Factory, Girl, Nike and Adidas.

Once you have your skater you are given the chance to go through tutorials or just get straight into the game. Chances are if this is your first time with the game it is recommended you go through at least the first few tutorials. This is where the game introduces you to a control system that is very different from the Tony Hawk universe. It is easy to learn and understand, but very difficult and frustrating to master. With the X button you push with your left foot, with the A button you push with your right. All jumps are started via the right analog stick and all turns, as well as front and back flips, are done with the left analog stick.

You have two basic jumps: the Ollie and the Nollie. Ollies are pulled off by pushing down on the right stick and then flicking the stick up to execute it. Nollies are done the opposite way. Those are the simple jumps and as you go through the tutorials you find other moves you can do just from the right analog stick. Once you are in the air you can do turns and flips using the left analog stick. You can also do grabs using the L and R trigger buttons.

Grinding is a lot different as well. Basically the game handles all of the grinding for you. You just jump onto an object that you can grind on and you automatically start grinding. Playing this game is a very different experience, but once you get the hang of the controls you start to see just how cool this new way of controlling is—the sad part is you will also be frustrated with not being able to pull off moves when you need to. You find yourself going through trial and error to pull off a move you need to continue the storyline.

There is a storyline in this game as well. You are a new face trying to make it big in the skating world. You go through a variety of events in order to further your career. The game is set in San Vanelona, a fictional city, were all the pros seem to have moved to. There is a variety of events such as S.K.A.T.E. (which is like HORSE in basketball), Big Trick where you have to score the most, 3-round events, and live filming. Once you finish enough events and reach a new level, you go off to do a photo shoot for a national magazine and gain sponsorships. These types of events are the ones that become frustrating with the controls. Once you get through everything you reach the X Games in Los Angeles, the final challenge.