.skate is a simulation take on skateboarding that adopts a flick-it control scheme (very similar to Fight Night's analog stick punch system) where the right stick is used to make your skater ollie/jump and perform various flips and tricks. Buttons are used to push and pump out of ramps to gain air while the triggers are used for grabs and air tricks. The learning curve is a bit steep, but very rewarding once you get the controls down. Tutorials also do a great job of easing into the control scheme and gameplay.
Story is basic but works for .skate. You create a skater and meet up with other skaters that give various challenges such as performing certain tricks, grinds, grabs, timed street contests, very contests and own the stop (where you much beat a preset score on a certain landmark) along with various other challenges. .skate is set on an open world city with various locations involving different landmarks that offer various spots for skating and completing challenges.
As the game name implies, you create a skater (male only, no female skater creation option, which for its time is a very limited feature that does offer a good variety of real life skateboard clothing brands and items) and go. No skills, upgrades and stats are here. Just you, your skater, skateboard and an open world skating playground literally at your fingertips.
.skate's biggest issue is that you cannot get off your board, which can make traversing and trying to get to certain spots quite frustrating and annoying. Thankfully, this feature was added in the sequels.
The art style and UI are very Sk8r-esque with grunge splashes and a magazine look that make you feel like you are watching someone skateboard. It also draws you in due to the fact that the camera is placed near the ground, following your skater at a fish eye lens perspective.
EA's 2007 .skate is a solid entry that pushed forward a new take on the skateboarding video game genre. Some aspects of the game feel dated compared to Skate 2 and 3, but .skate is a fun trip down memory lane.
Story is basic but works for .skate. You create a skater and meet up with other skaters that give various challenges such as performing certain tricks, grinds, grabs, timed street contests, very contests and own the stop (where you much beat a preset score on a certain landmark) along with various other challenges. .skate is set on an open world city with various locations involving different landmarks that offer various spots for skating and completing challenges.
As the game name implies, you create a skater (male only, no female skater creation option, which for its time is a very limited feature that does offer a good variety of real life skateboard clothing brands and items) and go. No skills, upgrades and stats are here. Just you, your skater, skateboard and an open world skating playground literally at your fingertips.
.skate's biggest issue is that you cannot get off your board, which can make traversing and trying to get to certain spots quite frustrating and annoying. Thankfully, this feature was added in the sequels.
The art style and UI are very Sk8r-esque with grunge splashes and a magazine look that make you feel like you are watching someone skateboard. It also draws you in due to the fact that the camera is placed near the ground, following your skater at a fish eye lens perspective.
EA's 2007 .skate is a solid entry that pushed forward a new take on the skateboarding video game genre. Some aspects of the game feel dated compared to Skate 2 and 3, but .skate is a fun trip down memory lane.