Skateboarding fans have been without a proper video game title since Skate 3 released in 2010 (we’re purposely ignoring the dreadful Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5). Although Crea-ture Studios’ Session looks promising currently in Early Access, fans of the skateboarding genre are no doubt in need of something to hold them over until its full release. Skate City looks to capitalize on that desire on Apple devices, and while the mobile side-scroller has its charms that any skateboarding genre fan can appreciate, the game is not as robust as many may be hoping for.
Unlike Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam, in which players control their skater in a (relatively) open-world from a third-person perspective similar to the original games, Skate City is a 2D side-scroller that takes players from left to right. Rails, ramps, and stairs can be utilized along the way to perform tricks, rewarding players with points and in-game currency which can be used to customize their skater and skateboard, unlock levels and tricks, and upgrade abilities. Obstacles are also encountered, requiring players to jump over to avoid crashing into. Game modes include Free Skate, as well as trick and point-specific Challenge modes. In this regard, it’s your standard skateboarding video game.
Control Concerns
The difference lies in Skate City’s controls. Rather than having buttons that perform kickflips, grabs, or grinds, Skate City uses precise finger movements to perform tricks, with an emphasis on the word “precise.” Controlling your skater using the iPhone’s touchscreen is tricky. The slightest finger-flick movement in the wrong direction will cause your skater to perform an unintended trick. This isn’t necessarily terrible during Free Skate mode or during point-specific challenges. It does, however, cause some frustration when trying to perform a certain number of specific tricks before time runs out.
That said, playing Skate City with a controller significantly elevates the game’s playability. I played using a Dualshock 4 PlayStation controller, and controlling my skater using the two analog sticks and trigger buttons was far more responsive than using the touchscreen controls. It’s nice that this was the case, but it is a general concern that speaks more to the functionality of Apple Arcade and portability being its primary draw (I tend to not carry a controller on me whenever I’m away from the house).
Sights And Sounds
The visuals are a little different than you might expect for a skateboarding game. The design is a bit on the aesthetic side of things. The comparison may be a bit of a stretch, but I was reminded of the artistic stylings of Journey and Abzu, even if only slightly. Unfortunately, while there are little details that make the level designs come to life rather than being a bland backdrop, such as birds flying and people in the background living their day-to-day lives, the levels are largely forgettable. This isn’t necessarily surprising. It is merely a skateboarding platformer, after all. Besides the staples of rails, ramps, and stairs, there’s really not much else that could be included. Again, this isn’t like the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, featuring over-the-top, improbable challenges.
On that note, one thing that the THPS series always got right was the soundtrack. Hard-hitting songs from big-name musicians were part of what helped define the iconic series. Unfortunately, the music and overall sound design falls flat in Skate City. A small selection of music tracks featuring guttural noises like, “Yeah,” and, “Uh huh,” are repeated throughout the game, while sound effects are generic enough to be in pretty much any video game.
Good Enough To Try, At Least
Although this review is a bit down on Skate City, it should be stated that it’s not a downright bad game; it’s just not the game that I was expecting. After thinking about it, though, I came to the conclusion that Skate City is to skateboard video games, as fingerboards (remember those?) are to skateboards. There’s a lot to do in Skate City, as long as you start playing it with the expectation that it’s not as robust as other skateboarding games that you’ve played in the past. In that regard, Skate City pretty much accomplishes what it has set out to do by being a simplistic skateboarding game that can be played on the go and as a way to kill a few spare minutes.
3 Out Of 5 Stars
Skate City is available now on Apple devices featuring Apple Arcade.
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