Microsoft’s Kinect isn’t here quite yet, so the question is how do you huddle the family around the Xbox 360 until then for some non-typical gaming? Tony Hawk: Shred can help pass that time, especially if you’re looking to burn a few calories. Tony Hawk: SHRED on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii improves on the previous release of Tony Hawk RIDE, from developer Robomodo, by adding snowboarding segments throughout the game and cel-shaded graphics. Like Ride, Shred is played via a motion-controlled skateboard controller that is included in the bundle (Shred is also available as a standalone game for those with a controller board already). Shred expands on the formula of Ride by improving the controller for more precise reactions to the rider’s specific actions. The addition of snowboarding levels also helps to deliver a much more varied and satisfying game, with a great soundtrack to boot. What makes Tony Hawk: Shred great for young gamers is the basic balance mechanics that can be learned from starting out with some early training levels before attempting to hit the skatepark or snow-covered mountains. I must admit, I wish I had come to know Tony Hawk: Shred when I was just a bit younger, as most of my experiences learning to snowboard or skate were met with bruises and way too much blood.
Shred’s controller allows kids to learn the basics of both “extreme” sports in the comfort of home, while providing an entertaining experience for the entire family, especially for young fans of Tony Hawk (and trust me, there are a lot of them). There are a variety of cut-scenes that feature the famed skater, filmed through a camera lens. This isn’t some poorly developed CG trick; Tony Hawk has taken the time to teach kids about skateboarding or snowboarding via recorded scenes along with other current famed skateboarders and snowboarders. The option to import your Xbox Live Avatar into the game adds that much more excitement for kids who want to see their likeness in the game. It’s easier for the young crowd to grasp grinding on rails and nailing an ollie as each map is more tailored to a downhill ride. Shred is a much more lively experience than Ride was, with a more color-filled palette. Shred also features a variety of tutorials to give kids a better overall knowledge of how the controller responds to certain actions. If your family is acclimated with famed X-Games stars, you’ll find them here in Shred.
While Tony Hawk: Shred isn’t quite aimed at my exact demographic, I know that kids will love every minute of it. Shred is overall a much more vibrant experience that Ride, with improvements to response from the skateboard controller. The soundtrack features the likes of OK Go, Vampire Weekend, Rise Against and a variety of other popular artists that add to the experience. Robomodo has fully realized that Shred is a family-oriented game and has designed it as such. Shred is a great purchase to tide your family over before Kinect hits shelves. The $100 price tag is much more reasonable and is a much more entertaining experience than Ride before it. The game has been made less-realistic in an effort to appeal to a younger demographic and I applaud Activision for this decision. If you are too far from the mountains or just want to give your kids a practice run before hitting the streets on an actual skateboard deck, Tony Hawk: Shred is a great place for that gaming fun to start.
