The problem with sequels is that so many of them amount to little more than revamped rehashes. They strut around like they’re tapped into an IV-drip of steroids, but look through the posturing and you see that they’re the same, tired games with ten-minute makeovers. Of course, developers are at equal risk of abandoning the fan base if too much gets changed. Black Box hasn’t had the best luck with sequels as of late, but Skate 2 nails that thin line like a smooth nose blunt down a perfectly waxed ledge. Once again, Skate 2 isn’t EA’s response to the stagnant Tony Hawk series. It’s the Tony Hawk destroyer, so long as you believe in working for your reward instead of button-mashing for instant gratification.
Like Fight Night, every board trick is mapped to a movement of the analog stick, with the shoulder buttons managing the myriad of grabs. Forget about spinning ollies and blind grinds, because precision and flow are everything. A simple line like a heelflip-to-tailslide on a rail can quickly become an hour-long session of fumbling fingers and horrifying bails that’ll execute your manhood, unless you’re a woman of course. That’s right ladies. You can now make your proper alter egos without faking it as skinny, long-haired emo-boys, and don’t worry, Black Box kept the cup sizes within the boundaries of reality. And for us old-schoolers, who remember the days when handplants on parking curbs were cool, fingerflips, fastplants, and bonelesses were added to the mix.
Speed and massive airs are still the best ways to rack up the multipliers, meaning the new tricks are more for flash than function, but they open up a whole new realm of possibilities for free skating sessions and games of S.K.A.T.E. Without a doubt, the most welcome addition to the Skate 2 move set doesn’t even involve the board – walking. Climbing isn’t an option and the characters move like arthritic cavemen who just soiled their pants, but at least you don’t have to circle the block to get back up a set of stairs anymore. Along with hopping off the board is the ability to move objects like rails, benches, and kickers around as you see fit. After three hours of exploring the other side of the city, I was shocked to find my makeshift kicker-to-dumpster gap was still intact, with a group of A.I. skaters launching off it.
You’ll be sure to see a lot of familiar sites like City Hall, the library, and many of the old gaps and rails as you roll through New San Vanelona, albeit with a major facelift. The decrepit remains of Old Town are now festively bright, with marble ledges and brand new sidewalks, and the infamous launches of The Rez are more plentiful than ever. Building off the old stomping grounds is anything but a cop-out though. Think of it as a renovation instead of a redo. After you’re finished revisiting the past, you can cruise the wavy sculptures of the Waterfront, tear up the ramshackle ramps of the Boneyard hidden in the slums of The Rez, or skin your face on the winding roads of Cougar Mountain.
