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Skate It
by Brian Tallerico
STUDIO: Electronic Arts
RELEASE DATE: November 11, 2008
CONSOLE: Wii
DEVELOPER: EA Montreal - Black Box
GENRE: Extreme Sports
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
 Remember when kids used to go outside to skateboard? Now, they can ride their balance board in the comfort of their own living room, but it's not really the same without that sense of danger or urgency, is it? I remember taking jumps or trying to grind rails as a pre-teen, and every move came with the striking fear that I might break a bone or hit myself in the spot that might damage future generations. If they’re looking to recreate that sensation, maybe kids playing the new Wii boarding game, Skate It, should put some sharp objects around the room and play with one eye closed. (I'm kidding. Don't write letters.) I'm not suggesting children hurt themselves. But I do think it's ironic that the sense of danger that usually draws teenagers to do things like jump off a set of stairs on a wooden board with rickety wheels has been turned into something they can play in their pajamas. It's with this sense of disconnect that I approached Skate It, and I mention it because the game eventually wore down my preconceived notions. I still feel like it has very little to do with actual skateboarding but, once you get over that, it's a cleverly designed, easy-to-control good time. Fans of skateboarding will enjoy the levels and tricks that they probably only dream about doing in real life, and the game is surprisingly fluid and easy to learn.
There's a growing genre of what can be called "flick" games on the Wii. Doing tricks or moves require the player to shake or flick the Wii-Mote in a certain direction. Flick up and do one trick. Flick right and down, flick up and left, etc. This is assuming you don't have the balance board that came with Wii Fit, which creates a whole different series of controls. The interesting thing about Skate It is that I expected to be frustrated and driven mad by my inability to flick what I wanted to do, but EA has designed a really intuitive and clever control scheme. The A button pushes your board and you hold the remote straight. Dipping the front down will make you grind your nose. Dipping it back will put you on your back wheels. Simply flick up and you're jumping, and it's not long before you're figuring out very complex trick schemes. It's ALL about timing. So, instead of waving around your Wii-Mote like a crazed nun with a ruler, you're trying to delicately time your jump and your grind, while the nunchuk controls your direction. I don't have a balance board, but Skate It does allow for more adventurous players to use it as an actual steering and trick control scheme. (You'll still need the nunchuk for movement.)
There is a story in Skate It, although I imagine most fans of the game will enjoy the Freeplay more. The game allows for a lot of customization of character, board, and even sponsorship. And even the levels allow for a lot of freedom. You may have to do a series of tricks or earn a certain number of points to move on, but those requirements are on huge areas where you can reach the goal your own way and usually at your own speed. The graphics are merely adequate - this is the Wii after all - and I wonder if Skate It would have been smarter to go for a more cartoon-ish style instead of realism, something this console doesn't exactly do well. But it's a minor complaint. Easily addictive for skateboarding fans and possibly even for those of you who have never stepped on anything but a balance board, Skate It works because it places the focus on what the Wii does best - gameplay. Even if you're old enough to remember when kids went out to "play" instead.
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