Skate City, the popular mobile skateboarding game that wowed us with its tranquil gameplay and soothing visuals on Apple Arcade, has finally made its way to consoles. But does this transition make sense, especially when gamers are asked to shell out $15 for what essentially feels like a casual endless runner? While Skate City offers a relaxing experience with its easy-to-master controls and charming visuals, its lack of depth and depth and underwhelming graphics on console might leave some players yearning for more.
Skate City Gameplay: Casual at Best
For those familiar with the Apple Arcade version, Skate City on consoles offers the same core gameplay — a side-scrolling skateboarding experience where you guide your character through the obstacle-filled streets of Los Angeles, Oslo, and Barcelona. You navigate the vibrant cityscapes, scoring points by performing tricks. The controls are intuitive, allowing you to execute iconic skateboarding maneuvers like ollies, nollies, and various other tricks using the left and right analog sticks.
The game presents two core modes: Endless Skate and Challenges. In Endless Skate, you’ll skate endlessly through the city, racking up points with every trick. For a more structured experience, you can tackle various Challenges, which range from performing specific tricks to outpacing AI rivals and evading police officers. The Challenges, while diverse in their names across the different cities (e.g., "LAPD" in Los Angeles becomes "High Stakes" in Barcelona), maintain the same basic gameplay mechanics.
While Skate City starts off easy, it progressively gets tougher as you progress through the challenges. However, even at its most challenging, the game doesn’t offer a significant challenge. This lack of depth might leave seasoned gamers wanting more, as the game can be mastered quite easily with a few practice runs.
The game revolves around accumulating Skater Cash, the in-game currency used to unlock various customization options for your character and skateboard, including hairstyles, clothing, deck stickers, and wheels. Players can also unlock new locations and special tricks like "Impossible" and "Benihana." The Skater Cash is earned by performing tricks and clearing challenges.
You can even record your runs and sell the videos to sponsors for even more Skater Cash, depending on the "coolness" factor of your performance. However, the game rewards you handsomely, and unlocking the remaining cities — Oslo and Barcelona — should be attainable within a few hours of gameplay. It’s worth noting that Skate City is entirely free of microtransactions, a welcome feature in an increasingly monetized gaming landscape.
Skate City Graphics: Leaves Much to Desire
The vibrant and charming visuals of Skate City were a standout feature on the iPhone, reminiscent of other zen runner gems like Alto’s Adventure from the same publisher, Snowman. However, the console port doesn’t quite live up to those expectations. While still visually appealing and featuring soothing color palettes, the graphics seem to have been lifted directly from the mobile version, leaving much to be desired on larger screens.
Skate City doesn’t utilize the increased processing power of consoles, resulting in a visual experience that feels more like a mobile game than a console title. While the day/night cycles and overall aesthetic are still pleasing, it’s a missed opportunity for a game with such strong visual foundations.
Adding to the underwhelming experience is the lack of character customization prompts within the game. You can complete the entire game without ever venturing into the customization menu, leaving players with a sense that the developers haven’t put as much emphasis on visual customization as one might expect.
Skate City Review
Skate City is a far cry from the exhilarating skateboarding experience offered by the acclaimed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. It lacks the adrenaline-pumping gameplay, challenging levels, and high-octane trick combinations that have made Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater a legendary franchise.
While it’s refreshing to find a game devoid of glitches and bugs — a recurring pain point for many skateboarding games — Skate City also lacks the chaotic charm of its less polished counterparts. It doesn’t even offer the camaraderie of online or offline multiplayer, leaving players to experience the game solo.
The lack of challenge and depth is perhaps the game’s most significant downfall. It doesn’t demand skill or strategy, making it less engaging for seasoned gamers. The game doesn’t inspire players to push their limits, master complex tricks, or personalize their gameplay. The customization options feel more like an afterthought, leaving players with little incentive to customize their experience.
Skate City embraces casual gameplay to a fault. While it’s a relaxing and visually appealing game, it lacks the depth and replayability that would justify its $15 price tag. Especially when you consider that masterful games like the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remastered bundle are available for just slightly more.
If you’re willing to spend money on a casual mobile experience projected on a larger screen, then Skate City might be a worthwhile purchase. However, if you’re looking for a more engaging and challenging skateboarding experience, then you might be better off sticking with the classics like Tony Hawk’s Underground 2.
Pros:
- Smooth gameplay
- Relaxing visuals
- No microtransactions
Cons:
- Lack of depth and challenge
- No multiplayer
- Uninspiring customization options
Rating (out of 10): 5
Skate City is set to release on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X on May 6.
If you pre-order Skate City before May 6th, you can benefit from a special introductory price of $9.99. However, the standard price will be $14.99 after launch week.
Will you be playing Skate City? Share your thoughts on the game and connect with fellow gamers on our Gaming Community!
