Skate Early Access Review – Even Flow

I think it’s fair to say that. Of all the games that get ceremoniously placed aboard the hype train, none are quite as widely anticipated as those that have literally been wished into existence, which is exactly what has happened on this occasion, leading to a much-sought-after follow-up to Skate 3.

As we learned quite some time ago, this game isn’t a direct sequel with the Skate 4 moniker. But, instead, a massively multiplayer endeavor that aims to make this iteration of Skate a live service juggernaut that can effectively live forever.

To say that I had my doubts would be understating things massively, as the live service label is one that strikes fear into the hearts of any gamer, and even more so when it’s slapped onto a long-running and beloved series like Skate.

However, while this early access title certainly has a long way to go to earn the cult status of its sister games. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my time in San Vansterdam. There’s no Band of Horses on the soundtrack this time around, and that’s because Skate isn’t Ready for the Funeral just yet.

The Streets Remember

We’ve explored some pretty incredible skating sandboxes over the years as the Skate series has grown into the sports game behemoth that it is today. From Port Carverton to San Vanelona, there’s a cavalcade of spots that we have owned and hold near and dear to our hearts.

The biggest challenge for this new iteration of Skate was to create yet another cohesive and creative skating city for players to explore and adore, and while Van Vansterdam certainly has some hotspots worth their weight in gold, I don’t think I’m sold just yet.

What I will say is that this four-district map that exists at this current juncture is a good foundation to build on, with ledges, rails, ramps, and hillbombs to hit. But, while it feels satisfying to skate around in San Van, I do feel that it’s more down to mechanical excellence rather than world design.

The map currently lacks the standout landmarks that made the previous games so incredibly popular, like Danny Way’s Megapark, the University District’s Hartley Stadium, or Downtown’s Park n’ Play. Sure, there are locations that try to fill that slot, but none truly feel like genuine hotspots that will excite fans of the series.

The success of Skate in this early access period and beyond will largely boil down to how they expand on the world that currently exists, because with this live service model, there will be an expectation that players get treated to Fortnite-style map overhauls to keep things feeling fresh.

Something that is all the more pressing due to the looping challenges that will become akin to tiresome MMO dailies before too long.

Smooth Like Butter

While I wasn’t all that sold on San Vansterdam, it served as a fitting playground to showcase the buttery mechanics that the team has refined since the release of Skate 3 all those years ago. I’ll admit, as a skater myself, I am a harsher critic than most on these things, but the main takeaways are mostly positive.

In terms of what works well, Skate is best when players are skating transition, as there is simply no skating game out there that gives a more fluid and fun representation of tranny skating than this series, and that has been maintained in this new outing.

Whether you’re carving a bowl and popping quick melon grabs, or bombing a mega ramp and doing a Christ air backflip from one rooftop to the next, it never gets old to seamlessly flow from one air to the next.

But, I’ll also admit that the street skating feels more fluid than ever, with the flick it system back in full force, offering ease of use for those that just want to pop shove and kickflip to get by. But it offers enough mechanical depth to reward those who want to consistently lock down inward heels and laser flips.

It’s a small thing, but even the attention to detail on the automatic reverts to steeze out tricks feels so satisfying that, even if you aren’t landing tricks clean and pristine, they still feel like a monumental land.

Combine this with an easy-to-use DIY station where you can drop in assets in seconds to fine-tune a spot to your liking, and all the tweaks and tech tricks like stalls, footplants, and more are still part of the trick repertoire, you have ample ways to showcase your skills.

Basically, if you’ve played any Skate game down the years, mechanically, this is very much an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach from Full Circle. Something that I can get behind fully, as that’s why Skate has maintained its cult status for so long.

I do still feel that minor tweaks could be made to make things even better, like adjustable robust physics settings akin to games like Session, to allow for more realistic gameplay for those that prefer true-to-life gravity, board rotations, and so on.

Plus, while I understand that the parkour and climbing aspects of the game are a new gimmick that the game wants to push. I don’t feel the Assassin’s Creed-esque ‘push up to climb’ traversal is fun in the slightest. So, fast travel points that you don’t need to actually unlock would be much preferred.

However, for those who just want a new Skate sandbox to explore with the mechanics they have known and loved down the years, that’s basically what you’re getting here. Which I’m sure will please most.

It’s The Company You Keep

For anyone who has been watching the development of this new skateboarding title with interest, the elephant in the room has been the move to a live service model. A move, and that immediately made me skeptical that this would be anything other than a cash-grab nightmare.

But, I’m always willing to back down when proven wrong, and based on what we have seen from this early access reveal, we can confirm that this live service model actually works rather well.

There are no pay-to-win aspects to the setup. You don’t need to grind for hours to learn how to Varial Heelflip, nor do you need to crack your wallet open to unlock new areas of the map. All unlocks are purely cosmetic, and there are ample ways to unlock these cosmetic assets without ever entering your card details.

That was my biggest worry going in, and that worry has largely been quelled. However, the main issue that may prove troublesome for some is that the game is very keen to push multiplayer aspects on you, and the game seems pretty miffed with you if you don’t partake in what it has to offer.

Sure, there is a single-player spine to proceedings where you can check in with series stalwarts like Shingo and Slappy to learn the ropes, but this mainly feels like an extended tutorial before the game just lets you loose to do your own thing, and the multiplayer slant is the only true substance that the game has at this point.

There’s a limit to how many times you can do the same challenges over and over, and how appealing the idea of unlocking new cosmetics is with no one to show them off to. So, if you plan to play this game solo, mileage may vary. But, as a group endeavor, credit where it’s due. It’s pretty fun.

With the option to link up with anyone in the server for a free session, a head-to-head challenge, or just a hangout to enjoy the game’s popping soundtrack, Skate becomes less about the challenges and the unlockables, and more about the company you keep.

It’s a game where you get out what you put in, and from a social standpoint, there is really no limit to what players can get up to together, which makes me confident that this game may have the legs to carve out a pocket for itself in the very competitive live service arena.

A Few Skatestoppers To Angle Grind Off

The biggest hang-up I had with this new Skate venture was by far that the game simply isn’t the finished product and feels more like a fun novelty to drop into for a hot minute rather than a polished and addictive skate sandbox that you could theoretically allow to take over your life.

The game at this moment still feels very early access, with rubbery textures, weird glitches, wonky UI, and a wealth of other issues that can detract from what is otherwise a pretty fun and cathartic experience.

These can all be largely overlooked as you can either jury-rig the settings to circumvent some tech issues, or you can simply put up with a little bit of jank as the good outweighs the bad. However, one thing I couldn’t stomach was the server performance.

You need to bear in mind that this was an invitation-only preview, and there was maybe a handful of players online at any given time as I played. Yet, on more than a few occasions, the game chugged violently before eventually crashing or booting me out of the server.

This poses the question that many will have on their lips. Why do you need to be online at all times? I can foresee many players not using the multiplayer aspects at all and simply skating around casually. I know that’s what I prefer to do. But, due to this setup, these players will have to bear the brunt of these server issues, and that may serve as a jumping-off point.

It’s all the more jarring as, in the pre-preview Q&A, the developers confidently stated that theoretically the servers would be able to host ‘Ten Billion Players’. Which is something I actively scoffed at as a long-time FIFA/EAFC player who has endured EA’s servers and all the pain and torture that comes with that.

I fear this confidence is misplaced, and this ‘always online’ approach may be the biggest hurdle for casual players who are not interested in multiplayer to get over.

The Verdict:

“This new live service iteration of Skate may be a long way from the finished article, but I admit that I walked away with a lot more confidence in this new outing than I had before hitting the streets of San Van. The gameplay is exactly as you would expect, with some quality of life additions to help new players without altering the formula for returning fans. Plus, while it certainly needs more substance to rival other maps across the series, San Van is a solid foundation to build upon. The multiplayer aspects are wonderful for those who enjoy that sort of thing and will make this an incredible experience for more social types, but it does feel like that is to the detriment of single-player purists, as the solo experience feels pretty threadbare at this point. But, all in all, if you love the series and just want a way to get back to shredding on modern systems, this new Skate game will scratch that itch.”