skate

GameSpy

With its organic controls, beautiful visuals and amazing presentation, it quickly becomes an addicting experience that's tough to stop playing, even during some of the most frustrating parts of the game. Though its online modes slightly tarnish on the experience, the rest of the game more than makes up for it.

Gamers' Temple

As I said before, THPS had a good run, but its time to grow up. SKATE is the game that will force us to do just that.

Deeko

With a new control system, this title breathes new life into a genre that was really starting to feel like you've wandered into a skate shop and seeing nothing but an old Stacy Peralta Warptail board on the shelf.

NZGamer

A fantastic setting, realistic controls, and insane graphics make EA Skate a definite must-have.

Team Xbox

The world of San Vanelona is incredibly detailed, with lots of graffiti and markings on every surface. You also get the feel for realistic skating action, as every move you make is tied in nicely with the audio and controller vibration, such as when you skate over a cobblestone street or a brick pedestrian crosswalk.

Yahoo! Games

Even though Skate is swimming with atmosphere and features, it's the gameplay that stands out in this gem. It's not trying to compete with "Tony Hawk" -- it's trying to do its own thing. As such, old Tony Hawk fans looking for a more authentic challenge will love this game. While some challenges will be frustrating, that's just how skating is, and EA did a wonderful job re-creating the atmosphere and style of the sport in game form.

PGNx Media

Skate’s intuitive control scheme won’t be for everyone but those that give it a shot will experience some of the most fulfilling gaming moments of any sports game.

IGN

As a brand new IP, based on an idea that could have completely blown up in EA's face, skate is an amazingly complete experience. Those who choose to relax and skate leisurely -- looking for cool lines and taking on the occasional challenge -- will likely find the most enjoyment.

1UP

Built around utterly convincing physics and animation systems and a unique control scheme that's equal parts challenge and reward, it manages to be realistic without being discouraging and feels completely different from not only the competition, but from anything else out there.

Games Radar (in-house)

[An] incredibly fresh and successful take on skating controls, as well as a wide-open city with six-player online options (we liked the Deathraces and the Spot Battles). Skate is logical, authentic, and blissfully organic. Robots need not apply.

VideoGamer

Not only are the controls and attributes of the gameplay itself consistently representative of the chosen sport, but everything from the gloriously dynamic soundtrack and the competition commentary through to the selection of legendry skaters and the division of challenges into schools of skating hits the nail on the head with prowess.

Worth Playing

Despite minor issues, Skate absolutely does for skateboarding what Fight Night Round 3 did for boxing early last year — it delivers a true, undeniable next-generation experience in nearly every significant way, from the visual presentation to the sheer scale and structure of the environments.

Eurogamer

Punishingly difficult but ultimately rewarding, games of Skate's caliber are a rare breed and as far as first attempts go, it's been years since we saw one this accomplished. Just... sick, man.

Operation Sports

Skate is a resounding success, a game that has complaints that are barely even complaints when compared to the rest of the product.

Official Xbox Magazine

Skate finds the sweet spot between boring simulation and hyper-realism--then totally owns it. [Nov 2007, p.98]

Game Almighty

It won’t give you an experience like one you’ve had before, but it’s one you won’t soon forget. You won’t be pulling off the crazy impossible stunts you may have in Tony Hawk, but it’s equally – if not more – fun to pull off something really technically challenging in skate. With a little patience and perseverance this game can provide a really great experience.

NTSC-uk

This is totally freeform: ride around with a pack, do your own thing whilst occasionally bumping into other people and saying hi, or just stand around watching; it’s all good. This is what the core and vision of Skate is about – freedom and choice.

Xbox World Australia

Skate bursts from the gates, ollies over the competition and lands an impressive grind across the noses of jaded gamers. It's an addictive, compelling and downright impressive first effort from EA and we can't wait for the sequel.

Video Game Talk

Sure you can still string together some amazing combos here, but you get a much large feeling of accomplishment when you do make that long line.

Thunderbolt

This fresh and exciting approach is one of the most satisfactory formulas to date.

The New York Times

While Skate has some small flaws (it would have been a good idea to make your skater translucent whenever he blocks something important on screen), it is rare to find a game that comes so close to doing everything right.

games(TM)

EA has given birth to a franchise that simply demands to be played and replayed, and a game that makes the still-excellent Tony Hawk’s near redundant. The king is dead. Long live the king. [Nov 2007, p.102]

DarkStation

Skate is one of those games that managed to really surprise me this year, especially in a year where there haven't been any big surprises. Skate manages to really come out with all engines firing, and manages to make a great skateboarding game.

X360 Magazine UK

Innovative controls, fantastic physics, seamless animation and pretty darn sweet visuals. Take a breath, retune your brain and learn how to sakte - you'll be glad you did! [Issue#25, p.84]

AceGamez

Skate is more than worth checking out for any fan of skateboarding games, providing an experience like no other and one that you won't soon forget.

netjak

To my surprise, skate. ended up being a surprisingly good game... perhaps the most enjoyable game I have played thus far on my 360.

Gamestyle

Simply by moving the controls from the face-buttons to the analogue sticks – an idea so simple it’s amazing no-one though of it before – EA have created the best skateboarding title in years and in doing so have redefined the rules of the entire genre. A joy to play and a game which the inevitable sequel will have to go some way to top.

MS Xbox World

Innovation is Skate’s key, despite not having every trick and a few minor graphic issues. What Skate brings to the genre is a totally different perspective and it pulls it off incredibly.

Game Informer

These controls feel great, and they really need to since the game isn’t in the slightest bit forgiving. When you go for a grind, you won’t magically be transported onto the rail. You have to line it up and pray that you time your jump and adjoining trick correctly.

Talk Xbox

Skate’s intuitive, but incredibly deep control scheme and extremely realistic physics model feel wonderful in motion. If you’re looking for a realistic approximation of skateboarding, look no further. Skate will not disappoint.

DailyGame

A fun, addictive skateboarding game that's just a little camera work and a few control refinements short of stardom.

Jolt Online Gaming UK

This is as close to a proper skateboarding simulation as we’ve seen, and is up there in the fun stakes with the best of the x-sports games, but for added realism we’d like to see fewer loading screens, civilians that behave with a mote of intelligence or self preservation and even the ability to get off and walk once in a while.

Console Monster

Whilst the game is not revolutionary in storyline progression and the issues with online play leave more to be desired, the game does provide a fantastic single console experience that is long lasting, unique and most importantly a thrill to play.

MEGamers

A pretty well balanced game. The only slight drawbacks are the slightly iffy controls and steep learning curve.

Gamer 2.0

Skate shows that there can be two skateboarding games can co-exist. It offers more realistic gameplay that will appeal to those who have wanted a more down to earth style of skateboarding game.

Cheat Code Central

There's an immense amount of value here, and even dozens of hours and you're sure to still be finding spots you missed or new lines you couldn't have pulled off before. Even with its flaws, Skate is an amazing first attempt at a genre which has been stagnant for years.

Kombo

Regardless of some small faults, when it gets down to it, if you're at all into skateboarding, you simply have to play Skate.

Planet Xbox 360

Skate has changed the way skateboarding games should be designed and played. Hopefully this is a wake up call to Tony Hawk developer Neversoft to be more creative and less complacent.

Games Master UK

A very welcome alternative to the Birdman's recent efforts. [Nov 2007, p.68]

PALGN

Skate is a game that really captures the feel of skating.

GameZone

While the lean career mode could use a bit more substance, this is the game to get if you’re a hardcore skateboarding fan looking for something a little different.

Armchair Empire

What seemed like a worthless waste of effort by the EA Black Box development team in daring to take on the mighty Tony Hawk skating franchise turns out to be completely worthwhile as the new kid skating around the block is anything but a wannabe poseur.

Play.tm

On balance, I personally will probably stick with the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series. But there is definitely an audience out there for Skate.

Game Over Online

If you are a fan of the genre and have been hoping for something new and fresh, this will suit you quite nicely.

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Very much its own game, Skate is a great start to what should be a stellar series. [Dec 2007, p.62]

Game Revolution

But the realism of skate. has me sold.

AtomicGamer

With some tweaks, I think that EA has a hit franchise on their hands here with skate.

GameTrailers

If you attempt to plow through the goals you’re going to come across a few of them that will get your blood boiling, and there’s an incredibly steep learning curve to overcome. But if you just want to cruise around popping ollies and laying down grinds, or session a spot to squeeze every last line out of it, it’s easily the most realistic representation of the sport yet.

GameDaily

Some more intricate skateboarding tricks would've been nice (such as reverts and lip tricks) and the city could've used some expansion. Those aside, Skate avoids the bail and lands stylishly on its wheels.

GameTap

A beautiful-looking and great-playing game with a bright future ahead of it. This first effort is a worthy effort for any skating fans, though a little more design compression, some smarter level design, and a little more direction would have been nice.

Official Xbox Magazine UK

By far the best skate game on any console. [Nov 2007, p.88]

Gaming Nexus

If you've been looking for an alternative to the Tony Hawk games then this is it, just don't go in expecting this to be the same kind of over-the-top arcade sports game that the Activision series is known for. And in a lot of ways that's a good thing.

Game Chronicles

All in all, skate is just too different and will have a rough time converting even the most rabid fan of skating games.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

The difficulty will undoubtedly polarize, but as something unique, Skate is more than welcome. [Nov 2007, p.108]

GameShark

The controls are the big draw here, but they are also the biggest hindrance. Given a good amount of time with the game you will get the controls down, but it is hard to guess how long it will take to master. This is not a casual gamer’s game.

GameSpot

Skate's analog trick system is revolutionary for the genre, but the game surrounding those mechanics isn't quite as good.

GamePro

This is a good first step but the graphics need to be improved upon, the control scheme needs to be tightened up, and little things like the character creation system and the mission types need to be expanded upon.

Gaming Age

A solid first effort and actually makes me look forward to a sequel. I really hope they can mess around with the control scheme a bit next time to allow for more versatility in your trick making so you can be more creative on the pavement.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

A technically strong game tailored to hardcore skaters (and people up for a really serious challenge), this one will alienate casual gamers, as the learning curve can be excruciating.