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Product summary
Give Skate & Slam a chance, especially if you're burnt out on Tony Hawk. Its simple gameplay, clean controls, and arcade atmosphere make it a solid, fun title.
GameSpot editors' review
- Reviewed on: 01/01/2004
- Updated on: 04/26/2004
- Originally published on GameSpot: Skate & Slam (Mobile) Review
Tony Hawk Pro Skater's gaming success is a double-edged sword. It's mastered the genre for sure, but it also makes it near impossible for gamers to accept a skateboarding title that doesn't duplicate its open-ended, goal-oriented gameplay. Gameloft's Skate & Slam is a nice alternative to the now-cliché Tony Hawk-style of gaming.
Skate & Slam is more arcade game than adventure. You control a skater riding left to right, avoiding obstacles and doing tricks over a series of city blocks. Each two-minute, or so, level gives a certain goal, like making 2500 points. Clearing the goal opens up the next level.
The controls, though initially confusing (damn you, Tony Hawk!), become second nature after the first set of levels. The 5 key pops your ollie (jump), while the four cardinal directions (the 2/4/6/8 keys) give you different tricks. The 4 and 6 keys also can slow down or speed up your skater. Players, especially those who can use a little joystick, will enjoy the game's intuitive controls.
Skate & Slam starts off really slow; the first area, composed of 12 stages, is really more of a tutorial than the actual game. The stage goals, announced by a midriff-baring female filming your stunts, sometimes focus on scoring high with specific stunts. After a couple of rounds it becomes easy to get your 700 points by doing varial flips and 360-degree ollies.
However, the game becomes ruthless by the second set of three areas, subtracting major points for falls. Then, before you know it, you're sweating, trying to master near-impossible triple flips and 720s to meet your goals. It's addictive.
Only a few problems steal Skate & Slam's shine. The camerawoman's dialogue literally repeats every other stage, quickly changing her from eye candy to major annoyance. Also, the skater takes a little while to gather speed, making it hard to recover from some spills. Finally, the music and sound effects are reminiscent of high-pitched banshees in pain. Turn them off.
That said, you should definitely give Skate & Slam a chance, especially if you're burnt out on Tony Hawk. Its simple gameplay, clean controls, and arcade atmosphere make it a solid, fun title.
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